how long for black belt?

[andym]

Below is the tried and trusted , some would say old fashioned, grading time table. It was excepted by ALL Karate styles and organisations. We still use it, if you are studying Karate and your Dojo is no longer following it - ask yourself, why? To my understanding, it has never been repealed nor superseded. I firmly believe had this system by enforced, at all levels, local, national and internationally, Karate would not have most of the problems that currently afflict it.

In 1971 the Federation of All Japan Karate-Do Organisations (F.A.J.K.O.) came up with an agreed formula for the minimum length of training time and minimum ages for all grades with-in Karate. It stated that Kyu (coloured belt) grades should be a MINIMUM of 3 months apart and that there must be an at least 6 month gap between the final 1st kyu gradings and the first Dan, black belt, grading.  With 9 kyu grades and this 6 month gap, the minimum time anyone could receive their black belt would be after 30 months, two and a half years training. That’s a minimum, a bare minimum at that, not a recommended time scale, because F.A.J.K.O. also stated that a student had to have trained for a minuim of 4 years prior to a Dan grading !

F.A.J.K.O RANKING SYSTEM 1971

ON ENTERING THE DOJO YOU BECOME A 9 KYU ; WHITE BELT. A MINIMUM OF 3 MONTHS TRAINING BETWEEN GRADINGS

GRADE 9th KYU 3months to 8th KYU 3months to 7th KYU 3months to 6th KYU 3months to 5th KYU

4th KYU 3months to 3rd KYU 3months to 2nd KYU 6months to 1st KYU

MINIMUM OF 12 MONTHS GAP FROM FIRST KYU TO FIRSY DAN GRADING

A CANDADATE FOR FIRST DAN MUST HAVE TRAINED FOR A MINIMUM OF FOUR YEARS BEFORE GRADING

MINIMUM NUMBER OF YEARS BETWEEN DAN GRADES AND MINIMUM AGE FOR THAT GRADE

FIRST 16

2 SECOUND 18

3 THIRD 21

4 FOURTH NONE

5 FIFTH NONE

6 SIXTH 35

7 SEVENTH 42

8 EIGHTH 50

9 NINETH 60

10 TENTH 70

[LittleW]

Seems like I started far too late to reach the highest ranks of Karate.

[Ueshirokarate]

Seems like I started far too late to reach the highest ranks of Karate.

Rank is an artificial concept that may or may not say where you stand Let the Makiwara tell you what rank you are and just be the best karateka you can possibly be.

[LittleW]

I know, Ueshirokarate.

I'm not that talented anyway, so I'd never have reached high Dan-Grades.

And we have a rather long time between our tests at my dojo, not just the required minimum time.

So probably a 7th kyu at our dojo could mean much more than a 6th at the dojos where they do.

[Ueshirokarate]

I know, Ueshirokarate.

I'm not that talented anyway, so I'd never have reached high Dan-Grades.

And we have a rather long time between our tests at my dojo, not just the required minimum time.

So probably a 7th kyu at our dojo could mean much more than a 6th at the dojos where they do.

These are the words of the founder of Matsubayashi Ryu. I can think of no other post ever posted where these words would be a better response to than your last.:

Precepts For Mastering Karate-Do by Shoshin Nagamine

He is human and so am I.

I cannot develop my own potentialities when in the trap of self-limitations.

I must discard this self-limitation. If he practices 3 times, I must practice 6 times.

"Do not depend upon others for your improvement." Musashi Miyamoto, Japan’s greatest swordsman, once said, "Pay your respects to the Gods and Buddha’s, but never rely on them."

Earnestly cultivate your mind as well as your body and believe in yourself.

Karate-do may be referred to as the conflict within yourself, or a life-long marathon which can be won only through self-discipline, hard training and your own creative efforts.

[LittleW]

That's a very nice quote.

To me, belt ranks are nothing I have to achieve but a visible pay-off for my efforts.

I know, I'm only on the beginning of my Karate-training, but even today I'm better than I ever would have imagined becoming.

[cyriades]

Seems like I started far too late to reach the highest ranks of Karate.

Rank is an artificial concept that may or may not say where you stand Let the Makiwara tell you what rank you are and just be the best karateka you can possibly be.

This ^. But, imo...Training a few hours a day, and few days a week, under a solid instructor really shouldn't take less than 2 years. But there are even exceptions to that. However, it usually takes 4 or 5 years to attain shodan.

[LittleW]

This ^. But, imo...Training a few hours a day, and few days a week, under a solid instructor really shouldn't take less than 2 years. But there are even exceptions to that. However, it usually takes 4 or 5 years to attain shodan.

2 years to shodan is impossible in Germany. The rules from our assosiation require 3 months waiting between the kyu-grades, which makes at least 27 months to 1st kyu, and then one year to the black belt. So, if you are very good and tested as soon as possible, it takes you a bit more than three years to shodan.