20 Problems You'll Only Understand If You Were A Martial Arts Kid
18. Belt Envy
As a beginner you were quietly ashamed of your brightly coloured belt. It set you apart from the smug older kids with their murky browns and dark purples, or even their - whisper it - black belts. Unfortunately for the first couple of years you'd be stuck firmly in rainbow territory, trading basic armlocks with other yellow and orange belts until you could progress to something more exciting.
17. Gradings
Your martial art was supposed to be a hobby, something to distract you from the boredom of school and homework. So why on earth did it have an exam system!? Gradings were brutal. Trying to remember four different reversals to a front kick while your stern-faced examiner watches on is about as relaxing as it sounds.
As a beginner you were quietly ashamed of your brightly coloured belt. It set you apart from the smug older kids with their murky browns and dark purples, or even their - whisper it - black belts. Unfortunately for the first couple of years you'd be stuck firmly in rainbow territory, trading basic armlocks with other yellow and orange belts until you could progress to something more exciting. 