How to get black belt fast?

January 11th, 2007 at 15:45 · Filed Under Critiques, Karate

I met a businessman and we talked about karate training for his children. He was quite interested to send his son to my training place at Bukit Beruang. He asked me a lot about karate training for kids. As usual, I explained every details to him.

Almost at the end of the conversation, he asked me how long does it take to get a black belt. I told him it will take two and half to three years to achieve black belt. His first reaction was “Wah! So long. How to get black belt fast?”

I explained to him that a black belt did not signify anything. It was just a grade to show that a student had achieved his basic training just like completing high school. I told him the restriction for my student to get a black belt was above 15 years old. At least at this age, a person had reached some mental maturity and it was easy to understand the meaning of black belt.

A black belt is not just an awesome color to wear. A black belt means one’s learning journey has just begun. It is like one rowing the boat from the beginning of a river, along down the stream, experiencing rapids and difficulties along the journey and finally reaching the mouth of the river (black belt) where the river meets the ocean. Once pass beyond this point, there are a lot of adventure and experience and vast knowledge to seek when one journey into the ocean (black belt and beyond Shodan or first dan).

The man was amazed with my explanation. He reinforced that he would send his children to the training this Saturday and he mentioned that he would encourage and make sure his children to train with perseverance.

I hope he will send his children this Saturday and they will train with perseverance. Sometimes, it is easier to say than done.

There are many people out there looking for ways to achieve black belt in whatsoever training they are taking. I received quite many searches on “How to get black belt fast?” from search engines. I guess it is a current trend for many youngsters who do not understand the meaning of black belt and the life-long commitment and passion one requires in their martial arts training. It is kind of sad and sickening to see this happens. I have heard of people got promoted from 5th kyu to Shodan. One good example happened in the clone Shorin-ryu in Melaka. I do not know how true it is but it sounds possible with the people and instructor at that dojo.

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6 Responses to “How to get black belt fast?”

Jaysimha Bharatheesh on January 16th, 2007 13:51 1

I recall what it means to be a black belt, when i was so proud of my black belt, trained hard and was soundly beaten by my instructor. For the first time in my life i was knocked down and came to know what is meant by seeing stars. He simply said, it does not matter which belt you wear as long as you an defend yourself against any body and behave yourself with every body.
I agree with my instructor, who continued to tell me that, “if you have black belt skills (competency and courtesy) then you do not need that belt. On the contrary if you are a black belt and do not have the skills then also you do not need that belt. It is a tautology. Either way black belt will not signify any thing”.
The belt ranks were discriminatory practices derived from Japanese military classes. Original Okinawan and Chinese roots rarely award degrees. After that event I am not wearing my black belt nor claim so. I just practice and request my partners to do so.
I hope your students follow your principles to appreciate true warrior codes.
Azlimmi on January 16th, 2007 21:43 2

What does it mean to have a black-belt…. to me it simply means that your just have learned how to walk… or how to say the ABC’s…. what do you do then when you have learning to walk? some are just content to do that… others learn to run, sprint, jump, etc… while a few others ask themselves for what purpose do I walk? Is this the right way to walk? Are there any other way to walk? And the list goes on. To paraphrase a man who I have never met, but whose works have a great impact on how I view karate-do, Sensei Patrick McCarthy. He said, Some claim to have practiced martial arts for 30 years, when they are merely repeating 1 year 30 times. Interesting huh? Just somthing for us to reflect on. Achieveing a black belt, only means you have the necessary knowledge to further study the art, and that only if you have put in the requisite time in training. If you have achieved it by other means, then may the Lord have mercy on your soul. Anyway, it’s just a piece of cloth backed by a piece of paper (FYI, do you know that there are some ‘Black Belts’ who season their belts by rubbing sandpaper on them or other means, so as to look worn, and… uuuhhh… experienced, i guess). The true meaning of being a black belt should lie in the person’s knowledge to interpret knowledge, to absorb differences, and to be generous with his/her experience. After all, does not all knowledge belong to God?
Adrian Hoe on January 17th, 2007 22:02 3

Imagine rowing a boat down the stream staring from its beginning. As you row along the stream, it becomes wider and the water becomes more rapid and white. As you approach the river mouth where the river meets the ocean, it becomes muddy and some places are shallow and some may have rocks and waves.

When one is in the kyu grades (color belts), it is analogous to the above scenario. It is a test for one’s determination and courage. When one has arrived the river mouth and going into the open sea, this is when one has obtained a black belt and true adventures and learning process begins. This is the time for one to start learning the differences of philosophy, concepts and ideas in different styles or ryus. It is when one begins to absorb knowledge, to explore new cognition, to understand the fundamentals of philosophy and deviation.

So, it is important to choose the right river (ryu) so that one can be prepared for the open sea!
ridzuan on January 26th, 2007 2:33 4

It took me less than a year to obtain my black belt when I was in the forces. Of course, I was training 5 days a week. Morning, afternoon and night. The training was really exhaustive.

I do agree that black belt is nothing but merely a recognizing and award system. It very much depends on how a person looks at it. Sadly, most instructors nowadays do not explain the meaning of black belt and the grading system.

The main culprit of this problem, IMO, is the capitalization. Karate schools and instructors have to find ways to make a handsome income. One of the way to make money is grading test.
潜龙在天 on January 26th, 2007 9:12 5

I do agree with the capitalization thingy. I asked around the karate schools in Beijing. Some of them have very high grading fees!

Wushu is also going through the evolution. Some schools are having belt systems for their students. There are good and bad about this thing and it is very hard to justify right and wrong in this case.
How to get black belt fast? - Part 2 on January 18th, 2008 9:50 6

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