Sense in junior black belts?

keeping kids interested is important but I don't think a junior black belt is a very good idea. What would separate this rank from a black belt. If the only difference would be age then you pretty much still have awarded them a black belt. What is too keep them aiming for the real thing when they basically have it? I have some kids in a similar boat. We prefer 16 to test for black but are willing to consider. For these kids we give them different things to learn, more advanced self defense, new weapon training, tournament training, a new kata/form a month, some beginning experience with instructing. There is so much too learn the focus should be on learning not waiting to test for black belt. I Would offer more and specialized training for them- they should be learning TKD because they want to learn.If you keep them focussed with learning new material you should keep their interest.

I agree with Jim R. What goal or what will that child have to look forward to if they have black belts at 12. Should they also get their drivers license? Maybe they can go and by a case of beer? The problem as I see it there is too much emphasis placed upon getting a belt. The focus should not be on a belt or rank. Learning, dedication, commitment and improving their skill and knowledge should be the focus. If students are starting younger, maybe there should be more time between rank. I maybe a little old school, but I was taught that you can't earn a black belt until you are ready to compete only against adult black belts. In our dojo no one has earned a black belt under the age of 18. I don't recall anyone under 21 earning a black belt. Some have been green belts for more than a year or two.

We are not moved by parents shopping for a place that will give their child a black belt. You must earn it in our dojo. Our standards are high. We make no apologies for that. if you get a black bekt in our dojo you know you have earned it. It is worth the wait.

Junior Black belts is a bad idea , it's not simply about rank, but experience and these kids may have been training for a while but they do not have the maturity ,wisdom and experience to be black belts, not because of who they are as people but simply because they are children, if they achieve the rank of having mastered the basics without realizing that is all the have mastered and assume they have mastered the art as a whole which kids tend to do they may become bored with training and give up martial arts altogether, now whether or not this is the case with the two kids you mentioned is irrelevant ,the fact is children get bored easily so setting a goal for them to reach with more experience needed to attain it is good for them and helps them focus

I agree with Jim R. As a society of martial artists, we have placed such a value on the concept of black belt that those who cannot have it (yet) are frustrated. Why? what is it about a black thing around your waist?

Perhaps, if the instructor spaced out the underbelt gradings so that by the time the student were eligible, they'd be of age anyway.

But instructors complain that to do that, kids would spend an extraordinary amount of time at each level.

Some say "So what, what's wrong with extra training", while others say "Fine, then just add in more belts".

As to the last, which can be seen as a revenue generator by the conspiracy theorists, others have tried only to be crucified because of the revenue generation.

And really: if you have 8 belts between white and black, and one school adds in a pink belt in the middle where another school adds in a junior belt at the end - what's the difference anyway: it's still 9 belts. Both have the intention to space out the time to black belt while decreasing the time in between underbelt rankings.

In the end, I don't mind giving kids black belts, though I would prefer that they spend more time at each of their underbelt rankings. Instructors often bow to the pressures of parents or to the competition, and so that doesn't happen. Parents are known to shop for martial arts schools based on quickest-path-to-black-belt criteria. This does no service to the school, the instrucor, or the student. Nevertheless, instructors often cave in.

I don't mind giving out black belts to kids in sports-oriented martial arts. But the time to get them (regardless of the number of belts in between) should be much longer.

Keeping them interested is important for sure. What I fail to grasp is why that obi (belt) is the only thing that will do that. Perhaps explain to them that the belt is not what they are there for. They are there to learn a martial art. That does not require a belt. Twelve is too young in my opinion to give even junior black belts. It makes them think they are black belts, and when it is time to test for adult rank shodan doesn't satisfy either, so what next? Godans that are 22? I am all for training kids, but I think the whole belt thing is carried away. There is far too much import put on something that isn't important at all.

Who cares about belts. I've had a black belt for years and it is meaningless really, there is a lot more to training than a belt. If the kids are getting frustrated, who cares? If they are in it for life, then they should just stop worrying about their belt and just keep grinding out the training. They shouldn't be given a belt just to keep them interested. As they get older they'll realise that the belt is unimportant. If they quit now just because they don't get one, then they're not meant for training anyway.

Not about the rank it is about the experience these kids have so good luck and God Bless You