Re: underestimated
My other word of advice: if you are willing to learn from your juniors and peers, and your rank-mates are not, it's very likely you will eventually surpass them. As you say, there is a lot to be learned from lower-ranked students, so you are getting a better "education" than they are. It may help to think of this when they are annoying you.
I learned a ton about the kneeling pin from kotagaeshi from an eight-year-old green belt, because I was so impressed that a tiny child (he is really small for his age) could nail me to the mat that I had to find out how he did it. So I just have access to more good teachers than the people who think that kids are beneath their notice. It's the same for you.
Mary Kaye
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