At some point in time, every martial artist has been curious about how long it takes to get a black belt. Some ask the question openly, while others are hesitant.

But why the curiosity in the first place? And what do martial art instructors think about the question?

5 Reasons Why People Ask the Question

People want to know how long it takes to get a black belt for many reasons. Here are five…

1

For Bragging Rights

Some people want the black belt as a status symbol. Their reward in getting a black belt is extrinsic.

Quite a few want to say they have a black belt.

– Dan Holloway

2

For a Clearer Goal Setting Timeline

For some, it puts training in perspective. Some need the motivation or the timeframe in order to set their goals.

– Andrea Harkins

3

The Need to Know if They Are Progressing

Others are just curious about the progression and want to get fit but learn new material and feel they’re progressing too

– Dan Holloway

4

To Avoid McDojos and Black-Belt Mills

Supposedly, the shorter the time needed to get a black belt, the less credible the dojo is. Having expedited black belt programs may suggest that the dojo prioritises profit over passing on a valuable skill.

Joelle explains her views.

From prior training as a teenager I had a rough idea of how rigorous it was going to be to even make it back to the equivalent rank I once was. I wanted to know if there was going to be pressure put on me to look as good as a Shodan in a mere 3 years.

Nope – the average is 8 to 10 years.

Somewhere along the line I picked up on the concepts of “McDojos” or “belt mills.” I was grateful I’d found an organization that doesn’t compromise the art and the beauty of the journey in order to make people happy by giving away belts.

– Joelle White

Note: Dojos in various parts of the world use different standards to award the first-degree black belt. In Asia, it’s not unusual to get shodan within three years. That’s because, in general, a first-degree black belt isn’t regarded anything more than a beginner.

Check out “How long does it take to get a black belt?” for a detailed explanation. The post also reveals the average time it takes to get a black belt in several martial arts. Also, I will be discussing expedited black belt achievements in the last part of the series.

5

Find Out How Quickly They Can Learn Self-Defense
or Fighting Skills

Some people use the black-belt as an indication of martial effectiveness. These people don’t really care about the belt as a status symbol. Instead, they are concerned about the time needed to achieve an effective level of skill.

Why?

These people generally fall into two groups:

• People who are being bullied and want a quick way to learn how to defend themselves.
• People looking to get into competitive fights as soon as possible.

But, why is it taboo to ask an instructor the length of time needed to get a black belt…

Why Is the Black-Belt Question Taboo in Some Dojos?

When you ask your instructor (or a senior student) how long it takes to get your black belt, it makes them feel as though your priorities are not in the right place. It suggests that the belt is more important than your training journey. And it implies that you’d stop training once you get your first-degree black belt.

That said, not all instructors get irritated by the question. It is usually instructors with traditional Asian values that don’t like being asked that.

Understanding Dojos and Dojangs with Traditional Values

Here’s what the late Kensho Furuya wrote:

[…] And the most commonly asked question is, “How long does it take to get a black belt?” I don’t know how this question is answered in other schools, but my students know that asking such a question in my dojo would set them back several years in their training. It would be a disaster. […]

Train hard, be humble, don’t show off in front of your teacher or other students, don’t complain about any task and do your best in everything in your life.

Kensho Furuya came from a dojo steeped in traditional Japanese values.

Dojos like that follow strict cultural practices from the martial art’s country of origin. For instance, all potential students are required to meet the chief instructor before starting their first lesson. He or she has the authority to reject you for any reason.

Of course, there are a number of good reasons to get a projected timeline of your training milestones. However, within a modern society that prizes quick results, ego-stroking and sloppy standards, you run the risk of creating a negative impression when you ask.

Make sure to be tactful in framing your question if you’re joining a traditional dojo (or dojang).

For some insight on how being fixated on getting your black belt can be counterproductive, here’s an anecdote…

The Paradox of Mastery and Focus (Anecdote)

This anecdote (adapted below) explains how the fixation on mastery distracts a person from the actual goal:

A student once asked his martial art instructor earnestly, “If I’m devoted to studying your martial art, how long will it take me to master it?”

The instructor casually replied, “Ten years.”

The student was impatient and couldn’t accept that answer. He wanted to shorten the duration of study. He thus responded with another question, “But I will work very hard. I will practice everyday, ten or more hours a day if I have to. How long will it take then?”

The teacher thought for a moment, “Twenty years.”

Why did the time needed for mastery double (with obsessive focus)?

Because… the stubborn fixation to learn something quickly, makes you miss out tiny but crucial elements needed to master a martial art. You learn the form but miss the principles.

