Why Are Dojos Giving Out So Many Black Belts?

What do you think about kids getting black belts? 

My father had a black belt in judo, and he was a judo instructor when I was young.  I remember his students training for years just to advance one belt, and some were good enough to reach a brown belt by the time they graduated from high school. 

Black belts were reserved for the best — those who studied the art as a profession.

The youngest black belt in Great Britain is an 8-year old boy from England. Although he is adorable and has good form, he certainly doesn’t have the discipline, strength, or conceptual knowledge that a black belt represents.  When children can reach the ultimate goal — a black belt — by age eight, what could they possibly strive to achieve beyond that?

And, what does it mean to older teens who are working towards their black belt but have only earned a brown belt?  Does anyone really believe that this 8-year old boy could beat a 17-year old brown belt?

Let’s be real here. Sounds like American and European martial arts has become a victim of helicopter parenting…  Shouldn’t students win their belts because they have truly earned them through hard work, practice, and discipline? Besides, I hope these students don’t get hurt because they incorrectly think they have mastered the art of self defense.