ranking children
- Thread starter marlon
- Start date
We don't have a specific timetable because it depends on the child: how quickly they learn, how much they practice, and how good their memory is, but generally they take longer to advance than adults.
The first level can take almost almost twice as long with some kids.
We break down their advancement levels into further increments by adding stripes to their belts to show visible progress and avoid their getting frustrated.
The first level can take almost almost twice as long with some kids.
We break down their advancement levels into further increments by adding stripes to their belts to show visible progress and avoid their getting frustrated.
bushidomartialarts
Senior Master
in my studio we have junior ranks. children take about a month less per belt rank to grade. they only need 6 techs per belt, plus the kata -- the focus is on strong basics and on behavior outside and inside the dojo.
now, once the child gets junior black, they go back through the adult system, starting with senior yellow. they pick up the other techniques and we get more nitpicky about details, and we teach more combative reality.
so one way to look at it is that children grade faster (2 months vs. 3 months to yellow belt, 3 years vs. 4 years for black). another is that they grade much slower (3 years, 3 months vs. 3 months to senior yellow belt, 7 years vs. 4 years to senior black)
now, once the child gets junior black, they go back through the adult system, starting with senior yellow. they pick up the other techniques and we get more nitpicky about details, and we teach more combative reality.
so one way to look at it is that children grade faster (2 months vs. 3 months to yellow belt, 3 years vs. 4 years for black). another is that they grade much slower (3 years, 3 months vs. 3 months to senior yellow belt, 7 years vs. 4 years to senior black)
marlon said:
It really is going to depend on the person. Everyone is going to learn at his/her own pace. Often, if a set in stone time table is used, it can often lead to people expecting to acheive their next rank when that time has been reached. Usually there is a difference in the material that is taught to children and adults, so yes, the time will vary.
Mike
mhouse
Yellow Belt
Previously I had attended a school that had, what I thought, was a good way of ranking children.
The instructor had several rolls of different colored electrical tape. Each color stood for a different area that we teach. Kicks, Punches, Stances, Forms, Grab Defenses, Club Defenses, Combinations and Kempo Techniques. (The school system was a Persare/Cerio/Vallari derivitive). Although you could always add things like Animal techniques or knowing the school rules.
Every month, one class day would be a testing day. Everyone in class that day would be tested. The format of the test was much the same as the one given when a Master instructor came in to do Rank testing.
At the end of class, some of the students would be awarded a stripe on their belt if they had mastered the skills necessary at their rank. So, a few of the students might receive a stripe for their kicks, while others may recieve a stripe for forms. Once the student has all of their stripes they are eligible for the next Rank testing.
There were several parts of this that I liked.
1.) Since students are rarely put up for Rank testing when they have the potential to fail, we often get used to always passing a test. With this extra testing the students get used to the fact that they will not always pass every test they face. I've seem some young kids go for 3 or 4 months before receiving that final stripe for their rank.
2.) It gave the young children, especially those who were at the intermediate ranks, a more short term goal. In my limited experience some kids had trouble waiting for the 5 or 6 months between ranks. By having a monthly test to prepare for, the kids had a numerous goals to reach. All of these goals were often explained as steps on the way to black belt and beyond.
3.) It provides a way to slow down the rapid climb through the ranks that can occur. I have seen many schools with 10 year old black belts. That just seems kind of young to me. Especially when you consider the drop out rate after black belt is rather high. This method give the instructor a way to space out the ranks while still rewarding skill development. It helps add some time to allow for emotional maturity along with physical skills.
4.) It sometimes helps an instructor to know who has what skills for their rank. I know most of us know our students rather well, but sometimes a little help in tracking is not a bad thing.
Hope this helps.
The instructor had several rolls of different colored electrical tape. Each color stood for a different area that we teach. Kicks, Punches, Stances, Forms, Grab Defenses, Club Defenses, Combinations and Kempo Techniques. (The school system was a Persare/Cerio/Vallari derivitive). Although you could always add things like Animal techniques or knowing the school rules.
Every month, one class day would be a testing day. Everyone in class that day would be tested. The format of the test was much the same as the one given when a Master instructor came in to do Rank testing.
At the end of class, some of the students would be awarded a stripe on their belt if they had mastered the skills necessary at their rank. So, a few of the students might receive a stripe for their kicks, while others may recieve a stripe for forms. Once the student has all of their stripes they are eligible for the next Rank testing.
There were several parts of this that I liked.
1.) Since students are rarely put up for Rank testing when they have the potential to fail, we often get used to always passing a test. With this extra testing the students get used to the fact that they will not always pass every test they face. I've seem some young kids go for 3 or 4 months before receiving that final stripe for their rank.
2.) It gave the young children, especially those who were at the intermediate ranks, a more short term goal. In my limited experience some kids had trouble waiting for the 5 or 6 months between ranks. By having a monthly test to prepare for, the kids had a numerous goals to reach. All of these goals were often explained as steps on the way to black belt and beyond.
3.) It provides a way to slow down the rapid climb through the ranks that can occur. I have seen many schools with 10 year old black belts. That just seems kind of young to me. Especially when you consider the drop out rate after black belt is rather high. This method give the instructor a way to space out the ranks while still rewarding skill development. It helps add some time to allow for emotional maturity along with physical skills.
4.) It sometimes helps an instructor to know who has what skills for their rank. I know most of us know our students rather well, but sometimes a little help in tracking is not a bad thing.
Hope this helps.
marlon said:
We don't differentiate the requirements between adults and kids, the requirements are the requirements. Most kids take twice as long to learn the material, and most never make it to purple belt in the kids class. We don't have any set times for testing, all our testing is individual and only done when the student is ready.
Lamont
green meanie
Master Black Belt
Blindside said:
Same here. :asian:
Likewise. But I have noticed children generally advance at a more rapid pace simply because they are more consistent in their training. In most cases, that's because the parents are paying for it, so they're going to make sure they get what they're paying for. Adults on the other hand, more frequently experience "life" getting in the way from time to time, causing more frequent breaks in their training. An interesting side effect of this though is that the ratio of adults making it to black belt is higher than the children. Reason being, as stated above, they lose interest and drop out before then. Makes sense when you look at it from a motivation standpoint. Adults bring themselves. Children are brought.
