What is in a Black Belt

This topic keeps approaching me from different angles. A few months ago, Mr. Smith at Spirit Martial Arts was discussing with me his idea to bring back a Poom Belt. The Poom Belt is the Black Belt for children under age 16. The belt is half red and half black, lengthwise.

Mr. Smith stated his reasoning: he had several kids that had black belt skill, but not black belt mindsets or attitudes. Their bodies were ready, but not their minds.

Also, recently, I was on vacation in Florida, and was at a friend's dojo. We were discussing the same issue. They had several youth ready for black belt, or who would be soon, who did not possess the mental discipline for one reason or another. This school, like Spirit Martial Arts, did not at the time employ a Jr. Black Belt of any sort. They are thinking of going to a Jr. Black Belt that has a white stripe through the middle:

Why the fuss?
The problem comes mainly from parents. They pay the tuition, and they expect rank after a certain amount of time. The idea of "my child looks as good in forms or sparring as Johnny, and Johnny is a Black Belt - why isn't my child a black belt." Often, these parents are the ones who brought their children in to help with behavior issues. Even after 4-5 years in the martial arts, the behavior issues might still persist. The child is making progress, but isn't there yet.

The behavior issues, by the way, are being encouraged and molded and shaped at home, which is why five years in the martial arts may not have solved the problem.

Back to the problem at hand - the child in question may possess the skill, but not the mindset. What to do? These schools are going back to a Jr. Black Belt. It is not a bad idea. If I taught karate, it is what I would do.

Alternatives
I teach Jiu-Jitsu, and I tell parents when they sign up that no matter how good their child gets, he (she) is not going to wear a black belt until at least halfway through the teen years. I set the expectation early of what will and won't happen. No surprises. And, by the time a person has spent five years in my dojo, they've not only heard the speech themselves, but they've heard the speech given to other students dozens of times... and maybe they've even given that speech once or twice.


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