A lot of Taekwonde schools these days dont teach the legit thing, i attended one for 2 years before leaving. Dont waste ur time there, make sure u check them out before u sign up. And dont sign any contracts! Ask or u can observe what the youngest blackbelt is, if the youngest is less than 15 then i suggest u dont stick around. Look up McDojos, make sure the school ur looking at isnt one, or all ur time, money and willingness to learn will go to waste. I felt bitterly dissapointed when i found out what McDojos were and realized my school was one.
If you think that someone is too young or undeserving of their black belt, why don't you spar with them? Believe me, some of these teenage black belts are more than worthy of their rank. There are 13 year olds who can hurt you, even if you are a "grown man" because they are just that good, and/or, that big. The only reason an adult black belt can beat a child black belt is because the adult has the adult brain AND the training, while the teen just has the training. Ask a middle school teacher in a bad school how dangerous a child can be.
I can, to a degree, understand the objections to someone of single-digit age, or a pre-teen, being a black belt, BUT, if we are saying that a black belt means "just the basics", then a gifted child can pull that off. If we say a black belt should be able to teach (my standard), then of course you would not award that rank to anyone under 13.
That list on what is a mcdojo is not totally correct. It's basically someone who is biased against kid-oriented schools, Taekwondo store fronts in particular, and storefronts in general. Why rail against them when there are plenty of other schools----some of which are Taekwondo----that are not profit oriented. I know, I know, you want your martial arts teachers to be monks who have taken a vow of poverty in order to be able to learn the secrets of martial arts.
Every school is a bit different. Just show up, on time, in comfortable workout clothes. Be attentive and courteous.
You will need an open mind, respect, courtesy, perseverance, determination and you will have to bow to the instructor , Korean flag & take off your shoes!
You need to ask the *** chole how things are done.
When you first come in what do you need and what will they make you do?
