I totally agree with you. I mean they can at least wait until their 16 or 15.

This topic is LOL but its ok! yeah a instructore or school should atleast wait till there 16 ir higher!

This may be a bit extreme, but I think it's worth noting. To me, a black belt student is someone who has graduated to a level of moderately high maturity and a deep, psychological understanding of what he or she has been taught up until that time. Most children are not ready to bare this responsibility. And there's the matter of how well they apply the self-defense of the art, assuming the art has a capable or at least adequate self-defense component.

"Here's a simple tip: you walk into a place and notice BB's less than 16 years old....you walk out. Simple."

Yeah, but that's what I know now - compared to what I knew then.

Truth is, if I walk into a dojo NOW and see children at all, I walk out.

Sorry. I disagree. Sure...awarding BB's to kids is abused...but everyone says that getting a BB is just the BEGINNING of learning. My son spent 6 years, 5 days a week, in TKD and I feel he really earned his BB by the time he was 15. He knew all the forms, could spar, assisted in teaching lower belts, could break those stupid boards.

He passed the requirements for an adult...so why not? As an analogy: a child is brighter than the average kid in Middle School. So smart that this kid has the ability to take more complex academic courses. Perhaps, even college level. Would you deny the child the opportunity to attend these courses, even though they are not emotionally/socially capable of participating in adult activities?

Harlan, congratulations to your son. That is a fine accomplishment.

I'm not saying children in MA is bad. I'm saying it is not to my taste to train with them or to attend a school that has a heavy focus in kids MA. I'm further saying that 8 year old BB's are ridiculous.

This subject has been flogged in the general MA talk forum. Is there any reason it should be discussed any further in this forum?

nope........