Are some schools fair on their ranking system?

Question

At my school there are 13 belts. If the student is under 15 and test for their black belt, they get a junior black belt then in 3 months time they can rank up to 1st degree black. My friend tested for his black belt he waited a full year! Full year! Their are two young kids around 10 years old running around with a 1st and 2nd degree belts on. Half the time all I see them do is just flips and stuff. I just don't think thats fair. Adults have to wait a full year or sometimes more while young kids can get whip though in 3 months. If they can handle it fine but it just doesn't sound fair. Are other school ranking systems like this or different?

Answer 1

The sensei's choice dude....what can you do?  His school his protocol.  There are a lot of schools out there just like yours man.  Rome wasn't bult in a day dude, meaning that you should try some patience and chill out a little.  Junior black belt is not a bad rank at all I don't think .... and you're being taught that fair is what your superiors and elders make fair my man.

I wish you had to get two junior black belts before you could rank up!!

Answer 2

why not just buy yourself one of those real fancy black belts online with your name in japanese on it.

Answer 3

I am inclined to agree with both previous answers.  Your school sounds very "McDojo"  

A good school will have a program for each age group that is appropriate to that level.  I do not see a 10 year old performing an effective takedown or series of hard strikes on an adult attacker.  Instead this group should be taught discipline, confidence, agility, awareness, goal setting, evasion, escapes and conflict resolution appropriate to the situations encountered in a 10 year-old's life.  Does this make them on par with an adult capable of dropping a full grown aggressor in 3 seconds or less?  Junior black belts and other programs for the age/skill levels should be utilized to better measure the students overall progress along the way.  In addition, an overlay program should be made for those students that start very young, continue and show excellent aptitude and true leadership ability.

However, that's how it works in MY system.  It's your instructor's school, and life is not always fair.  Nor is one's title or position always based on actual skill and ability.  Wait until you enter the working world and you will see that all around you.  

Most importantly, realize that it is a belt.  It does not contain the knowledge, you do that.  It does not do the work, you do that.  All it does is keep your uniform in place and tell others what you may have accomplished, but you can do a better job of that as well, by showing what you have accomplished.

Answer 4

For mine if your under 18 you stay junior black belt until you reach 18 and then try for your 1st dan. I think your class is a mcdojo right there. 10yr olds shouldn't be black belts its as simple as that