New Title: No Longer Disappointed

Folks who know me from way back when know that I "used" to be a martial arts nut ( Karate and Kenpo). I took it very seriously and worked very hard at it.

My daughter (9) recently started Taekwondo. Ignoring the stereotypes (her mom is Korean), she really is quite good at it and picks it up fast.

She had a belt test tonight. She and I worked for HOURS the last two weeks getting her ready. She knew the curriculum backwards, forwards, left, and right. She knew her form, she knew her blocks, kicks, punches, and EVERY self defense move (one-steps). During the test, she did her form and then paired up with another to do all of her one-steps/ There are eight, with about 3-4 strikes each. The idea was that she would act as attacker and hold a punch while her partner did his, and then alternate. Her partner couldn't remember ANY of them. So he never finished one. As a result, she never got to do hers.That was my first letdown, although it was a simple misunderstanding that she didn't know what to do due to his incompetence.

They then tester knowledge of Korean language (very basic, counting mostly). She knew it ALL. Her partner? Nada. Nil. Zip.

At the end, they both passed. This is my hang up. He shouldn't have passed. He hurt my daughter's test by getting stuck. He is now a yellow belt with my daughter. There was not one single white belt there that had half the knowledge. form, speed, or power my daughter has. I am disappointed because she and I worked so hard, and we could have walked in and basically asked for a belt. I get that it is a beginner kid's class, but it is misleading for those who are there for self defense. She doesn't need discipline. She doesn't need confidence. She needs self-defense. I know my daughter loves the place and it is fun for her, but I just don't know. I feel like it should be taken seriously. If you don't know the stuff, you shouldn't pass. Even if it is a white belt. I started with traditional Karate when I was 19. I started with no belt. Within 3 months, I had moved up from none, to white, to yellow, and was moving to another. I quit and went to Kenpo at that point, where it took me well over 6 months just to get out of a white belt.

But this is a young child. I am conflicted. Does anyone know if other TKD schools do this as well for young children? Or do they take it more seriously? Is it just an age thing?

 

Re: Disappointed...rant

I understand why you are disappointed.

Your daughter did not get the credit and recognition that she was due and which she had earned,
taking into consideration the shortcomings of her partner.

It seems to me the the owner/operator is mostly concerned with making the parents happy, not making any of the kids look bad
and helping everyone to 'feel good'.

You'll probably have to find another school.

 

Re: Disappointed...rant

Thanks

The goal is to get her black belt before she starts dating. Then start her in another style.

I had given thought to the whole parent reaction thing too. I can understand from that regard. I am ok with this, as long as her testing for her stripe in 3 months and green belt in 6 doesn't end up the same way.

 

Re: Disappointed...rant

I agree that it seems like a "All the kids get the grade" type of place, but the important thing is she is learning it well. The belt simply signifies they passed a test, it's not a true depiction of talent. Look how many people pass a driving test that realistically speaking should not be on the road.

Take pride in the fact she passed properly and with merits that are important, but since you actually want her to understand self defence for the purpose of self defence and not just to show everyone what colour belt she has, the important thing is she DOES actually know it.

Be proud of the fact of how well she is actually doing and not concentrate on the politics of it.

 

Re: Disappointed...rant

Yeah, I hear ya. However, it comes down to that I am the reason that she is so strong in what she knows. They may have given her knowledge, but I am the one who has actively sought to help her with it and make it viable. I show her how the self-defense moves work, and how they can be modified for when the situations change. I am the one that spends hours a week with her to get her where she is now.

I guess Dad is a little hurt that he didn't get to show off his pride and joy and have her stand out from the rest. Darn you, pride! I'll enroll her in the next tournament or something and let them see then just how awesome she is :-D

She hits A LOT harder than most of the boys in her class, and all of the girls.

 

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Well, the important thing is - YOU will know and SHE will know what you both put into it and the results, i.m.h.o. ~ Congrats to the both of you!

 

Re: Disappointed...rant

I would definitely seek out a different dojo then, there are different styles of Tae Kwon Do as well as different "mindsets" out there. Look around and make some calls.

 

Re: Disappointed...rant

Boy, you REALLY want her to be prepared. LOL

 

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Hey, I am not getting any younger! :-D

 

Re: Disappointed...rant

I find this amusing, this is how my mind rants too, you want to rant about the incompetence of these people but realistically speaking you take massive pride in the FACT that it is YOU, her Father who is teaching her the things that matter, the "Rules" etc as it were.

So if you break it down to what you said in the above quote.... would you really want it any other way?

You seem like a father who really cares and really wants his child to do and be the best she can be and do.
In my opinion, only a father can do that properly because only a father cares that much.

Take pride in your achievements, you deserve it.

 

Re: Disappointed...rant

Blurry pics ftl. Stupid phone.

Anyway...

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-JTHaSsCETIo/UF5m-2srCTI/AAAAAAAAAww/5zHEX6QmhGw/s720/IMG_20120922_183024.jpg

She started a month ago and is already well past her peers.

 

Re: Disappointed...rant

Back when I was taking Karate, we often had a Japanese man (deceased now) who supervised the testing. I do think it is being dumbed down these days, to the detriment of the students.

We used to do one steps. One punch or kick, given on command to one part of the body. Defender would then block said punch or kick.

I had a guy not block, and was told to take it easy on the lower belts. I don't want to get political, but...