It’s no different than getting a distinction in your exams after receiving numerous hints on what questions will be tested. You’ve memorised the answers to the questions in a preset format but really have a superficial understanding of the topic. This simply means you won’t be able to apply the knowledge in real life.

And so, some instructors see the question (and overly obsessive desire for a black belt) as counterproductive.

What Do Other Instructors Think?

All of the instructors I’ve asked don’t mind the question. But a few have underlying concerns with the question.

Surprisingly, others have raised valid points for students wanting to know the length of time needed to achieve first-degree black belts.

Instructors Who Don’t Mind, But Have Concerns

Jesse Enkamp (Karate by Jesse):

I feel like their priorities are off, but it doesn’t irritate me because these types of questions are expected if you’re a professional Karate instructor.

The dilemma is that Karate is not a result oriented activity, it’s a process oriented one. This due to its Oriental heritage and roots. For a Western practitioner, this might seem like a foreign concept at first. But once they learn to accept it, they might discover that the journey is actually the destination… the goal is the Way.

Ando Mierzwa (Sensei Ando):

I don’t get mad at a student for asking about belt ranks… I get angry at myself for not successfully shifting that student’s focus from extrinsic rewards to intrinsic rewards.

It’s natural for a beginner to ask about rank, because they don’t realize how much more martial arts training can offer them. The job of a teacher is to guide the beginner through experiences that are so exciting and fulfilling that questions about rank become unimportant. Not always easy to do, but that’s the goal!

The Concerns of Instructors Jesse and Ando

Both Jesse and Ando are fine with beginners asking the question. However, they still feel that the question hints at a counterproductive attitude in martial arts training.

As Jesse best explains — within traditional martial arts, the journey is far more important than the end. In fact, the “end” is an illusion.

The “end” is what Ando refers to as the “intrinsic rewards” of martial art training.

Instructors Who Don’t Mind At All

Andrea Harkins (The Martial Arts Woman):

I don’t mind it. It is a goal for many. I think it is a valid question.

If you go to college, you know how long it will take to get a degree. For some, it puts training in perspective. Some need the motivation or the timeframe in order to set their goals.

Dan Holloway (The Martial View & Defense Lab Lincoln):

Hey mate. It doesn’t annoy me as the black belt is very symbolic to a lot of people.

I usually tell people there isn’t a specific amount of time. It’s up to them and how hard they train and when they’re ready for it. And that black belt isn’t the end of the journey. It’s the beginning.

Bottomline: How Should You Approach This Curious Issue?

I personally feel that the question of “how long does it take to get a black belt in your dojo?” is okay to ask. Most martial art instructors expect it and understand the curiosity.

However, be sure to not come off as someone who’s joining a martial art for the wrong reasons. This is especially true for instructors with traditional Asian values.

Also, even if you ask the question, you’d likely get a vague response like:

• It depends
• It takes a lifetime
• As long as it takes

In fact, Dan’s response is most accurate — the time needed to get black belt depends largely on the student. You simply cannot use an average measure and expect yourself to fall within that range.

Nevertheless, if you really want to know how long it takes to get a black belt, learn basic skills or master an entire martial art syllabus, check out the next section. You will at least get a clear (non-ambiguous) answer.

Want Clear Answers to Timeframes for Martial Arts Progress?

• How Long Does It Take to Get a Black Belt? (average time and ranges)
• For Beginners: How long does it take to learn the basics of a martial art?
• Mastery: How long does it take to master a martial art?

What are your thoughts on the black belt question? Let me know in the comments section.

The post Why So Curious About How Long It Takes to Get a Black Belt? appeared first on Way Of Ninja.

How long does it take to master a martial art?

Before you ask this, explain what you mean by “master” a martial art. How exactly would you be able to tell if someone has mastered a martial art? What are some indicators?

Unless you have a clear idea, all you have is the starting point – the day a person begins training. Without the end (the day mastery is reached), calculating the time needed for mastery is impossible.

This explains the structure of this article below. We first explore measures that can indicate a person’s mastery in martial arts, and then use those measures to calculate the time needed on average.

Challenges in Defining What Mastery Means

There are a few challenges when defining mastery. Here are two.

Challenge 1: Mastering a martial art mean different things for different people

One, different people have different ideas about what it means to master a martial art.

Some believe a first-degree black belt is an accurate measure of mastery (here’s why it’s not). Others insist that mastery is an abstract concept that cannot be defined.

