Why does it take 3-5 years to earn a black belt?

Question

I honestly know nothing about the sport. Please inform me.

Answer 1

It is because you need to train your body to instinctivly move in new ways. There is alot to learn and this takes time.
Martial arts is a life long ambition. A black belt doesn't mean you're a master and are done. It maens that you understand enough of the basics that you can start to develope your own inner style from what is taught. A black belt is really just the beginning.
Not all Dojo's are money sucking businesses. Our Dojo won't test someone unless they are ready. We do not want to fail someone and take their money. We promote according to skill level and understanding, not on how many classes they have taken, and we only charge by the month, not by contracts.
I teach in my Dojo for free. I help anyone who asks for no charge. If you're Dojo is set up like a gym membership than get out, Don't give up.

Answer 2

Well, some say that the dojo's are money sucking leeches. Some are, some aren't. Lets assume you are not in one of those. I have been doing Martial Arts for some 33 years. I have studied in the orient. Going every day, 6 days a week you can earn your shodan (1st) black in one year. In the US most students go 2 times a week for 2 to 3 hrs a class. It takes X amount of time to train your mind & body to become instinctive enough to react to certain situations required of a Black Belt. More or less the same time here than in the Orient to earn, just in the orient you do it all at once. Now also in the orient, They give you a first degree black belt when you master your BASICS. The orient consider a 1st degree black belt a master of Basics that is now ready to learn Karate.
Hope this helps

Answer 3

Scenario: you're walking down the street and somebody aggressively approaches you...you say, "better watch out, I have a black belt"...hmmm...WHO CARES!!! And if this guy is doped out on crack it doesn't matter what you say. How can you tell the difference between a practioner with twenty years of experience and one with four when they are not in the dojo. Simple, their actions. If you think that earning a black belt makes you a true martial artist or great fighter you are dead wrong. I have seen blue belts take out and take down black belts. A black belt only means that you have the basics to begin to understand what you don't understand. Martial arts is a lifestyle, not a three or five year period of your life that makes you invincible. Constant practice brings knowledge and skill that cannot be given through a belt, but earned and understood through time.

Answer 4

3-5 years??? Tell me what form of martial arts this is so I can enroll. If the instructor teaches a true art and does it correctly, there is no way to achieve this rank in any form in such a short period of time. I am a student of Chon Ji Tae Kwon Do and just to go from a red belt black tab (just under a black belt) to a black belt takes 2-5 years alone. Too many schools promote students to higher ranks to improve their image without the student being ready for the rank mentally, physically, and spiritually.

Answer 5

When a person like you that has never had any experience in martial arts you start with the basics.Stretching, cardio, basic blocks, punches, kicks and forms or Kata's.You have to build the body first train it to become powerful and strong.You have to learn how to use the techniques you are taught proficiently and to the standards of your instructor.As you progress through the ranks you repeat the techniques you learn over and over hundreds of times.The more proficient you are and how hard you train depends on how fast or slow you move up in the ranks.Starting from white belt up to black belt it should take you three years to achive depending on how hard you train.

Answer 6

It depends on the person, but it takes time because you're learning to master the basics. Martial arts is not just physical, but mental as well. Yes, some schools put you on a pace for money and that is not right at all. If your school only allows you to go two days a week and you only practice those two days, yes, it will take you 4-5 years. If you commit yourself, you can do it faster.

Answer 7

There is much to learn - typically the belt rank is as so ... White, Orange, Yellow, Green , Blue, Purple, Brown (3 levels) Black (many levels)

Each belt typically earns 10 stripes for instruction learned. It takes approx. 3-4 months per belt to perfect what you have learned.

Answer 8

3-5 years??? are they giving them away now...what has the martial way come to where the color of a piece of cloth is the basis for how mature and experienced someone is. I have been studing for 28 years, ant I don't identify myself as a "Black Belt", I just think that such thing are generic and serve no purpose.

Answer 9

it depends on the practicion er i have seen guys who have finished the art in a year but i can take up 2 a life time... if a guy is the last 2 class and the first 2 leave and he never thinks bout his art sept in class itill take forever.. but if u train daily and make it ur life every movement becomes your art and u progress much faster.. its a matter of commitment and value/pratice

and the black belts dont really matter muney suckers hand em out 2 get students and thus creat halo blackbelts (i blame akka karate and tea kwon do.. not 2 say they all suck but... yea i blame the generic 1's.)

Answer 10

Many schools have very specific testing intervals. So to move between belts, you MUST wait a period of time. That could take 3 years to go through all the ranks up to black. And if you do not pass every time on your exam, and have to wait to test again, it could take longer.