One of the questions most commonly asked of martial artists is, "How long does it take to get a black belt?"

There are many different answers to this question. Most people want to hear that it takes just a year or two of attendance in class to get a black belt, but unfortunately it does not. Misconceptions about what a black belt is tend to give students unrealistic expectations. At the same time, there is almost a superhuman and mythical character associated with black belts that tends to inflate the ego of those not properly prepared by their training.

The general public today sees black belts worn by very young children, contracts at martial arts schools that guarantee a black belt within a short time, mail-order black belts for sale in martial arts magazines, celebrities with honorary black belts, and demonstrations of black belt skill involving walking on nails, swallowing swords and other feats. This raises general questions about the meaning of the black belt, and threatens the legitimacy of all martial arts ranks.

The founder of Judo, Jigoro Kano, created the rank system used by almost all modern martial arts. The black belt was the first rank he created to signify completion of the first step of training, and it was the first time a belt rank was awarded in martial arts. At the time it replaced the traditional scrolls or diplomas used in older martial arts. Essentially it was a symbol of a student's graduation to another step in training. Similar to other forms of graduation, a Judo rank is a recognition of accomplishment, but it is the education and training itself that is important.

If you want to know how you get a black belt, you find a competent teacher and a good school, begin training and work hard. It is not easy, but it is a step-by-step training process and someday, who knows when, it may come. It may take a few years, it may take ten years, or you may never achieve it. A candidate for black belt will realize that the black belt is not as important as the practice itself. When you realize that no matter how long or how hard you train, there is a lifetime of study and practice ahead of you, you are probably getting close to a black belt.

If you think you deserve a black belt, you are probably a long way from reaching this rank. Strive to retain a sense of humility, and refrain from thinking "I am better than so- and-so". You cannot compare your struggle or achievements with other peoples'. This is why ranks are earned by the student, but awarded by the sensei (instructor). The sensei (literally meaning one who has gone before) has the responsibility for guiding you through the training and development that he or she has been through. The sensei is more likely to recognize all the factors that make up a black belt. These factors include more than just the physical skills and techniques. They also include conduct, character, and internalization of the principles of Judo. Application of the Judo principles to life outside the dojo is one of the unifying commonalities that brings black belts together. As a black belt, you strive to apply all the principles you have learned in class to the rest of your life. For example, when you learn that you must be committed to a Judo throw and follow through to make it work, as a black belt you should become conscious of how these same principles will help you to achieve other goals off the mats.

Train hard, be humble, don't show off or complain, and do your best in everything in your life. This is what it means to be a black belt. Black belts are often ordinary people who try harder and don't give up. Black belt can be achieved in spite of any weaknesses you may have. I have promoted men and women who began training very late in life, people who were disabled or blind, and people who were very afraid of physical activity when they started. It is how you face and overcome your own personal difficulties that determines your character, an important component of a black belt.

On the other hand, to be overconfident, to show off your skill, to look down on others, and to show a lack of respect characterize the student who will have difficulty achieving black belt. This is not to say that black belts don't have faults, they are just the ones working on improving themselves. Striving for perfection as a whole person is a sign of the black belt. What they wear around their waist will always be more than simply a piece of merchandise bought for a few dollars in a martial arts supply store. The belt will represent their personal struggle to achieve excellence.

The first level of black belt in Japanese is called shodan. It literally means "first level" or "beginning step". Sho (first) is an ideograph that is comprised of two radicals meaning "cloth" and "knife". To make a piece of clothing, one first cuts out the pattern on the cloth. The pattern determines the style and look of the final product. If the pattern is out of proportion or in error, the clothes will look bad and not fit properly. In the same way, your initial training to reach black belt is very important because it determines how you will eventually turn out as a black belt. After years of training you have cut the pattern and learned the basic techniques. The promotion to black belt is a recognition of this hard work and a level of accomplishment that one can be proud of. On the other hand, shodan is really just the beginning, the base, for learning Judo or any martial art.

In many years of teaching, I have noticed that the students who are solely concerned with getting their promotion discourage easily, as soon as they realize it is harder than they expected. Students who come in just for practice, without concern for rank, always do well. They are not crushed by shallow or unrealistic goals.

There is a famous story about Yagyu Matajuro, who was a son of the famous Yagyu family of swordsmen in 17th century feudal Japan. He was kicked out of the house for lack of talent and potential, and sought out instruction of the swordmaster Tsukahara Bokuden, with the hope of achieving mastery of the sword and regaining his family position.

On their initial interview, Matajuro asked Tsukahara Bokuden, "How long will it take me to master the sword?" Bokuden replied, "Oh, about five years if you train very hard."