With differences in interpretation, you will never get a consistent answer.

Challenge 2: Unrealistic idea of what mastery means

Two, many people consider mastery an abstract concept. They believe that mastering a martial art means having absolute knowledge and impeccable skill execution. There can be ZERO room for flaws.

Since no one ever attains perfection, they assert that no one can truly master a martial art. The definition they use for mastery is simply impossible to attain.

That is why the typical answers you get by asking: “how long does it take to master a martial art?” are:

• “It takes a lifetime”
• “You are always a beginner”

No shit, Sherlock! That’s an obvious and lazy answer, based on an unrealistic definition of mastery.

Think about it. Since perfect mastery cannot be reached even after death, it makes any discussion about this pointless. It is like bantering about fantasy – things that will never happen.

But both you and I know that people who want an objective timeframe for mastery aren’t talking about some abstract concept. No one asks a question with the intention of receiving vague answers.

And so, the next section defines some criteria of martial art mastery. It takes the topic of mastery into the objective realm, so that a discussion beyond vague answers can take place.

How Would You Know if a Person Has Mastered a Martial Art?

While you can’t directly measure mastery in martial arts, you can look at some objective approximation for it. 

After all, you can tell apart a master instructor, instructor, senior and layman. Being able to do so means you already have a rough idea of the attributes that define a master.

For example, many martial artists have acknowledged Jigoro Kano, Masutatsu Oyama and Morihei Ueshiba as masters, based on their skill and contributions to the martial world.

So, let’s clarify the definition of mastery.

Mastery is not Absolute, there are different evolutions

Mastering a martial art simply means you are far beyond excellent at it. However, among masters, there are still different levels. At different points in time, a master’s level of mastery has nuances.

Take Morihei Ueshiba as an example.

Although there was a specific point in time when he mastered Aikijujutsu, he never stopped refining his skills.

The amalgamation of his martial arts training brought about Aikido. Even then, the style of Aikido experienced by his early students and later students had stark differences. It evolved with his life’s experiences.

This suggests that mastery has varying levels, and has some form of evolution.

It is no different from the nuanced differences between a white belt and blue belt. Both are considered layman, but one is of a higher level than the other. One has had slightly more experience to evolve their skill and understanding.

Evolving mastery involves mastering life’s challenges

The point here is – mastery is not the absolute final destination. There are things to refine based on how an individual progresses in life.

Consider this…

• As a person becomes older, he has to adapt his skills. Does that adaptation to old age mean that he hasn’t mastered his art?
• If a sixth-degree black belt loses her arm, does adapting to her injury mean she hasn’t truly mastered her martial art?
• When a person’s life philosophy changes, does refining his techniques to suit his views mean he hasn’t truly mastered his art?

This is the evolution in mastery that I’m talking about.

So, refinements in mastery does not mean mastery does not exist

You can truly master the entire syllabus in a finite amount of time. But trying to fit the definition of mastery to the changes in life, and saying it falls short is fallacious.

Therefore, these nuances mean that mastery can be separated into different levels of refinement. Instead of taking mastery as absolute perfection, see it as a work-in-progress. Acknowledge that it includes varying levels of mastery that can spark martial evolution.

With this in mind, let’s define mastery and take a look at some measures. We ultimately need only identify the lowest benchmark for being a martial art master, to get the calculations done.

Measures that indicate martial art mastery

Martial art mastery is a combination of proven skill and acknowledgement by other experts. It is at least one class above being an instructor.

For simplicity, we refer to the study ‘A way to mastery. Mastery in martial arts‘. It already uses some measures as an approximation for mastery:

• Founding of a well-regarded style of martial art
• Being awarded the rank of tenth-degree black belt
• Attaining the menkyo kaiden license
• Attaining an instructor’s license (Shogo System)

I’ve also added this measure:

• Black belt degree that qualifies for: renshi, sa bum nim  or shihan title

Let’s explore the measures in detail, and find out why I added the last one…

The 5 Measures of Martial Art Mastery

These are the five measures of mastery.

1. Establishing a Respected New Style/Martial Art School
2. Attaining Tenth-degree Black Belt (and similar)
3. Menkyo Kaiden License
4. Instructor Titles (Japanese Shogo 称号 System)
5. Black Belt Degree Equivalent to Renshi (錬士) & Sa Bum Nim (사범님)

Click on a specific measure above to skip the other sections.

1

Establishing a Respected New Style/Martial Art School

To found a new martial art style or school that is well-respected, the founder needs to possess high technical proficiency in and deep understanding of their martial art. This puts them at a higher level than the average instructor.

