I recently read an article in the Winnipeg Free Press regarding a six year old achieving
his black belt in, what else but, Tae Kwon Do.
This frustrates me because it gives the impression that a black
belt is easily achieved.
The child started training in Tae Kwon Do at the age of
three and a half. Two and a half years later, and he’s already a black belt. I
guess this could be considered the norm when it comes to certain martial arts.
There are several versions of the history of the black belt.
Some say that when a student first started training in martial arts, they
were given a white belt. After 20+ years of learning, training and practicing, the
belt became so faded, stained and dirty it was black.
Western society could not understand this type of commitment
and dedication and were focused on measurement. Therefore, a sequential belt
and ranking system was born and has even spread back to the east.
Others say that Kano Jigoro, the founder of Judo, first gave out black belts in the 1880's. Regardless, the full ranking system we know today has existed for less than 50 years.
This ranking system has its place, allowing students to
differentiate which students have earned the rank and respect, provided it is
based on proficiency of skill. Any dojo or school that rapidly promotes
students to satiate their need for achievement is forgetting the main purpose
in training in martial arts.
By bending to a students or the public's need to rapidly
advance, we are not teaching patience, and a martial artist without patience is
dangerous.
The value is in teaching dedication; seeing something
through to the end with no end in sight. Martial arts’ training is a path and
not a destination. Allowing our children (or ourselves) to be caught in an
instant gratification trap does not teach the value of hard work and doing
something for the sake of doing it.
The Winnipeg Free Press article goes on to explain that this child has earned a
"poom" belt, and the "real" black belt cannot be earned by
anyone under 16. I know for a fact that you can achieve a "real"
black belt in Tae Kwon Do in three years. It will be interesting to see if this child
actually sticks it out to get his real black belt that is now 10 years away.
To emphasize the difference between a student who achieves a
black belt after three years of training twice a week (which is what the
maximum amount a student can train at the school mentioned in the article) and
a Siu Lum Kung Fu student, I would place our Green belt against their black
belt.
Now, our green belt is three belts from white and seven
belts from black. Our instructional class time is one hour per week, and
students are expected to practice speed and strength techniques on their own.
This teaches dedication and value. Our class time is maximized for efficiency
and not wasted with endless punching and kicking of mirrors or shadow
opponents.
Our message to our students is "you get out of it as
much as you put into it".
This Winnipeg Free Press article seems like a brilliant marketing ploy to sell
their new and improved, faster, easier, less work, and immediate reward Black
Belt producing system (insert Sham Wow infomercial guy here).
So I caution a buyer beware. Tae Kwon Do schools are built
on a strong business model, and that is a large reason they flourish in today’s
marketplace. They promote quickly and sell hard. They are a large part of the
martial arts market, and with the exception of the recent popularity of MMA, have
been popular for years.
Now consider McDonalds; not exactly a 5 star restaurant but
reasonably priced - quick, easy and on every corner. Just like a Tae Kwon Do
McDojo.
Siu Lum Kung Fu is based on the most recognized martial art
in Shaolin, and we will not compromise our value for the sake of mass producing
Black Belts who are not able to defend themselves as a true Black Belt should.
Siu Lum Canada is Winnipeg's Shaolin school. We teach the Siu Lum style of kung fu. Our training revolves around real life situations and real life solutions. There is no question that we will not answer.
Watch our video and get a glimpse of what we do at Siu Lum Canada.
Follow us on Twitter at @SiuLumCanada
Email us at siulumkungfu@gmail.com
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