Tae Kwan Do ?

[Karenas]

If you've practiced and attained a fairly high rank, but not black belt, then spent many years away from Tae Kwan Do, when you pick it back up again later, can you legitimately wear the last belt you earned?

Thanks!

 

[islandman]

Have you gained weight in the interim?

 

[Karenas]

This is for a story I am working on. The character is an extremely fit male.

 

[The_Trouvere]

Belts do not have any real significance in karate. Any instructor can give belts on his own authority. The wise instructors give belt promotions to encourage their students to keep coming to class, and keep paying tuition.

The only thing a belt really means is it indicates how long a student has been coming to class. In any large class there will be plenty of lower belts who can defeat higher belts in sparing matches.

 

[Saint Peter]

Have you gained weight in the interim?

The only boards I am breaking these days are on the seat at the bus stop.

 

[Karenas]

So, if you've been away from it for ten years, but you're still in shape, would you go back to a class with the last belt you were given?

 

[Sean Renaud]

Belts do not have any real significance in karate. Any instructor can give belts on his own authority. The wise instructors give belt promotions to encourage their students to keep coming to class, and keep paying tuition.

The only thing a belt really means is it indicates how long a student has been coming to class. In any large class there will be plenty of lower belts who can defeat higher belts in sparing matches.

To be fair being bigger goes a long way in winning a sparring match. A 70 pound kid is gonna have a hard time with a 215 pound man even if the man is paying more attention to his cheeseburger than the kid.

 

[boudicca_love]

You spelled it wrong.

The head instructor or a master would test you and give you a belt rank.

The test will check your fitness and what skills and knowledge you've retained.

 

[Karenas]

You spelled it wrong.

Oops! thanks!

 

[atypicalgeek]

It's really up to the instructor, but generally, if you can do forms and techniques you can skip a lot of lower belts. A few things to note.

If you are returning to the same school or type of school, as in WTF to WTF, it should be easier. You may just have to prove you can meet the requirements of that rank. Within the same school, once you attain a rank, it's yours.

Switching from, for example, ITA to WTF will be harder because you won't know the forms and some of the techniques/terminology. You should never be able to get a black belt in a WTF school because you had one in ITA or WTF.

Also, all color belts are lower belts. Technically, your first black belt is a beginner black belt.. I would congratulate your effort and dedication, but if there is fighting in your story, that training won't get you incredibly far unless you spent a ton of time sparring.

I don't know what your story is about, so I have no idea if this was helpful.

 

[Karenas]

It's a very minor plot point that would probably not bother anyone else. I do appreciate your information.

Would you be willing to look at that section of my story and give me feedback about the terms used, plausibility, etc? It's about one page in Word.

 

[bronzeage]

It's really up to the instructor, but generally, if you can do forms and techniques you can skip a lot of lower belts. A few things to note.

If you are returning to the same school or type of school, as in WTF to WTF, it should be easier. You may just have to prove you can meet the requirements of that rank. Within the same school, once you attain a rank, it's yours.

Switching from, for example, ITA to WTF will be harder because you won't know the forms and some of the techniques/terminology. You should never be able to get a black belt in a WTF school because you had one in ITA or WTF.

Also, all color belts are lower belts. Technically, your first black belt is a beginner black belt.. I would congratulate your effort and dedication, but if there is fighting in your story, that training won't get you incredibly far unless you spent a ton of time sparring.

I don't know what your story is about, so I have no idea if this was helpful.

I have a black belt in WTF.

 

[atypicalgeek]

I have a black belt in WTF.

That's great. I'm glad you are in WTF. My brother started his kids in ATA or something and I keep wanting to tell him to switch them.

Also, to the OP, I could look at it but not til much later. Bronzeage, if he has time could surely help.

 

[bronzeage]

That's great. I'm glad you are in WTF. My brother started his kids in ATA or something and I keep wanting to tell him to switch them.

Also, to the OP, I could look at it but not til much later. Bronzeage, if he has time could surely help.

No, just WTF, not a martial art.

 

[Karenas]

Thank you.

 

[Karenas]

atypicalgeek, I've sent you a pm with the material. I'm not in a rush. Thank you so much!