Hence, being a founder is a good measure of martial art mastery, except for one issue. Any charlatan can create their own martial art while being utterly incompetent.

To counter that, we need to assess other measures.

For instance, does the founder possess a senior black-belt degree or menkyo kaiden license in another martial art?

That would confirm that (s)he has proven skill.

Likewise, if a founder’s style is acknowledged by other reputable martial artists, (s)he is unlikely to be incompetent.

Famous Founders of Modern Martial Arts

The study,  ‘A way to mastery. Mastery in martial arts‘, included these founders. They were (and still are) widely recognized by their predecessors, peers and successors.

In addition, these masters possess at least one of the three: (1) a high level license in a koryu martial art, (2) black-belt degree in a modern martial art, or (3) both.

*I can’t tally the calculation for Morihei Ueshiba. However, the number of years is plausible if the study calculates Aikido’s founding date as the day Aikibudo was renamed as Aikido in 1942.

How long does it take to master a martial art? – (Founder of New School/Style)

So, if we were to use this measure, how long does it take to master a martial art?

According to the study…

Back to the listing of five measures

2

Attaining Tenth-degree Black Belt (and similar)

The tenth-degree black belt is generally regarded as the highest possible qualification in several martial arts. The study uses this measure to indicate confirmed mastery – the highest level of refinement.

People awarded the tenth-dan (black belt)

Problems with using the Tenth dan as a Measure

There are several issues with using tenth dan as an approximation for mastery.

1. Not all martial arts have a tenth dan; some styles like Aikido almost never award that rank

2. Some martial arts have grades beyond tenth dan

3. The tenth dan is often awarded for non-technical contributions (i.e. how well as master proliferates the martial art)

4. In some organisations, it is reserved only for chief instructors or founder

5. In several cases, it is awarded posthumously, after a master has passed away

This is why a number of martial art instructors have argued against having dan-ranks beyond the first few. Also, the tenth-degree black belt is an overkill measure to signify mastery in a martial art.

That said, despite the issues, it confirms mastery with a higher degree of certainty.

How long does it take to master a martial art? – (Tenth-dan)

So, how long does it take to master a martial art, confirmed by a tenth-degree black belt?

According to ‘A way to mastery. Mastery in martial arts‘, to reach mastery confirmed by being awarded the tenth-degree black belt, it takes between 30 and 70 years of continuous training. The table below shows the differences between Asia and other countries.

Back to the listing of five measures

3

Menkyo Kaiden License

The Menkyo Kaiden is both a teaching license for and certification of high technical proficiency in the entire syllabus. It is the koryu martial art equivalent of tenth-dan.

The problem with the license is that an analogical version of menkyo kaiden can be awarded prematurely. This means such a license holder may neither have completed the syllabus nor demonstrated full proficiency.

This happens for a few reasons, such as:

• The license is given to a foreign student, so that most of the martial art can be transmitted to people of another country.
• The student is teaching on behalf of the master, and still takes direction from the master (menkyo kaiden is a legal license to teach a particular koryu martial art)

In either cases, (most of the time) the menkyo kaiden holder is sufficiently competent. Nonetheless, it is important to combine this measure with other measures.

People with Menkyo Kaiden in a Koryu Martial Art

The ages for receiving menkyo kaiden is relatively young, unlike the tenth-degree black belt. This is because most Japanese people from samurai families (who transmit a koryu martial art) begin training at the age of six.

So, in my opinion, a person awarded menkyo kaiden can be considered a low to mid-level master. Years later, the person’s mastery level would naturally have refined to a higher level.

How long does it take to master a martial art? – (Menkyo Kaiden license)

According to ‘A way to mastery. Mastery in martial arts‘, the average time to receive a menkyo kaiden license is between 12 and 30 years.

Back to the listing of five measures

4

Instructor Titles (Japanese Shogo 称号 System)

Where the dan system ranks technical proficiency, the shogo (称号) system is a teaching title system for modern Japanese martial arts. It indicates a person’s instructor rank.

Especially in Japan (depending on the martial art), possessing an advanced black belt degree doesn’t necessarily make a person an instructor. It is the shogo system that deals with instructor titles, which are generally more difficult to obtain.

That said, not all martial arts use the shogo system. Some styles and dojos just use a different procedure to appoint instructors. And it varies in different organisations and dojos.

For example, they may have a less formal process to appoint instructors, and even use the title of shihan to recognise master instructors. The shihan title takes many years to achieve and sometimes comes with the power to give out ranks.