"If I train twice as hard, how long will it take?" inquired Matajuro. "In that case, ten years," retorted Bokuden.

For most people, martial arts are like horses. We have all seen them in the movies and on TV, but, in reality most of us couldn't tell a $500 horse from a $5000 horse, nor could we furnish very much specific horse information.

Most people know that belt ranking in martial arts is related to skill level, and they have their own ideas of the meaning they attach to their personal definition. That's fine because a belt rank is just that: a subjective evaluation given by one person. And that's what it should be. Let us explain.

Many people view a rank as defining a place in a hierarchy, which means that their rank means something only in relation to someone else. People with this type of attitude eventually degenerate into petty ego conflicts as they try to match and surpass the ranks of others. The study of martial arts, though, is undertaken to make one's self a better person. A teacher recognizes and acknowledges this step by step. A belt rank, therefore, is a teacher's acknowledgment and recognition of a student's accomplishments.

Therefore, the value of the belt (recognition) is directly tied to 1) the person who gives it, and 2) the effort it took to obtain it. This involves personal, subjective judgments and evaluations on the parts of both the teacher and the student.

The criteria for awarding a rank follow in a similar vein. That means skill level, attitude, effort, and conduct do not have precise definitions and guidelines. It also means that the judgments made by the teacher reflect his age, experience, and the kinds of things he is ultimately trying to teach the student.

Be aware that ranking is a fairly recent phenomenon, within the past 100 years, originating in modern Japanese martial arts, specifically judo. It has gained a great deal of emphasis and popularity in America, bringing with it problems and misconceptions.

As far as problems go, we have seen ranks given for money, sex, kinship, political reasons, and for other ranks in return; needless to say, this is a different beast than the ideal one we defined above, one several de-generations removed. What this shows us is that—as with many political constructs—it looks good on paper, but the reality of it is quite different.

Along with these very purposeful problems for insiders are the misconceptions of the general public; perhaps the greatest of these is the definition of the highly coveted and much sought-after black belt. Everyone has his or her own definition, and that is exactly the state of things. By this I mean that there is little standardization and continuity within any one art, let alone any relationship in terms of knowledge and ability among different arts. I'm not saying this is bad. It is as it is and it is as it should be. I am saying that people in general need to understand this fact in order to dispel some of the myths associated with martial arts—no, not every black belt can put his hand through your ribcage and rip out your beating heart, and I don't care what your cousin told you—and instead focus on the positive aspects of studying martial arts. Through education, we can end generations that have spoken from ignorance instead of from knowledge. Any part you play in this only makes the art better.

Can these problems and misconceptions be eliminated? I don't think so. Can ranking itself be eliminated? Again, the short answer, at least for Japanese and Korean styles, is no. However, this does lead us to look at the Chinese example. Again, keep in mind that this is an ideal, and the Chinese reality has its own pitfalls and problems.

When you ask a classical Chinese martial artist about his martial arts background, his response should have four components:

The style he studied

The length of time he studied

With whom he studied

An offer to step onto the mat

These are points to keep in mind no matter what art you study. If you ever have the opportunity to watch an older, experienced, quality martial artist in a new and unfamiliar environment, you will notice that he will be forthcoming with the aforementioned four elements, but you will have to drag his rank out of him. The first thing a poser or glory hound will tell you is his rank.

There are many lessons to be learned by the study of martial arts. The progress you are making in traveling this path is indicated by the signposts (ranks) that those traveling before you (your teachers) give to you. If you ever want to know why someone (you?) didn't receive a particular rank while another student did, look in the mirror and work harder.

Remember, martial arts are about learning and making yourself a better person. It's an activity you do for yourself, not for anyone else, not for any external award or reward. As long as you feel good about yourself and feel you are learning, your practice is worthwhile and its own reward. With this attitude, you are on the right path.

For years, you’ve been told a lie. An ugly, dirty lie. Indoctrinated by people you trusted, with the implicit purpose of “protecting you from reality”, you’ve been secretly brainwashed since you first discovered martial arts.

Why?

The short answer: Because a convenient lie is safer than an inconvenient truth.

The long answer: Because if you knew the truth, the whole truth, you’d probably never have started martial arts to begin with – and you’d most likely not be reading this paragraph.

I know...Mind-blowing, right? Let me explain:

The Black Belt Myth - They wanted you to believe it.

They really did. And for the most part, they actually succeeded. Books. Movies. TV shows. 
 Magazines. Advertisement. The list goes on. Everywhere you looked, you were made to believe that the highest achievement, the ultimate sophistication of traditional Karate, was to get the legendary black belt.

