KARATE BLACK BELT AT 9 YEARS OLD?

I've been studying and teaching martial arts for over forty years and have yet to see a reputable school which would award a black belt to a nine year-old. The state of martial arts in the United States has been a disaster for a long time, and a black belt can be obtained by any child whose parent can write out a check. If Helberg continued his training for years thereafter he may well be a legitimate black belt now, but a legitimate black belt at age nine? Not buying it for a second. I've been involved in martial arts for more time than most people on IMDB's boards have been on the planet and I've never seen one.

No kidding! Mom and Dad probably signed him up at the local Cobra Kai (Malibu branch) at age 8 and had him karate chopping candy glass at age 9.

He often makes fun of it as well and doesn't take it serous. He said he obtained it when he was 10 and started when he was 5. But he never has claimed that he was a badass; I'm fact, just the opposite. There's a clip of him making fun of his so-called black belt when he was on Conan. Look it up, it's pretty funny.

I know it is possible. I have taekwondo blackbelt classmates who are young kids. Their parents and siblings are blackbelts in class too, so I know these kids are disciplined in practicing at home a lot.

Yeah, its possible BUT, ..... How legit is it??? The whole martial arts scene (Tae Kwon Do, Karate, Judo, etc.), esp. in the United States, is basically a SCAM. The bottom line (no pun intended) is that if your willing to spend the money then you can excel through the "belts" much faster than if you don't. Given Simon Helberg's background, "earning" a Black Belt at the age of nine is certainly in the cards. Why do you have to PAY every time you advance to the next level??? Heck, if anything, you should be REWARDED each time you excel to the next higher belt.