I've read a number of threads asking opinions on when people are ready to test for a black belt, but recently something happened and I wanted to get some opinions on it.
One of my sons was put into TKD for PT reasons only. He has mild CP and we knew that he would never be a true MAist by the normally accepted use of the term. Belt levels in his instance were not relevant to anything. That was almost 6 years ago. Though he had long since fulfilled all the normal requirements for testing, and made huge gains in physical ability (he has no mental handicap), I wouldn't allow him to test. This was because, though I don't consider physical requirements to be very high on the priority list (we can't all be Bruce Lee), I do consider them to be somewhere on the list. More importantly though, it had more to do with his attitude. It was was flat. He was there because I made him. Period. Bottom line, he simply wasn't what I considered to be a viable candidate for a black belt. He wanted it, but I told him if he couldn't "represent", it wasn't going to happen.
So last month, it's time to test again (we hold this once or twice a year). My Sabumnim says he wants my son to test. I said no way. My wife joins the act, and long story short, I get out-gunned and (VERY) reluctanly consent. My Sabumnim's reason was because my son needed to "evolve" so to speak. There was nothing left for him as a colored belt. If I didn't allow him to take the step forward, his skills that he had spent so many years increasing would begin to deminish. He understood my concern about my son being a poor example of a black belt, but said he can no longer be a colored belt either.
The day of the test comes and all the candidates (including my son) do what they have to do. After several breaks, they finally get to the last one and my son can't do it. It's 3 half inch boards with a hand strike. The test goes an additional 40 minutes while my son repeatedly hits these boards. It's what happened at that time and since that my Sabunmin has once again proven why he's the master and I'm the student. My son, who cries at the drop of a hat, must have hit these boards 80 times. His right hand and wrist (he can't use his left) are raw, and he refuses to quit. He also refuses to cry. The look of determination on his face is one I've never seen on him before. Me, being the one conducting the test, am DYING and I can't do anything to help and his mother, (the stone) is quietly balling her eyes out in the corner. Finally, SNAP!. The place explodes and my son gets his belt.
Since that time, he has increased his efforts in everything (inside and outside of class), tries with double the effort, and can't wait to go to class again. My sabumnim (as so many times before) has apparently proved me wrong again.
So after this lengthy write up, my question. What do you think of promoting not from a standpoint of ability, but more of a standpoint of future promise.
Yes, because he's gone as far as he could as a colored belt and needed this to happen for the benefit of his future physical and mental growth...
OR
No, because no one who can't at lease on a very basic level defend themselves should be made a black belt.
Your thoughts, please.
One of my sons was put into TKD for PT reasons only. He has mild CP and we knew that he would never be a true MAist by the normally accepted use of the term. Belt levels in his instance were not relevant to anything. That was almost 6 years ago. Though he had long since fulfilled all the normal requirements for testing, and made huge gains in physical ability (he has no mental handicap), I wouldn't allow him to test. This was because, though I don't consider physical requirements to be very high on the priority list (we can't all be Bruce Lee), I do consider them to be somewhere on the list. More importantly though, it had more to do with his attitude. It was was flat. He was there because I made him. Period. Bottom line, he simply wasn't what I considered to be a viable candidate for a black belt. He wanted it, but I told him if he couldn't "represent", it wasn't going to happen.
So last month, it's time to test again (we hold this once or twice a year). My Sabumnim says he wants my son to test. I said no way. My wife joins the act, and long story short, I get out-gunned and (VERY) reluctanly consent. My Sabumnim's reason was because my son needed to "evolve" so to speak. There was nothing left for him as a colored belt. If I didn't allow him to take the step forward, his skills that he had spent so many years increasing would begin to deminish. He understood my concern about my son being a poor example of a black belt, but said he can no longer be a colored belt either.
The day of the test comes and all the candidates (including my son) do what they have to do. After several breaks, they finally get to the last one and my son can't do it. It's 3 half inch boards with a hand strike. The test goes an additional 40 minutes while my son repeatedly hits these boards. It's what happened at that time and since that my Sabunmin has once again proven why he's the master and I'm the student. My son, who cries at the drop of a hat, must have hit these boards 80 times. His right hand and wrist (he can't use his left) are raw, and he refuses to quit. He also refuses to cry. The look of determination on his face is one I've never seen on him before. Me, being the one conducting the test, am DYING and I can't do anything to help and his mother, (the stone) is quietly balling her eyes out in the corner. Finally, SNAP!. The place explodes and my son gets his belt.
Since that time, he has increased his efforts in everything (inside and outside of class), tries with double the effort, and can't wait to go to class again. My sabumnim (as so many times before) has apparently proved me wrong again.
So after this lengthy write up, my question. What do you think of promoting not from a standpoint of ability, but more of a standpoint of future promise.
Yes, because he's gone as far as he could as a colored belt and needed this to happen for the benefit of his future physical and mental growth...
OR
No, because no one who can't at lease on a very basic level defend themselves should be made a black belt.
Your thoughts, please.