how old do u need to be to have a black belt?

[Beorn]

so this is kind of a random thought but i was pondering this forum and how a common sign given for a school being bullshido is young black belts, and it got me wondering, how young is too young for a blackbelt? should it be based soley on technique or should other things (maturity, size/strength for technique to be effective, ect)? the reason I wonder is because i take/took the second most bashed tma on this forum(TKD), and the youngest person i have ever seen deserve a black belt in that was 12 or 13 at the time. she was very dedicated, her technique was solid, but most importantly (to me) was that she was not afraid to spar adult men, and they didnt go easy on her because her roundhouse could crumple them (i saw it happen, it was hilarious, i never thought i would have to tell a 12 year old girl to go easy on full grown men, even if they were green belts).

anyways, anecdote aside, I'm curious what age/other requirements you guys feel merit a black belt or in styles with no belts, be considered an acceptable instructor?

EDIT: not trying to troll its just something that gets thrown out there without any explanation and I searched and didnt see a thread where there was a consensus, so i thought i would ask.

[Steve]

"Black belts" suck.

[Beorn]

"Black belts" suck.

explain please? stuff like that gets said and i feel like there is some consensus that i am missing. im basically asking what in general needs to be shown to be called competent in an art to be called instructor/black belt/master of the basics

[aaaargh]

To "have" a blackbelt? Like in the biblical sense?

The age of consent varies from state to state.

[Steve]

explain please? stuff like that gets said and i feel like there is some consensus that i am missing. im basically asking what in general needs to be shown to be called competent in an art to be called instructor/black belt/master of the basics

A Black Belt doesn't mean anything. It's how you perform on the mat that matters.

I consider myself WAY over ranked (3rd degree black belt). I'd be happy with just working out as hard as I can and having no belt.

[Beorn]

A Black Belt doesn't mean anything. It's how you perform on the mat that matters.

I consider myself WAY over ranked (3rd degree black belt). I'd be happy with just working out as hard as I can and having no belt.

I agree with that in its purest sense, but it is my goal (10-15 years from now) to open my own school, and as i post here i would prefer not to be considered a bullshido school, but i also believe in awarding rank if it is earned. so you are saying that rank should be based on competition success?

[Steve]

You're being stupid, no, I don't think that "rank" should be awarded due to fights won.

I don't have a fight record and I don't condone "black belts" as equaling something great. My point is that I tolerate the term "black belt" for the sake of my own enjoyment of tradition, not because it seriously means anything to me regarding skill as a fighter (though there are certain people that do).

[Beorn]

ok, i respect that u don't appreciate the term "blackbelt". I don't like it that much easier, because it really doesn't mean anything, because they are awarded by different instructors and different styles for different reasons. But I also (like you) like the tradition and structure of my TMA's, but i feel like if i am ever fortunate enough to have my own school and teach, I would like for any rank I give out to mean something, whether it is yellow, blue, black, ect. I feel like it should be a combination of mastery of the actual techniques, ability to spar people their own size, and ability to handle basic self defense (larger, unskilled opponent). and I just was seeing if the bullshido community agrees/disagrees with that, not with the term "black belt" in general. I don't mean to be a dick, but i feel as though ur response doesn't answer my question

[aaaargh]

Trying to get into the spirit of your question-

Judo, which is fairly well respected on this site, doesn't award black belts below age 16, at least in the US.

[Beorn]

thank you, do they say anywhere y that is. I just started taking Judo, but its a college club so no one is under 16 neways so ive never heard about it

EDIT: I just went to USJA website, which is the organization my club had me register with, but the info is in a "rank system handbook" that i dont have money for, so any help would be awesome

[Squerlli]

A real black belt, someone that has REALLY fucking accomplished something in their art should not be younger then 20 in my opinion.

Unless they are absolute prodigy's or have a very solid fight record to be taken into account.

I mean this shit on a BJJ belt system standard not some T. Kang TKD or ninjutsu school b/s.

[Steve]

A real black belt, someone that has REALLY fucking accomplished something in their art should not be younger then 20 in my opinion.

Unless they are absolute prodigy's or have a very solid fight record to be taken into account.

I mean this shit on a BJJ belt system standard not some T. Kang TKD or ninjutsu school b/s.

This is /brilliant. You're 18 and you are telling people when they should be accomplished.

You do know that 20 year old people start martial arts on their own, and even 18 year old people just start martial arts for fun?

And I wish I was them, knowing what I know now.

[Squerlli]

This is /brilliant. You're 18 and you are telling people when they should be accomplished.

You do know that 20 year old people start martial arts on their own, and even 18 year old people just start martial arts for fun?

And I wish I was them, knowing what I know now.

I'm surrounded by McDojo's, I see fucking 12 year olds with BB's, and also I think you totally missed my fucking point.

I'm not telling people when they should be accomplished it's just my personal opinion on what the right age is for someone to have a certain rank in a MA. I think the standards in most schools (in the US atleast) are way to fucking low.

I also say a BB should'nt be younger then 20, in refrence to those that have been learning as young children (starting at like 8, 10, 12), is because someone with such a high rank should be an adult. 18 or 19 is also fine but if I'm to really respect a BB I wanna know that this person is an adult atleast.

You don't like BB's, thats great, but to me some BB's mean something. BJJ, Judo, Kyokushin and other legitimate school's that compete and teach well should have their high rank fighters atleast given a bit of respect for making it so far in their art.

And the whole age thing is just my personal opinion, I'm not trying to push it as some valid point to try and argue with you. It's just the way I feel about the whole BB thing.

[Who?]

If your school, when it's up and running is going to have kids classes to kep the money coming in then consider junior black belts. Keeps the parents and kids happy and you get an extra grading fee once they're an adult.

[Virus]

I think 16 unless you have a note from your mother.