backinthegame
White Belt
Hello,
I am new to the forums. I am just curious about perspectives in the martial arts community about this topic; an issue I have only encountered until now. I earned my 1st Dan in WTF Taekwondo when I was 15, 10 years ago. I then had to have corneal eye transplant surgery due to vision impairment, so I gave up TKD and took up Wing Chun, which seemed more gentle and incurred less of a chance of being hit in the eye in training. Did that for two years. Eyes healed, but still vision impaired. Took up Muay Thai and Boxing, and did that for 8 years. Remained in shape, martial arts type weights training (power cleans, weighted dips, burpees, jogging etc). I decided to get back into TKD, and joined the only club in my new town (as there are no Muay Thai schools), which is ITF. I have forgotten the patterns, but when sparring and training the black belts commented on my "excellent" (*blush*) technique and the lower belts on my speed and fighting skills, blocking etc and I revealed my WTF black belt status. The red belts were relieved
although they were quite a challenge I must say. The black belts say "once a black belt, always a black belt" and suggest I speak with the Master about wearing my WTF gear, and belt - say, with an indication that I may be rusty on patterns. I suppose they are right, and if I have WTF on my chest, I'll be forgiven for not knowing ITF patterns.
What do you all think? In your view, can I wear my black belt in class reflecting my experience and that I've kepty in shape/kept up fighting skills? I've heard that there are special black belts with white stripes etc on them to indicate an "out of training" black belt.
Thanks for any thoughts. I'll have a chat with the Master and update you. My vision impairment means I find it hard to learn patterns, but that's life. I'll find it almost impossible learning all the ITF patterns given my eyesight, but hopefully I can simply take this in my strike reflcting my disability.
Cheers and thanks
I am new to the forums. I am just curious about perspectives in the martial arts community about this topic; an issue I have only encountered until now. I earned my 1st Dan in WTF Taekwondo when I was 15, 10 years ago. I then had to have corneal eye transplant surgery due to vision impairment, so I gave up TKD and took up Wing Chun, which seemed more gentle and incurred less of a chance of being hit in the eye in training. Did that for two years. Eyes healed, but still vision impaired. Took up Muay Thai and Boxing, and did that for 8 years. Remained in shape, martial arts type weights training (power cleans, weighted dips, burpees, jogging etc). I decided to get back into TKD, and joined the only club in my new town (as there are no Muay Thai schools), which is ITF. I have forgotten the patterns, but when sparring and training the black belts commented on my "excellent" (*blush*) technique and the lower belts on my speed and fighting skills, blocking etc and I revealed my WTF black belt status. The red belts were relieved

What do you all think? In your view, can I wear my black belt in class reflecting my experience and that I've kepty in shape/kept up fighting skills? I've heard that there are special black belts with white stripes etc on them to indicate an "out of training" black belt.
Thanks for any thoughts. I'll have a chat with the Master and update you. My vision impairment means I find it hard to learn patterns, but that's life. I'll find it almost impossible learning all the ITF patterns given my eyesight, but hopefully I can simply take this in my strike reflcting my disability.
Cheers and thanks