I mean, you know what hand is going to try to punch you, and you know where they are going to try to punch you. And you can't block it? :confused

 

Re: Disappointed...rant

That sounds like TKD more than Karate.

TKD does one-steps, which are the self defense techniques. Jenna had 8 of them for her first belt, all of which she knows by heart and has power and form with. Nobody else during her testing did.

I hear you and agree. That is why as you move forward, the techniques increase in hits. I think Green belt is 5-7 hits per one-step. For her white, there were only 3-4.

I also work with her to not only understand her one-steps, but to learn how to modify them per change in circumstance. Further one-steps build off the last and if TKD is like Kenpo, then it is likely that everything past Black Belt is merely variations of the same things, except learning to modify and adapt.

 

Re: Disappointed...rant

Wow, Adryn - Your daughter sure has grown fast, i.m.o!...:major

 

Re: Disappointed...rant

I know it!

Seems like it wasn't that long ago she was starting preschool.

 

Re: Disappointed...rant

Well, my daughter's hard work has paid off! She would have placed first, but she panicked and froze. Of course, we had only decided 24 hours prior to the tournament to compete.

I also got to see some of the older students compete, and I no longer feel bad about the school. They are pretty darn decent, and do a lot of weapons training, which I thought was neat.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-3holFoN46Gs/UKGX5xAoWZI/AAAAAAAAA4M/Tv5Oi3Y-PDc/s640/2nd.png

 

Re: Disappointed...rant

Congrats to her! :dancer

Cute kid!

 

Re: Disappointed...rant

Thanks

She has lost a lot of weight just from the first pic I posted in this thread.

 

Re: Disappointed...rant

Great Photo !!

She seems really happy.

Wonderful.

 

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Yeah, it was a much needed boost to her self-confidence.

 

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That is just AWESOME!!! Congrats to her for all her hard work and practice :celebrate (and extra bonus points for having to deal with Daddy in the process)

 

Re: Disappointed...rant

Congrats to her on the achievement(s), Adryn. Also congrats to you on the patience, etc., lol!:cool
Yeah, she does seem to have lost a fair bit of weight. ~ Lookin' good!

 

Re: Disappointed...rant

Thanks everyone!

 

Re: Disappointed...rant

She's a cutie. Congrats to her! (and to you, dad )

 

Re: Disappointed...rant

So I talked to the head instructor last night. They are moving her up two ranks this December if she passes the testing. This gets her into the advanced class and gets her into more intense training. I'd be concerned that she is moving too fast, but she is miles ahead of anyone in hr current class.

She joked with me this week and said, "Daddy! I arm wrestled for the first time and won! It was a boy!"

If she passes, she will be moving to green belt.

 

Re: Disappointed...rant

Awesome! :-D:-D

In just a few years she can be your security guard. :cool

 

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LOL He needs one with that "vicious" vocabulary of his as it is now! eek:-D

J/k Bud, hope you and yours had a great Thanksgiving!!:wave

 

Re: Disappointed...rant

Back at ya

 

Re: Disappointed...rant

Jenna joined a junior instructor class this weekend as well as the demo team. The demo team is for demonstrations of martial arts, which of course is choreographed. These advanced classes have really helped her. She is learning how to use a sword, and soon a bo staff with her being in the instructor program. She also gets to learn advanced techniques.

 

Instructor, eh? You must be very proud!

 

That's gotta rock!! Good for her!

Was thinking about you yesterday, wondered where you been.

 

Great news on Jenna's advanced classes, Adryn!!!major

 

Well guess what Adry, you know who starts 6th grade next year. First time for electives! They actually offer a martial arts class! (Will need to get details of course)
I was VERY happy when he chose that and Robotics! :-D

 

Nice!

 

@Serious Sam, I am going to give you the same advice I gave Jenna. When it comes to sparring, she was (and still is to a point) terrified, especially when she was punched in the face the first time.

Tell your son to keep his hands up. They will try and get him to drop his guard with a kick and then aima well-placed punch at the head. Instead, have him block with his legs from the waste down and deflect kicks (or roll into them or sidestep) when they are higher. Once they are in hand range, his guard needs to be up at all times so he can protect and counter. Its working well for Jenna.

The second thing is for him to go on the offensive and fire a flurry of attacks to keep them off balance. When they are off balance they tend to panic and do poorly. That worked really well for Jenna last night. She kept pressing a higher ranked green belt and they folded. It was similar to watching a boxer beat down an opponent too tired to guard themselves anymore. Now they used light contact, but the point is that she put enough pressure on them that they didn't know what to do and she got the upper hand.

Also, martial artists in general (kids are worse) tend to rely on kicks as their main attack. Tell your son to treat the kicks as a distance weapon to either get them away, or to close the gap. Once they are in hand range, switch to hands, don't continue kicking because kicks are slow, tiring, and ineffective close range. As they move away, send them packing with a well-placed kick Rinse, lather, repeat.

 

Awesome advice and thanks!!! I've been out so long now. I have actually taught him some blocking techniques for punches before we even knew about this. He is really big for his age and because of that alone it makes him a "target" of sorts. (See who can take out the big kid). Got a while before he starts but I'll keep you updated. And thanks again.

 

Let me know how it turns out!

 

Jenna is testing again next month for her Green Belt stripe!

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/602138_471272702938585_308427444_n.jpg

 

That looks like it hurts.

Good for her though.

 

Awesome! Good for her! :cool