Time in grade

[Dr. Frank]

Of course it can vary wildly from one style to another and one instructor to another. My first instructor was a great karateka and teacher but he was very slow in giving rank. He felt 6 years was about right for shodan. I was with him for 17 years and left as a nidan with no hint of any promotion on the horizon. There were a couple guys who had a more time in than I and were also still nidans. I think most people would agree that 17-20 years and still a nidan is very slow progression.

After being out for a while and moving to a new state I found another dojo and started again. After one year he said I was over-qualified for nidan and I was promoted to sandan.

New instructor thinks 3 years for shodan is good (IMO maybe 4 is perfect but naturally I don't argue him). You want it long enough to be meaningful but not so long good students become discouraged and give up.