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Physically or mentally disabled

Should a physically or mentally disabled person be awarded a black belt because it is not their fault that they are physically or mentally disabled? Some think so. 

I love to sing. I sing around the house, in the car, and while walking my dog. However, there is one problem, I cannot carry a tune and my voice cracks. However, this does not deter me, I keep singing; I just do not sing where anyone can hear me. Should I be awarded a Grammy because of my perseverance at singing, because I really want to sing, or because I try so hard to sing? After all, it is not my fault I was born into a family with no music talent in the gene pool. Is anyone doing me a service by telling me I can sing, by telling me I should pursue my dream of singing, or by rewarding me for singing? It is best that people tell me I cannot sing, and then lead me toward a goal I am better suited for, and which I may reasonably attain. Why is this simple logic not applied to the martial arts? Why do people encourage others to be black belts when it is obvious they are not suited to be black belts and do not have the physical, mental, or emotional abilities to become a black belt? Why do martial art organizations, schools, and instructors award these people black belts? Any reason they give to justify their awarding the black belts should also be a reason that I should be awarded a Grammy.

If you want to create some other ranking system for people who cannot physically, mentally, or emotionally meet the requirements to be a black belt, then it is an option; just do not call them black belts or equate them with black belts. You might even create a separate fighting system for them that uses techniques they are capable of performing; just do not water down your martial art’s black belt requirements to help a specific group of people and then consider them real black belts. The Special Olympics are for people who, due to circumstances beyond their control, are not able to compete in the Olympics; however, their medals, while they hold high prestige within the Special Olympic community, are not Olympics medals and do not hold the same prestige as Olympic medals.

Aged

Why is it that senior citizens are be given a break when they test for black belt. You either can do what is required for a black belt, or you cannot.

Everyone reaches an age or a condition in life when they cannot perform tasks they may have been able to perform at a younger age. A person should not be awarded a black belts based upon what the person did, or may have been able to do, in the past; a black belt should be awarded based upon what the person is able to do now.

A black belt tester must meet the requirements; the requirement should not be lowered to meet the tester. Not everyone is able to walk, kick, remember a sequence of movements (such as a pattern), or perform at the level of a black belt. That is life!

If you want to recognize the efforts of lesser able persons, then create some special belt system for them or create some other type of self-defense program for them, such as in done in the Senior Olympics. Just do not award them black belts if they cannot perform at the level of a black belt.

Once you start making exceptions to the standards, it never stops; everyone wants a special exception. This is not like archery where you get points for coming close to the bull’s-eye; it is more like basketball where you only get points when you make the basket.

Over the hill black belts

Once you are awarded a Olympic medal for the 5000 meters, you will also be an Olympic 5000 meters medal winner, even if you are now too old to run at all. Once you are a black belt, you will always be a black belt, even if you are too old to kick a bucket. However, this does not mean that people should be awarded black belts based on the age or previous abilities.

The martial arts community, and the general public, has an opinion as to what a black belt is and expectation as to what a black belt should be able to do. Although these expectations may be lower for an older black belt, the expectations are still high. An older black belt may not be expected to perform as a younger black belt, but they are expected to perform much better than non black belt people of the same age. Age does not make black belts unfit or fat. Barring any legitimate medical reasons, they become unfit and fat because they do not care or because they do not want to do what it takes to be fit or trim.

You can still do that which you do; if your do not do it, then will not be able to do it.

This is one of my not so famous sayings. I can still punch and kick because I punch and kick everyday. I am fit and trim because I work at being fit and trim everyday. If a black belt does not care enough about his or her black belt status to stay fit and trim and performing at a level greater than do non black belts of the same age, then the prestige of the person’s black belt will drop and the prestige of all black belts in general will suffer.

Sometimes black belts cannot do, but they talk of when they once could. However, the reason they cannot do may be because they never could.

Once you cannot maintain the standards of a black belt, do not appear in public as a black belt. I am a retired U. S. Navy master chief and as such, I am still permitted to the wear the uniform at special occasions, which I did for years. However, now, while I am still fit and trim, when I wear the uniform I look like an old man who is trying to relive the past, so I do not wear it. I still retain the rank of master chief petty officer but I do not pretend that I am still a master chief petty officer. I am a black belt and at age 60 can still perform as a black belt, equal to if not better than much younger black belts, so I still wear a black belt. However, I no longer test for rank. If I did, I would probably be promoted, but I would not be judged as a younger person, I would be judged as a senior citizen, so the rank would mean less to me.

The Rolling Stones are old, but they still perform as well as they ever did, so they keep making music and people still pay to see and hear them. When people start to say “I can remember when they were good” it is time, actually past time, for the Stones to hang it up. I am old-ish but I still wear a black belt because people still say, "He is good." When people start to say “I can remember when he were good” it is time for me to just teach and not perform.

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