I recently had a young adult inquire about our program. He seemed excited about what we had to offer and was eager to get started. But during our initial conversation, he asked me, "How fast can I get my black belt?"
I've experienced this question before and there can be a variety of attitudes behind it. I answered him as I always do: I told him that at our school, it takes a minimum of 4 years and that's with diligent effort.
His response? "Can I get it done faster if I pay extra?"
My response? "No. If that's what you're hoping for, I don't think our school will be the best fit." Our call ended shortly after that and I haven't heard from him again.
I have the fortune to work with many amazing students and parents who understand that our belts are not just participation awards. If getting a "black belt" is all that matters to you, you can buy yourself one off the internet. Or find a school that will give you new belts as long as you keep paying. At our school, every belt we issue is earned through effort, skill, improvement, and attitude.
This is one of the big reasons why our belt testings are by invitation only. We don't invite everyone to test - only those who are ready.
If I have to choose between someone scraping by at testing vs waiting a cycle and testing next time, I will always choose to wait. Black Belt is a journey, not a destination, and I intend for my students to be successful every step of the way. It's not a race! I will always choose what I feel is in the student's best interest, and sometimes that means not having a so-so test this time in order to have a stellar test next time.
Taekwondo is complex. Even very gifted students who "get it" quickly benefit from the time we spend at each rank. Just because you've got something down superficially doesn't mean you're ready to move on. The repetition of technique improves skill and understanding. As Bruce Lee said, "I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks. once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times." We need the practice time!
So, if you find yourself wishing you could get your black belt faster, I invite you to take a step back and enjoy the process. This journey is one that you can enjoy your whole life, and taking your time will ultimately serve to make you an even better black belt.
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