Another topic in the general TKD section promted me to start this one.  How old do you think that a practitioner should be before being eligible for first dan, and thus being allowed to wear a black belt?  Note: I firmly am against poom rank students wearing anything other than a poom belt which is black and red.  I say that so that my context is clear.

So lets hear your thoughts.

Daniel

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교사 Yidan kumdo, Ildan taekwondo

I think the dan belt comes with the dan rank. For us WTF-types, that is the standard. Poom rank should use the poom belt. IMO.

Not sure what Kukkikwon says on the subject but I do know that you are not considered "Dan" until you are 15 years old in the school I attend.  I would be surprised if Kukkikwon does not having some sort of rule on the subject.


I do know that my GrandMaster's grandson, age 6 now, has learned all the forms up to 4th Dan.  Does that make him a 4th Dan because he can mimic the poomses?  Though he is quite skilled at his age and is a joy to watch at competitions, I would be hesitant to rank him w/ his father who is in his early 30's and is a 4th Dan.

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Old enough to know better; Dumb enough to keep going!

In the TAGB you can attain the grade of Black Belt at any age(tjhe youngest in the TAGB i know of being 9 i think) tho she is good unlike many young Black Belts. The TAGB don't allow anyone to grade for 2nd Dan until they are 16 which i believe is fair. I like this way of doing things.

Personally, i don't like the idea of Poom grades. I dunno why i just don't lol

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Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self Control, Indomitable Spirit.

Kukkiwon says that your ranking changes from poome to dan at 15. 
It also says that the highest rank you can achieve under 15 is 3rd poome.  Additionally the poome belt is red and black.  Also there is only a $70 processing fee for your certification, if your sabunim is charging you more than that... 

That being said, in our old class we used the 10 belt system with first gup being a red black belt.  First poome and first dan both wore a black belt.  I don't have a problem with that at all.  Our instructor, GM Kim (9th dan) said that since my son had been wearing a black belt for years he didn't see any harm in allowing him to wear it in class but when he tests at kukkiwon he wears a red black belt. 

I don't think anymore negatively about a poome belt being black than I do someone having their name/school/ranking embroidered on their belt. 

My 2 cents. 

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Student of the Zero Chamber Power Kick

BTW since we are on the subject of belts and colors, is there any truth to the rumour that GM Rhee developed the colored belt system because of American student's instant gratification requirement made it necessary.  Students always wanted to know, "how close am I to my Black Belt?"

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Student of the Zero Chamber Power Kick

Thanks for giving us the run down from Kukkikwon Old_Guy.  I thought they would have something in writing. 

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Old enough to know better; Dumb enough to keep going!

ooo like the WTF people added something like 2-3 years ago that they made the people under a certen age like a diffrent certificate and all that i think its like 16 or something and they are not really 1st degree but when they are a certen age and the test for their next degree then they get the full WTF certificate.. like the kids one is red/orange ink and then the adults are a diffrent color ... gosshhh and it takes soooo long to get yours i ordered mine like 2 years a goo and i still dont have my certificate or my card!!!! 

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kickin_yellow wrote: ooo like the WTF people added something like 2-3 years ago that they made the people under a certen age like a diffrent certificate and all that i think its like 16 or something and they are not really 1st degree but when they are a certen age and the test for their next degree then they get the full WTF certificate.. like the kids one is red/orange ink and then the adults are a diffrent color ... gosshhh and it takes soooo long to get yours i ordered mine like 2 years a goo and i still dont have my certificate or my card!!!!

Talk to GM Chang about your certificate. It shouldn't take years. A few months, maybe.

Old_Guy wrote: BTW since we are on the subject of belts and colors, is there any truth to the rumour that GM Rhee developed the colored belt system because of American student's instant gratification requirement made it necessary.  Students always wanted to know, "how close am I to my Black Belt?"

No; the belt system comes from judo and was developed by Jigoro Kano, I believe.  I had read somewhere that Rhee (I assume you're talking about Jhoon Rhee?) introduced the gold or yellow belt to keep students from quitting before green, but I have also heard differently.  Either way, he did not introduce belts to TKD. 

So far as I know, TKD started out with five belts; white, green, blue, red, and black.  Wouldn't mind seeing a return to that, but I doubt that I will, apart from opening my own dojang.

Daniel

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교사 Yidan kumdo, Ildan taekwondo