A belt – so black, it defies both time and space. The image of that dark, mysterious and exotic belt – flawlessly tied around the six-pack abs of a fearless fighter – was projected at you day and night, by everyone around you.

That fighter? It could be YOU. That fearlessness? It could be YOURS. (Those abs too.) Just get the black belt, and everything would be perfect.

Well...

At least that’s what they wanted you to believe...Until you realized the following:

No matter how many times you watched The Karate Kid, Kwai Chang Caine or Ninja Turtles, the ancient cornerstone principles upon which Karate rested would NEVER have anything to do with a piece of black cloth hanging around your waist. Never.

The black belt was a lie. A myth. A fairytale, based on a fundamentally flawed fact.

You see, the day after you got your black belt, when all the partying and hoopla stopped, you undoubtedly came to a pretty disturbing realization:

Nothing changes. Let me repeat that. Nothing. Changes.

Sure, you probably have a few more bruises. Maybe even a black eye, or a sore rib. And your wallet is probably a bit slimmer, from that hefty grading fee you had to pay. But you’re still the Exact Same Dude. You still forget tiny details in kata. You still make “stupid” mistakes in kihon. You still get your ass kicked in kumite. And yes... You still have trouble with self-confidence, motivation or injuries. Just like the day before – when you didn’t have your black belt yet.

What a...Relief! Now you can finally stop focusing on “that belt”. And start focusing on yourself. Because a black belt is not the end. It never was. It is the very beginning. That’s why it’s called sho-dan in Japanese (lit. “first-level”).

So...Once you understand this fact, which has been kept hidden from you for way too long, you’re finally free to pursue Karate for its true and most important purpose: A vehicle for discovering and developing the human potential.

And that’s the dirty secret of being a black belt. Black is the new white.

The meaning of the concept black belt changes from decade to decade. Obviously, what a black I belt means today is different than what it meant back in the late 50's when I was first exposed to Martial Arts.

What it means as a fighter may be quite different from what it means to someone who may be a teacher, a business person or just a family member.

First and foremost, to me it I means being with the warrior spirit. The real warriors after all, were the ones who historically went into combat and tested their knowledge to discover what skills worked or which ones did not. Whether they were competing with their fellow man in preparation for combat, or were actually on the battlefield, these warriors were the only ones who experienced the cutting edge. Only they could return from combat and tell others what that experience was about. I am talking about first hand experience, what it is like being in the line of fire - not merely as a peripheral, casual observer, but actually tasting the blood, feeling the pain, and experiencing the agony of mental stress. The principles these warriors developed in those days still work today, not only on the battlefield, but also in business endeavors.

COURAGE TO LEAD

One of the first things I look at, observing someone wearing a black belt, is how he carries himself. It takes real pride to strap that belt on, stand there, grounded, knowing that you truly represent everything for which that belt stands. That alone is a mark of courage. There is no doubt in your mind when someone asks you "Are you a black belt?" you can speak not only with substance, but also with authority when you answer "Yes ." The resonance in your voice alone sends a strong message of conviction, that if you had to prove it, there would be not only conviction with your intent, but also backbone in your execution. Underneath all of this, deep down in your power center, there is this energy of your spirit. If there is no doubt in your mind, then there will never be doubt in any one else's that you really have it.

COMPASSIONATE LEADERSHIP

You cannot be a leader without a strong inner constitution. Leadership is not for impostors. When you believe inwardly that you are something that you are not, it is impossible to conceal that.

To me, leadership begins with an inner honesty, an inner trust and respect for self.

One of the virtues of being a black belt is to pass your knowledge on to others, to help others achieve the same things which you have achieved for yourself. If you cannot make it work for yourself by being self-deceived in breaching your own values, then you cannot help others. Therefore, you forfeit your ability to lead. A black belt is one who does not deceive through forfeiture.

RESPECT

And last, a black belt means respect. Why respect? Because without it, none of the above would have any meaning. Without maintaining the responsibility to strive for self- respect, you would be devoid of any virtues or attributes which would appeal to anyone. The integrity of your self-respect must remain your top priority if you wish to wear a black belt proudly. The black belt has no meaning to others if you are not proud of it and wear it responsibly.

CUM CORDE ET ANIMIS

Many government buildings in Washington D.C. have a Latin verse. Every state flag in the Union has a Latin motto. On my Black Belt certificates I have a fighting seal and it reads Cum Corde ET Animis. Cum Corde means with heart,"to execute with total conviction." Et Animis means,''and having or with the spirit of courage." For me this represents the force of one's fighting spirit.

