From: kckbxr@next09csc.wam.umd.edu (Robin Hood)
Subject: Re: Tae Kwon Do, getting a Black Belt, etc...
Organization: Workstations at Maryland, University of Maryland, College Park
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 1992 22:51:04 GMT

In article <Nov20.055635.8993@yuma.ACNS.ColoState.EDU>  
hurben@lamar.ColoState.EDU (Mike Hurben) writes:
>   I have been training in TKD here in Ft Collins for about a year now,  
and I am
> presently a red belt (white,yellow,green,blue,red,black).  This was not  
my
> first MA experience...I took some wadu-ryu (sp) about 12 years ago, but  
only for
> about a year.  It seems very similar to TKD.  My Do-jang is in the World  
T.K.D.
> Federation, so we study the Tae Guek forms, and Koryo form.
>   I am very pleased with the progress I have made.  When I was a yellow  
or 
> green belt, it was not uncommon for me to spend 12 - 15 hours/week  
training, but
> now I am lucky if I get 8.  Now, the way that testing is done here is  
that
> for black, you essentially have to test twice.  By the way, is this how  
most
> schools do this?  What happens is we have 'Black Belt recommend' which  
is what
> you get if you pass test 1, and you also get to wear the belt.  Then,  
the
> second test is for '1st Dan.'  Now, I don't believe that there is any  
way that
> I can become 1st Dan in just 6 or 7 months, partially because I don't  
think
> anyone should be able to get it within that short a time span.  But I  
think that
> if I really push, I might make recommend.  Is this a reasonable goal?   
How
> many years "should" it take?  If nothing else, having this goal will  
make me
> work much harder, and that will be good for me, regardless of how I do  
on my 
> test.  I just don't want to waste my money.  Any thoughts?
> 
> Kom-sahm-nee-da
> 
> Mike Hurben
I've studied TKD since 1987 and I still haven't received my black belt.   
I'm a student, so the last two years have really been kinda off-and-on as  
the semesters roll-around.  My school is also a member of the World Tae  
Kwon Do Federation, but I'm not sure that that means a standardized form  
of testing or belt levels.  We have 10 belt levels.  The belt system at my  
school is beginner, white (you have to test for white belt), yellow,  
green, blue, purple, red, brown, brown senior, and black.  Then there are  
a variety of degrees of black, of course.  For the first few belts, the  
average amount of time is a minimum of 3-4 months of training (at least  
two hours twice per week = 4hrs).  Most schools advertise that students  
can earn themselves a black belt in ONLY two years, but, in most cases,  
it's all just a sales pitch.  A real black belt takes a long time to earn.  
Too many times a kid/adult will prode the teacher into letting them test  
(and pass) and not really be qualified for a belt.  I've seen kids &  
adults receive their belts and look absolutely pathetic...it all depends  
upon the student and his/her instructor.  You might want to try competing  
in a local tournament to test your skills.  When I received my white belt,  
I persistently asked my instructor to teach me more and more.  Before most  
of my fellow classmates were even sparring each other, I was sparring my  
instructors (all multi-degreed black belts).  Take the initiative to push  
yourself to your potential.  Ask your instructor how you're progressing  
and ask to be shown additional techniques.  For example, I knew my brown  
belt requirements when I was only a blue belt.  My advice, would be to  
check out every potential resource (i.e. instructors, other students,  
tournaments, etc.) and set a goal that's both realistic and attainable for  
yourself.  Good luck.

bill