Hes 13 (and acts it) or was last time I checked.
He does Aikido (a far more realistic and practical art [IMG]http://www.fightingarts.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif[/IMG])

Maybe there isn't alot to praise about TKD however this topic was made so that people could post positive things about taekwon-Do.

I think the idea was pretty clear, if you are going to say something bad dont post it in this topic.

Have a little look around the TKD forum there is a topic entitled something along the lines of TKD Dislikes. Post your opinions there (if they are negative).



[This message has been edited by kiwi (edited 12-25-2003).]

Sorry kiwi. Alot of the stuff that we get mixed up with about TKD is that most of the dojos in americ teach the olympic not the traditional. Im sorry.

Kiwi:

Today was my first visit to this forum, and I have immensely enjoyed reading many of your posts, and your debates with some of the older martial artists here. Congratulations on your accomplishments, and on demonstrating that your maturity exceeds your physical age (and that of some of the older folks on the forum).

My first exposure to MA occurred when my wife's sons decided they wanted to enroll in a MA class. They took lessons for a couple of years thru the local park district, attaining ranks of green belt. Our son was only about 4 at the time, but enjoyed going along to the lessons to watch his older brothers. For some reason, the park district closed down the program and we were out of the MA's for a couple years. Our son, Derek, begged to enroll in lessons, and we promised him that he could join at age 6. At that point, Travis, then about 13, wanted to get back into it as well. We went to visit a local TKD dojo near our house, watched a class, talked with the instructor, etc. He is not directly affiliated with an international organization, but teaches a traditional ITF curriculum, and is a 6th dan trained under Grand Master Van Binh, who is chairman of the ITF masters promotion committee. While enrolling them, I was informed that he had a family special, by which my lessons would be free.... So, at the age of 41, in desperate need of some physical conditioning, and thinking that it might be fun to participate with the boys, I enrolled as well. I figured I'd stick it out until maybe green belt, but, as we continued in the lessons, I grew to really enjoy the lessons, and achieving black belt became a sort of quest for me. The boys, being younger, more flexible, and somewhat less concerned about injury, mastered techniques quickly, whereas, I had to work hard to achieve a level of competence. I felt that by sticking with it, I might give them a small lesson in goal-setting, perseverence, dedication, hard work, etc.

After about four years of lessons (December 2002), the three of us tested for our black belts. Travis (then 17) and I (45) both passed all five sections of the exam. Derek, then just a couple weeks shy of his 10th birthday, passed the first four sections of the test, but failed to perform the first of his required breaks, and therefore, failed the test. He retook the exam in August, 2003, and passed the complete exam. Our Master's school has been teaching since the mid-70's and has had his own school since 1982, and Derek is, by nearly two years, the youngest of his students to ever be awarded a black belt. TKD has been a wonderful bonding experience for the three of us.

Travis has since stopped taking lessons. At 17, cars, girlfriends, jobs and school have taken up all his time (although he has recently expressed an interest in getting back into it at some point).

Derek and I continue in our quest toward 2nd Dan, and he has enrolled in a Jeet Kune Do school to give him some additional depth of training.



[This message has been edited by ipscshooter (edited 12-29-2003).]

Kiwi:
Today was my first visit to this forum, and I have immensely enjoyed reading many of your posts, and your debates with some of the older martial artists here. Congratulations on your accomplishments, and on demonstrating that your maturity exceeds your physical age (and that of some of the older folks on the forum).

Thanks, that really means alot to me.

It's funny how many parents start a martial art because of their kids. My dad started TKD a couple of weeks after me and only got his black belt a year or so ago at the ripe old age of forty nine. Previous to staring martial arts he hadn't engaged in any physical activity sine his teens. Now he's a fitness fanatic (Teaches Taekwon-Do three times a week, and goes to the gym five times a week).

Thanks also Karate Kid, it takes guts to apologise and you certainly got guts.

p.s. Welcome to the forum shooter.


[This message has been edited by kiwi (edited 12-30-2003).]

Hi Shooter

So your son is a ten year old blackbelt along with Kiwi. I wonder how many 10 year olds there are with blackbelts in the ITF.
Sounds like they're falling from the sky like confetti.

And you wonder why TKD gets a bad rap.

JohnL

Thanks John, for your gracious comments dismissing his hard work. I'm sure he'd appreciate finding out that all he's done for five years is to be babysat while playing around in his pajamas. [IMG]http://www.fightingarts.com/forums/ubb/rolleyes.gif[/IMG]

Derek performed everything that I did in my test, except for breaking a brick. Instead, he got to break two boards with a Sidekick #5, which I can't even begin to perform correctly, and, in deference to his size, he only had to break one board with a front punch instead of two. His katas were excellent (far better than mine), his techniques are as good or better than most of the adult black belts (he's certainly a better martial artist than I), he spars quite well, he helps our teacher in showing the younger kids how to perform their katas, he volunteers to help out around the dojo, he performs at demos and participates in state and local tournaments (and does pretty well at those). Our instructor has never before allowed someone as young as Derek to test for black belt, but, Derek performs everything on the curriculum so well, that he didn't feel it was appropriate to hold him back. And, Derek is mature and humble enough not to denigrate the accomplishments of others, based upon something that is totally irrelevant.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by ipscshooter:
And, Derek is mature and humble enough not to denigrate the accomplishments of others, based upon something that is totally irrelevant. [/QUOTE]

Hi Shooter

Apologies if the post tweaked a nerve.

But, he isn't mature enough or humble enough. He's a kid. Fine, that's what 10 year olds are meant to be.

I believe that your opinion that age is irrelevant shows your own inexperience as a Martial Artist.

I look forward to watching the TKD 6 year old black belt team. Hey, if age isn't a factor.

Your opinions do nothing to promote TKD as a serious MA for study. Shame.

JohnL

[QUOTE]Originally posted by JohnL:
Hi Shooter

Apologies if the post tweaked a nerve.

But, he isn't mature enough or humble enough. He's a kid. Fine, that's what 10 year olds are meant to be.

I believe that your opinion that age is irrelevant shows your own inexperience as a Martial Artist.

I look forward to watching the TKD 6 year old black belt team. Hey, if age isn't a factor.

Your opinions do nothing to promote TKD as a serious MA for study. Shame.

JohnL[/QUOTE]

6 year olds? Not likely, as they would not have sufficient time to learn the techniques and the ability to perform them with appropriate level of strength. Derek put in 5 years of hard work, including 6 months of one on one private instruction from our master and is able to perform the entire curriculum as well as all of the adult black belts, save for the master, and a 17 year old 2nd Dan (who is the previous youngest black belt at the school, having achieved 1st degree just prior to his 12th birthday). What precisely is the problem with promoting 10 year old, if they have demonstrated the ability to perform the entire curriculum, and have demonstrated the perseverance, dedication, determination, courage, and hard work to achieve that goal?

I think the point is not only a matter of performance, but proficiency in application, maturity, and understanding. It is not to say that there aren't any adult black belts walking around who lack these things because there are, but an adult is more likely to have these attributes than a child. Especially a prepubecent child of 10. In fact that may be one thing that some people like about TKD. They will promote people to advanced ranks regardless of age simply based on time training and performance of technique.

Hi Shooter

This is going no-where.

Congratulations to little Derek. He is now a master.

JohnL