In a way, the black belt symbolizes a force, and there is a force within each of us. The energy within that force is what I call the spirit. And in the end what this all amounts to is growing. The True Martial Artists is one who can mastermind, creating the right conditions for his physical attributes, his psychological nature, the situations to which he adjusts, enabling himself to fully develop in becoming a healthy black belt.

And likewise, a compassionate leader is one who . cares enough about others and has the spiritual energy to mastermind not only with his own growth, but a large body of others who respect his ability to lead. One has to lead not just by example, but by providing others with not only the knowledge, but the inspiration to create a stronger purpose in their lives.

By reputation, my black belts are basically good teachers and tough contact fighters. The signal I wish to send is how important the character fiber should be of a genuine Black Belt. A healthy philosophy and a strong training constitution will give you the vision to create your standards and the courage to make them work. In spirit, the Black Belt should be something every individual looks forward to earning.

One of the best parables I've ever heard tells about a martial artist who kneels before a master sensei in a ceremony to receive the hard-earned Black Belt. After years of relentless training, the student has finally reached a pinnacle of achievement in the discipline.

"Before granting you the belt, you must pass one more test," the sensei solemnly tells the young man. "I'm ready," responds the student, expecting perhaps one more round of sparring. "You must answer the essential question: '”What is the true meaning of the Black Belt? "

"Why, the end of my journey," says the student. "A well-deserved reward for all of my hard work."

The master waits for more. Clearly, he is not satisfied. The sensei finally speaks: "You are not ready for the Black Belt. Return in one year." As the student kneels before his master a year later, he is again asked the question, "What is the true meaning of the Black Belt?"

"A symbol of distinction and the highest achievement in our art," the young man responds.

Again the master waits for more. Still unsatisfied, he says once more: "You are not ready for the Black Belt. Return in one year." A year later the student kneels before his sensei and hears the question, "What is the true meaning of the Black Belt?"

This time he answers, "The Black Belt represents not the end, but the beginning, the start of a never-ending journey of discipline, work and the pursuit of an ever-higher standard."

"Yes," says the master. "You are now ready to receive the Black Belt and begin your work."

All wise people see that changes can be new beginnings. Change need not be feared. And neither should we be looking for a permanent resting place, for a full and happy life is never stagnant.

Can you affirm that the change you face represents, not just an ending, but a new beginning in your life's journey? If so, you may be ready to move forward.

The standards for how one earns a black belt, in any martial art, is all over the board. There are teachers and/or organizations that produce, overall, outstanding black belts; young people and adults that represent the best benefits the practice of the martial arts can bring to one’s life. There are also teachers and organizations that have made the achievement of one’s black belt a joke, a money-oriented, watered down farce of a thing. And yes, there are many schools that sit somewhere in-between beautiful legitimacy and a shocking degradation of what the process is (or could be) all about.

What makes a great test , one that produces a noteworthy outcome, is one-part the focus of the tester him or herself, and two-parts the education, ambitions, goals, experience, and intention of the teacher administering the test. Teachers can’t teach what they don’t know, they only teach what they DO know —so better black belt tests come from teachers with the experience, intellect, knowledge and wisdom, and creativity to design processes that make better, smarter, more well-rounded students.

A black belt test isn’t a thing, a single thing, where one size fits all. A fine test, maybe the “ultimate” test, is where the test fits the needs, desires, and potential of the student. The test taken by the 19 year old could (and should) be far different than the test taken by the 58 year old. The requirements for training for —and the eventual rewarding of —a black belt, in a perfect world, should not only fit the technical requirements set by the teacher or organization, it should be, for the tester, a right of passage or a healing process and/or a process of personal evolution.

Some tests are about fighting, some about fitness, some about healing from wounds, be they physical or emotional. Some tests could —or should —be about transformation, about giving (and not just receiving), about victory in competition or over personal demons or...anything that represents the hero’s journey: The Exodus, the epiphany, and the return.

What we want in the end, is someone who has a chance to protect him or herself in a violent altercation. We want someone who is fit enough to represent the quality of our work. We want someone who recognizes the value of the training is found in the on-going practice of the skills, not in the achievement of some outward indication of expertise. We want people who use what we teach on the mats, what we practice so diligently in our schools, OUTSIDE of the dojo, off the mats, outside of the ring —and in the world, to the benefit of self and other people, places, and things. We want whatever the process we put our students thru, to make them stronger, more resilient and resourceful, more capable, and to be both skillful technicians and centered human beings.

