How long SHOULD it take for your black belt?

[ronin.74]

It might also be worth noting that in China their is no belt system. Your ready when your instructor tells you your ready. It could take you a year it could take you a decades. I think it would be nice if all systems still worked like that.

[Sam]

I strongly disagree with saying 4 years or more it bad...... and thanks for assuming TKd is the same as other MAs... we get a lot of stick.

4 years or more is completely reasonable .... psychologically it takes 10 years to become expert in something [if anyone has any particular issue with that statement i am happy to post sources for the data]..... at least... so 4 years is less than half of being expert in your MA ..... it doesnt show lack of dedication, and certainly doesnt mean a scam.....

all depends on the martial art doesnt it - generally scams are done iwth many belts in short time periods rather than long ones anyway.

[merkury]

I tested for my black belt only 1.5 years into my training, and normally I think that'd sound ridiculous, but I feel that this was a direct result of the amount of time and practice I put in. Right from the start as a white belt, I'd attend the later class sessions with the advanced belts, and after that was through I'd go home and practice for a few more hours. I'd attend seminars, tournaments, etc. whenever I had the chance. It's all about focus and dedication.

[aefibird]

Plus, time is no real measure of dedication. Many of the old karate masters earned their dan grades in time lengths that would (these days) have people howling "McDojo"!

e.g.

Nishyama:

started training in 1943. Shodan in 1946, age 23 director of the JKA. Nidan in 1948. Sandan in 1950

Ozawa:

started in 1942. Shodan in 1944. Nidan at university after WWII, Sandan & Yondan in 1955

Enoeda:

started in 1952, was a Sandan in 1956

Abe:

started in 1954, was a yondan in 1964

Ohtsuka:

started in July 1922, received Shodan 12th April 1924

Now, I'm sure that no-one is going to claim that any of these masters were handed their grades (far from it) but if I came on these boards and claimed that I'd recieved Yondan only 10 years after starting training (like Sensei Abe did) then I'm sure that a lot of people would be questioning my grades and my training.

Training length is relative. It's dedication and hard work that counts. Personally, I'd rather spend years as a beginner grade and really say that I know my stuff than reach blackbelt in record-time and be ashamed to wear it as I knew so little.

[mattkulma]

it took me 6 years to get my BB, but at my shcool we only have testing every 3 months and if my instructor thinks that you are ready the she puts you on the testing list if not then you don't get put on. I also started when i was 9 so i took a while, but also the shortest that i have seen someone go from white to black has been 4 years b/c after you get to first gup you need 4 evaluations before you are recomended for the regional Dan test and the evaluations only happen after each gup test. I personly like it b/c it lets you really get the matterial down and not just the movements but a good portion on the philosophy as well.

[sk0t]

I agree with 3-4 years. I think some schools that extend the TKD BB testing length on more than that are just fishing for money. (TKD Only, I know alot of schools that integrate TKD with Hapkido, or BJJ and do multi testings at the same time).

I think 3-4 years is just right.

[KwicKixJ1]

4 years

[ziontkd]

First I am a 2nd degree black belt getting ready to test for 3rd in a couple of months. Before I comment I would like to ask a quick question. Is 1st degree black belt not consider being a novice? Which to me is a beginner. Meaning you have learned how a kick looks and how a punch looks etc. If you where a 1st degree in football terms you would probably be setting the bench unless you were really special.

[sk0t]

ZionTKD, I disagree with you almost whole-heartedly.

If you were a BlackBelt in football terms you would be in the NFL, nothing special in the NFL, but you would be playing.

And as you go on and on in your ranks...you would see a Terrell Owens, or a McNabb...as the higher ranking Black Belts...

Black Belt is like a good rookie in the NFL.

In the MA world, I dont feel BB is a beginner. Maybe a beginner in the BB world, but most schools have more colored belts than BB, so how can they be considered beginners?

[ziontkd]

The point I am tring to make is that a 1st degree black belt is not in any way consider a expert. Yes one should know much more then a white belt, but can not in any way be compared to even a 3rd degree. I want even get into the mental and spritaul parts of it ( which I feel are left out in western MA ).