well im a sophmore in high school right now and am a 2nd dan in tkd, by the time im out of college i could be a 3rd dan if i pass my test
If you're a 2nd degree and you're only halfway through highschool, your school would probably promote you to 3rd well before you're done with college.

So, when did you start training?

My TKD school never used the term dan, but you are higher rank than I am.

I know that a junior black belt is call poom (or pum), what is a adult black belt? Yudanja? Il dan/cho dan (for first Dan)?

Sorry if I got it wrong, that info is from wiki.

not sure about TKD but Soo Bahk Do uses the term Dan, I am Sam Dan or 3rd Dan, up to that Cho Dan, Ee Dan then Sam Dan, Sa Dan etc (Sa Dan is also the 1st Master belt)

the only reason I used the term dan is because our school uses the term degree, which appears to not be in use by most other schools so i was just trying to use the term that most people used.

I first started training when i was 6, but have moved and had to start over twice.

Juggernoob, our school doesnt use a junior black belt rank, but im not really even sure what your trying to imply, explain please? or are just being sarcastic for the fun of it? (which i could understand lol)

the only reason I used the term dan is because our school uses the term degree, which appears to not be in use by most other schools so i was just trying to use the term that most people used.

I first started training when i was 6, but have moved and had to start over twice.

Juggernoob, our school doesnt use a junior black belt rank, but im not really even sure what your trying to imply, explain please? or are just being sarcastic for the fun of it? (which i could understand lol)

For the simplicity's sake, yes im being sarcastic for the sake of it. When you say your school doesnt use a junior rank, are you saying that someone of any age is capable of achieving a black belt?

For the simplicity's sake, yes im being sarcastic for the sake of it. When you say your school doesnt use a junior rank, are you saying that someone of any age is capable of achieving a black belt?

Gotcha.

Technically some one as old as 10 could get a black belt, but our tests aren't really easy enough for a ten year old to pass. Still though, even before I joined Bullshido, I thought that even on paper allowing that was too young. If I become an instructor, one of the things I will definitely do is make the black belt requirements for my school more stringent. At least 13, and then only a junior black belt until over 15. That might still be too lenient for some people, but I quite frankly dont care, lol. Thats what I think would be fair, and thats what I will stick too.

Thanks again for the replies guys.

Typically in more traditional schools, one has to be at least 16 to 17 years of age to receive a Black Belt rank. Until then, the student can achieve a Poomse belt and will remain there until they are old enough to test for Black Belt.

We had a few teenage BBs. Usually it would be about 10 years to get the first degree if they started young, single digit age. Kids normally don't have the same understanding of the techniques or the randomness of sparring that adults do. The "kid" BBs that came into the adult class normally did not do well against advanced underbelts of the same size. Its an interesting issue.

I been a student / instructor of various styles of Martial Arts since 1965, I have studied from Asians and Non Asians, Young and old, some of my teachers are alive, and some are passed away. Some of my teachers are / were martial Artists, and some just Bad Asses that knew how to hurt people. I've known Black Belts from ALL different disiplines who would LOSE in a pysical Confrontation with a Girl Scout. And myself, I pocess a 10th. deg. Black Belt, yet I know collegues of mine who The thought of reality fighting with them scares the HELL out of me! All I can say is Watch someone who your considering as a potential instructor, Anyone can TALK a good line of B.S., Do research on them, anyone can fill thier walls with diplomas and awards. Trust your gut feeling. Another thing to remember is, Is that instructor still a student? As I mentioned earlier I have been recognized as a 10th. Deg. Black Belt, Yet I also have a White Belt which I wear regularly. Because, I'm the first to admit "I dont know it all, and I'm NOT the Baddest dude around"!, and I can usually learn something usefull from someone! Good Luck with your studies Brother, masterLee

I been a student / instructor of various styles of Martial Arts since 1965, I have studied from Asians and Non Asians, Young and old, some of my teachers are alive, and some are passed away. Some of my teachers are / were martial Artists, and some just Bad Asses that knew how to hurt people. I've known Black Belts from ALL different disiplines who would LOSE in a pysical Confrontation with a Girl Scout. And myself, I pocess a 10th. deg. Black Belt, yet I know collegues of mine who The thought of reality fighting with them scares the HELL out of me! All I can say is Watch someone who your considering as a potential instructor, Anyone can TALK a good line of B.S., Do research on them, anyone can fill thier walls with diplomas and awards. Trust your gut feeling. Another thing to remember is, Is that instructor still a student? As I mentioned earlier I have been recognized as a 10th. Deg. Black Belt, Yet I also have a White Belt which I wear regularly. Because, I'm the first to admit "I dont know it all, and I'm NOT the Baddest dude around"!, and I can usually learn something usefull from someone! Good Luck with your studies Brother, masterLee

*Checks what forum this is in*

*Bites clean through tongue*


Cool brother, thanks for the wisdom.

We had a few teenage BBs. Usually it would be about 10 years to get the first degree if they started young, single digit age. Kids normally don't have the same understanding of the techniques or the randomness of sparring that adults do. The "kid" BBs that came into the adult class normally did not do well against advanced underbelts of the same size. Its an interesting issue.
I completely disagree, not that kids should be able to get a BB (In Judo you're stuck at, what, purple until your 17?) but that they don't have the same understanding of techniques/randomness. I just sparred with a 13 year old who landed shots on me at will with a grace and precision any adult would goo over. He's been training since he was 8 and had over 20 professional fights in the ring. Children have plenty of mental capacity to figure out techniques and fighting.

As I mentioned earlier I have been recognized as a 10th. Deg. Black Belt
Where are you recognized as a 10th dan? You said you started studying in 1965. Who was your instructor and in which art?

My TKD school never used the term dan, but you are higher rank than I am.
What term did they use? Or did they just say 1st degree, 2nd degree, etc?

What term did they use? Or did they just say 1st degree, 2nd degree, etc?

The Korean guys said grade, the instuctors said degree.

It's amazing how the conversation deteriorates and becomes a totally different topic of discussion.

Instructor old or young? Does age matter, what matters is the knowledge and the ability to teach it to others. Some great fighters suck at teaching and some great teachers suck at fighting.

Age doesn't really matter.

For the record, the mma gym next to my school recently hired a guy to teach muay thai who was younger than 30. I thought that was really dodgy...until I realized he was a professional fighter who had more than 150 fights in Thailand (being thai himself and growing up there) and probably have more experience in both training and coaching than everyone at my boxing gym put together :/