Now, at my current age and with many years of experience, I’ve come to recognize that a black belt test is a tool. It’s a tool that may be used to strengthen, heal, cultivate transformation, and elevate the quality of life for practitioners —and thru practitioners, to others. The primary force behind what a black belt is, is what a teacher has the wherewithal to create; something that’s not too hard or too easy, something that’s not about trivial pursuits, but that is made to serve the student —and thus the community at large.

How that’s done in a way that serves all of the different people who attend our schools —isn’t something written in stone. It’s a process of listening, learning, trying, and adapting. Of course, a black belt test can also be, at its worst, much ado about nothing of much (or any) value.

It is, I believe, an error in judgement to label oneself a warrior. It is too narrow, limiting a classification --and even if it's meaning is easily expanded, I think there are better "labels" to wear.



A couple of years ago I came to an understanding about the word "warrior" when working with a gentlemen that Bill Kipp had introduced me to. This fellow was (and still is) helping young soldiers reenter society, sane, after suffering the nearly indescribable horrors of war (murder, genocide, dismemberment, hatred, child-death, suffering, you know, the worst things man can inflict on fellow man, etc.).



At some point in our on-going dialogue about "warriors" --I realized that for those people who are put in a position to really be WAR-riors, I mean men and women who really experience battle of the blood flying, screams, begging for life kind ---the ones who see fathers and mothers weeping over the mutilated bodies of their own children, their loved ones --for these people it is not "being a warrior" that is hard....it is returning to life to be a whole, centered human being. Some of them are never able to do that.



I came to an understanding that being a warrior is cheap and easy, but being a human being, compassionate, empathetic, and deeply connected --oh, like a Jesus, a Buddha, a Ghandi, a ML King ----oh my friends, THIS is the hardest of the hard. Warriors are far too common, but human beings ---those are far too rare.



I think a lot of us think that being a warrior is a noble pursuit ---but I think that for those who have to actually shoulder the burden of the horror that war is ---war for assets, war for Govt., war for questionable reasons ---war that destroys, war the rips the souls from innocent men, women, and their children ---well, it's not a noble pursuit at all, but...to use Christian symbolism: the Devil's work.



It is actually, I think, a much braver pursuit to be an anti-warrior. Let's not fill the heads of the tens of thousands of young people we influence with ideas of the noble warrior ---let's instead encourage them to focus on being a fully aware, cognizant, compassionate human beings.



The last thing we need on this planet is another "warrior" --or another kick thrown, punch thrown, grenade tossed, or missile launched...



And On Self-Defense:



We, in the martial arts world, have done ourselves a serious injustice in associating the words "self-defense" with the defense of one's self from assault by other human beings. We have seriously hampered our growth by connecting self-defense with weapons, punching, kicking, grappling, etc...



The likelihood of a man or women having to defend one's self from a kick, punch or other physical assault is miniscule --when compared to the havoc, the damage, the assault of so many other "things." More people will be getting their (excuse the French) asses kicked in THE NEXT 12 MONTHS by their finances, by their diets, by their relationship skills (or lack thereof), by diabetes, heart disease, cancer, aids, and most of all, by their limiting beliefs (their attitudes), than will be hurt or killed by a "martial" technique in the next decade.



If self defense is, indeed (in so many words), "recognizing a dangerous situation --before it happens, and avoiding it," then we need to take a serious look at what hurts, harms and kills people today. By expanding our definition of self-defense to include the things that really hurt us, our world, our planet ---we would GREATLY expand our relevance in society --our service to mankind, and our value.



We don't need to learn or teach self-defense from physical assault...we need self-defense from mediocrity, apathy, anger, prejudice, envy, righteousness, pollution, greed, conspicuous consumption, self-centeredness..and so on.



When we, in the martial arts industry, evolve to this level, we will truly be teaching people to defend themselves from the stuff that REALLY hurts them--and we will REALLY become a part of "the village" that "builds a better and more peaceful world." 
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We have a new path to follow --we (martial artists) have a new calling --a new purpose, a new intent, a new mission ----and if not "new" ---then "expanded." We need to shift our wheel a bit, as we all know that a small turn of the wheel, while not immediately noticeable, will, down the road, put us in a completely different place. 



The "place" I'm talking about is one where our value to our communities, to society, is hugely altered ---where we craft ourselves a "unique selling proposition" that is as valuable as "public-education" itself. One that makes our career choice something extraordinary --valuable beyond question --and fulfilling beyond question. We're close ---and with some attitudinal and directional adjustments, we could make a difference in the world in such a way as to forever alter the world itself --and for the better (and away from anything associated with war).