unfair belt rankings

hi, im a 2nd degree blue belt , i'm 14 yrs old and i have been taking aikido since i was 8 or 9. when i recieved my first belt it was yellow, i then got orange, then blue and then a 2nd degree blue. But what bothers me is... my sensei only did this type of belt ranking w/the childrens class for a short period of time. Now i see adults recieving 1st degree blue as their first belt and they dont seem nearly as experienced as i was when i got my first belt , because 2 belts have been skipped (didnt mean to sound conceited) . And there doesnt seem to be a longer time period b4 recieving it or anything. Just a week ago at our dojo a girl recieved her blue belt and she cant even take a hard fall or do techniques the correct way.

Sorry i dont want to sound like im complaining , but i see this as a real problem , i think everyone should have the oppurtunity to get as much experience as the next person. I think this will only create problems down the road for other aikidoka . My sensei is a great instructor , but i think this is his one big flaw.

Please write me , giving your opinion
much appreciation
-Paige

Kids need more tests and colored belts to keep them motivated. Adults don't get hung up on that sort of thing, that's why most dojos don't even have colored belts until shodan (black)

Not being hung up on this sort of thing is a sign of maturity. (hint).

Jeanne

I'd say stop worrying about your and other people's rankings and get back to training. "Experience" doesn't come from the color of your belt...

In ten years, what you're worrying about right now won't matter at all, one way or another.

-- Jun

Paige,
It's all good, for some there is merit without skill, and for others (such as yourself) there is skill without merit, I think this is what Jeanne was trying to say (hint).

First, consider the amount of schooling/life experience these older albeit newer people come into the dojo with. They have had those years to learn how to learn, and they may pick concepts up more readily, at first . She isn't a 2nd degree blue like yourself, and by time she is, you may be ready to rank yet again, if you haven't already.

On the other hand, A bit of patience has to happen as well, physiologically speaking. You've been doing aikido with equipment you're used to for the last 5 years, and that equipment is changing. Psychologically your concern is valid, for your point in life. We all have to experience that hastiness before we learn to chill out a bit.

And finally look on the bright side, you could be me, 27 and only one of those years spent in aikido. At least as far as aikido goes, I am tremendously envious of you. Think of where you'll be when you reach the age of this new gal, or even my age!

Have a good weekend, hope this helped

logan.

"I'd say stop worrying about your and other people's rankings and get back to training. "Experience" doesn't come from the color of your belt...

In ten years, what you're worrying about right now won't matter at all, one way or another."

You'll spend most of your life as a black belt if you keep training, so why worrie.

-Chris Hein

Here:

http://www.blackbeltshop.com/deluxe_black_belts.htm

Problem solved.

EDIT: Oh yeah, and read the above posts.

don't be disheartened by this. Learn from it. Life won't always be fair, so you'll just have to live with it. 5th kyu. That's where I am. I had the same problem. A guy twice my age (if not more) got to take his first test within two weeks of joining the dojo. It took me nearly a month. I took all the same calsses, did all the same techniques. Yeah, I was a little pissed, but it didn't stop me. I actually take a little satisfaction because sensei corrects him more than she corrects me. You have the skill level, he has the belt. Put it this way...Which works better in a fight? Skill, or a colored belt? Think about it. (BTW, I'm only 13) One more thing that a very wise man told me once: "Less chat, more mat". That solves about anything.

Excellent post James. You're not really 13 are you?

I also don't believe that post came from a 13 year old, Awesome!

-Chris Hein

BTW James, that should be "mettle" not "metal" in your sigblock

That is why I do much love the BJJ perfomance-based belt system.

Don't focus on the belt. It's just something that keeps your uniform closed.

If it's any consolation, a few weeks ago while I was training in my beginner's class, I happened to catch a glimpse of Doshu (Ueshiba sensei) walking down the hall, and he was wearing a white belt with his keiko-gi (he had taken off his hakama and was holding it).

What is a hakama? just curious.....
And about the thread,I agree with about everyone here.... (BTW, were did smilies go?)

Got go with Jun, stop complaining and get back to training.

Unfair to who, according to who? Just because your instructor doesn't do it the way you want them to doesn't mean its unfair. It just means you would do it differently. And when you have your own school and classes you can.

Paige. I agree with you. It does seem unfair. I think dedicated training should be acknowledged no matter what age you are. I have found in my training that some things don't seem the way I think they should be. I have noticed this and then decided whether or not I want to keep training. For me training is the most important thing so I just keep coming back.

I hope you find some resolution to this dilemma.
Mary

Ignatius Teo wrote: Excellent post James. You're not really 13 are you?

No, I am. Born February 6, 1992, at kaizer permanente in Oakland, CA

thanks everyone for all of your opinions , i think what i needed most was a little criticism. I hope to see more posts on here later . Thanks again! Paige

Chad Scott wrote: I happened to catch a glimpse of Doshu (Ueshiba sensei) walking down the hall, and he was wearing a white belt with his keiko-gi

Well after all, he is the only guy teaching there who has no rank whatsoever.

Liam Smith wrote: What is a hakama? just curious..... And about the thread,I agree with about everyone here.... (BTW, were did smilies go?)

hakama=black baggy pants

my smilies work...

darn you and your working smilies!

.....mwaaahaaaaaahaaaaaaa!!

Mine too.
Lan

Don't feel bad Paige.

Jeanne

Oh....

mine to!!!!!
Lol
Regards,

You're the rank you're at, regardless of your belt color. It's really not that important. There's nothing unfair about your sensei shaking up the colors a bit. It's not as if you've been demoted.

The ever changing belt color drove me nuts when I was doing karate. Not only in terms of the ego that gets attached to belt color but also in terms of what it did to my wallet. I was a very poor college student so coming up with the money to both pay the exam fee and then buy a belt was a struggle, especially if I wanted to, you know, eat more than bread and peanut butter that week. Belt colors are pointless. You can tell more or less where someone is in their training just by the way they move.

well...at least my kanji work...