How long does it take to earn a Black Belt?

[SingaporeSling]

Going back to my Karate days - it took 2 - 3 years to get to Black Belt - but then the training was 5 days per week over 2 hour(s) per class.

This dojo has 2 classes a week, 2 hrs per class.

[SingaporeSling]

In Shotokan, the "average" person reached black belt in 3 years. It took me 1. But I also had alot of other experience.

Took 3.5 years in Kung Fu

 

Took 3 years in Aiki Jujitsu

Took 9 years in BJJ

Nice, what form of Kung Fu uses black belt as ranking?

[infinitehand]

My dojo has a 6 year minimum. But I know this varies from school to school. I think the thing to watch out for is garaunteed BBs I'm x amount of time. A lot of commercial schools will also advertise set testing dates every 1.5 months or so and this too I think is a red flag. But if you find a school you like and the training suits you and you work hard, your teacher may give you a BB in 3 years, I say trust his judgment.

[JGarner890]

It took me 10years to get my Black Belt, but I also started when I was 5yrs old, then moved to the Adult Class to where there was different techniques. Should take about 3-5yrs to get Black Belt, that's if you attend every class and show improvment.

[ashworth]

around 11 years from when I first started training, I changed clubs a couple of times,

[ps1]

Joe Lewis, World Heavyweight Karate Champion, for example, earned his Shodan in less than 1 year. Does that make his Shodan, or him as a karateka, less than those who take 5-6 years?

Absolutely not. More athletically inclined, yes. But, in the end, all that matters is you're willing to learn, work hard, give 100%, and be a generally good person.

[xo-karate]

40 years and still not a black belt...

one national championship, and 15 years teaching...3 -4 classes per week.

(I don't know who would graduate me a blac belt. I'm not in any assossiation.)

And it does not matter:)

[cheesefrysamurai]

great topic and great opinions.

I think time spent matters. I am not sure there are enough hours in the day to get a black belt in 1 year. (without significant prior training)

On a slightly different note, I don't care much for "sideline" martial artists or people who dont want to put in the work but try to "sit at the same table" as people who put the work in. I know this guy who was on and off the mat for about 7 years, he was buddy buddy with the sensei, he read a lot and liked to consider himself much higher then the green belt he wore. One day a guy from an organization came in, wanted everyone to pay membership fees and for reasons unbeknownst to me granted him an honorary black belt - BAM - he opened his own school.

I would feel weird accepting someone as my Sensei with very little experience. I would call him sensei if my teacher gave someone the rank, but if my teacher left, I would leave too.

[xo-karate]

Yep cheesefrysamurai,

it's often difficult for us ordinary people to understand the higher skills and values big sensei's see in others techniques - or some times it's just social skillfulness:-)

I don't wear a black belt, but I've been granted 4 dan and a masters title. I know it was a political maneuver. ( I'm not saying that I don't deserve it... In my mind I do, but not that way:)

So the question is how long does it take one self to accept own skills to be in black belt level? And what is the graduation that you will accept. I know a guy who gave him self a black belt. And he was a good competitor. I also know many situations where a competitor was awarded a black belt to be able to compete in international competitions in 80's. (Haven't followed it lately).

Also one year to black belt can happen in Judo. Roy Dean got his dan in one year.

I think we cannot compare black belts and it's just one phase in our journey of martial arts training. It just does not matter when you get it or if you ever get it, as long as you practice. You practice or your own skills, or health. The outer sign that you might know something... by wearing a black belt? It's for motivation maybe social respect, but it has nothing to do with your actual skills. I've seen better green belts than some black belts are - so what?

Next Tuesday morning I'll tie my Gi with a white belt - just to make a statement at our training. (Others will have black belts on..)

Just to point out that normally I wear a gray belt in this session. Gray as my hair:-)

[Himokiri Karate]

Joe Lewis, World Heavyweight Karate Champion, for example, earned his Shodan in less than 1 year. Does that make his Shodan, or him as a karateka, less than those who take 5-6 years?

I am shocked to hear 3-4 years, I have heard it takes 7-12 years to get a black belt in kyokushin karate!