Black belt prestige

Old black belts

Why is it that senior citizens are 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 testee must meet the requirements; the requirement should not be lowered to meet the testee. 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.