Should I let him quit?

[OhWhatNoooow]

Hi there! My 8yo DS recently started Karate lessons and until today has enjoyed it immensely. We bought the kit aswell thinking he would carry on. Well, after todays class, he told me he wants to quit as he doesnt think he'll ever get to be a black belt.

Now, hes abit of a perfectionist and if he thinks he might fail at something, he wont even try. I dont want to let him quit, but can I force him to go? I dont want to teach him that when things get hard we can just give up.

I think he maybe just had a confidence crisis today. And he's only said it once, so don't feel bad about making him go next week. My DD is 8yo and she is so fickle! Also, he hasn't said that he isn't enjoying it, so you should encourage him to go. He needs to know that if he wants to do well at something he has to work hard. He can't expect to be a black belt straight away (my DD always expects to master everything immediately!)
If it were me I would say that he has to go for a set period of time (maybe until the summer holidays) and have another talk about it then.
My parents made me go to piano lessons for 3 years despite the fact that I hated it and I didn't really progress at all. I was only allowed to quit because I started playing the trumpet and found that I enjoyed that and progressed a lot faster (which is probably why I enjoyed it.)
As I said, he needs to learn that if he wants to do well, he has to work hard. And also, it is good exercise and a good social activity. You should definitely force him to go for a while. It might not be his calling, but it isn't going to do him any harm to give up a little bit of time once a week to do something that is actually worth while. Maybe you could start another activity as well if he insists he doesn't want to do it and then after a period of time, let him choose which one he wants to do (although he may well want to do both!)
Remember that if you do have to force him to go, then you're doing it for his own good. On the other hand, he might really want to go next week :)

Thanks so much for your reply! You've pretty much clarified it for me

I've trained martial arts for a while but I'm not (yet) a mum, so make what you will of this!

Finding out why your son wants to quit might really help your decision. Sometimes dojos can be scary, dangerous places. Did someone get clocked in the melon or fall down last class? Maybe he's worried about injury. Is the teacher good with kids and engaged with them or can he be a bit of a tyrant (might be worth popping in unannounced one class to see the class dynamics). Has your son decided he doesn't like it because it's boring to punch the air fifty times? Lots of people find it dreadfully tedious.

Of course, I love to see kids find their feet and really become amazing at karate. It's such a joy. But the first three weeks can be very, very hard and there are just as many good reasons to quit karate as join.

Ack! Sorry OP, didn't see the critical bit about him feeling black belt is too far away!

Maybe helping him set new goals? Leaning new kata, the names of stances, etc?

I have a rule that they need to complete the current term. Normally I've had to pay for the term in advance, but even for pay as you go, it gives a bit of time to figure out if they really are not enjoying it or just a bad day.
This rule has worked well for me. The kids have left some hobbies at end of term, but changed their minds and remained in other hobbies.

I can give you a huge list of things my DS has quit (always just after we've bought the kit).
With DS1 I used to coax him into persevering whether it was football or piano lessons.
It's miserable.
With DS2 I decided that there are enough things in life I have to make him do and I refuse to force him into doing stuff that's supposed to be a pleasure.
Result?
I'm wrong on both counts