Take a look at this resource (by Total Self Defense) to understand the shogo system and shihan title in detail. As for a historical timeline on the dan and shogo system, check out kenshi 24/7 and Michael Faulk’s explantion.

Titles in the Shogo System

The following table is only a general example. Not all organisations use these specific criteria, and there are exceptions. Nevertheless, almost all organisations require a minimum of fifth-dan to confer the renshi title.

Source: Black Belt Ranks and Titles

Korean martial arts

Since the shogo system is from Japan, Korean martial arts do not use it. Instead they use something similar.

The below table shows a similar system used by WTF and Kukiwon Taekwondo. As shown, martial artists with at least a fourth dan are considered masters.

Source: World Taekwondo Federation & Kukiwon Taekwondo Ranks 

Koryu martial arts

Koryu martial arts already have the menkyo ranking system that both acknowledges technical proficiency and awards teaching licenses. It generally does not use the shogo system. (Refer to using menkyo kaiden as a mastery measure)

Measuring Mastery via Instructor Titles

The title of renshi, kyoshi and hanshi will be used to indicate the varying levels of mastery. However, according to researchers, Japan generally recognises only kyoshi and hanshi holders as instructors.

Nonetheless, renshi (錬士) holders will be used to indicate low level mastery. In the case of Korean martial arts, a minimum title of sa bum nim (사범님) is needed to be considered a master.

How long does it take to master a martial art? – (Instructor Titles)

Refer to the next section, which calculates the time taken to qualify for a renshi (or sa bum nim) title, based on dan-ranking.

Back to the listing of five measures

5

Black Belt Degree Equivalent to Renshi (錬士) & Sa Bum Nim (사범님)

Since there are martial arts not using the shogo system (or the korean equivalent), we’ll use the corresponding black belt degree as an approximation.

This means Japanese martial art fifth-degree black belt (錬士 – renshi) of at least two years can be considered low level master. In the same vein, Korean martial artists with a fourth-degree black belt (사범님  – sa bum nim) will be used as an approximation for low level mastery.

How long does it take to master a martial art? – (Korean fourth/Japanese fifth dan)

It takes at least 13 to 15 years.

Back to the listing of five measures

Different Levels of Mastery

Low level masters

• Renshi title
• Fifth-degree black belt of a Japanese martial art
• Fourth-degree black belt of a Korean martial art
• Analogous menkyo kaiden holders

Mid to high level masters

• Kyoshi title
• Hanshi title
• Menkyo Kaiden
• Acknowledged founder of a new style or headmaster of a new dojo
• Sixth-degree black belt and above (including tenth dan)
• Shihan honourific

The tables on mastery and specified data is based on the study, ‘A way to mastery. Mastery in martial arts‘, unless referenced otherwise.

Bottomline – How Long Does It Take to Master a Martial Art?

Instead of taking martial arts mastery as an abstract concept that cannot be measured, I assert that there are varying levels of mastery with approximate measures. These, in summary, are…

Low level mastery: at least 12 years (lower range of Menkyo Kaiden) to 13 years (time to get fifth-dan).

Mid to high level of mastery: 29 to 33 years of training (before establishing a respectable martial art style)

Confirmed mastery (as in tenth-dan): Between 30 and 70 years of training

Now that you have a rough time frame, do not confuse the measures for mastery itself. If you want your skills and understanding to click in at a higher level, continue training regularly… Going through the motions for decades (or irregular training) will not make you a master.

Other articles in this series (including upcoming ones)

• How Long Does It Take to Get a Black Belt
• How long does it take to learn a martial art? – Beginner Level
• Why So Curious About How Long It Takes to Get a Black Belt?
• How to Get a Black Belt Fast? Speeding up Martial Arts Mastery (UPCOMING)

The post How long does it take to master a martial art? (Mastery) appeared first on Way Of Ninja.

How long does it take to learn a martial art, as a beginner? When would you get good enough to use it? And what exactly does proficiency in martial arts mean to a beginner?

The first time you feel like you’ve internalized a technique (with decent skill) is a life-changing experience. You grow more confident and become less shy when training.

Note: Where part one answers the question of how long it takes to get a black belt, this article explores how long it takes to gain beginner’s proficiency.

Why knowing when basic techniques kicks in is important?

When I was a beginner, I had no confidence in my ability to learn. It was the same in Aikido, as it was in Taekwondo (when I was seven). Not having benchmarks to understand if I was making progress, like the average person was, made me paranoid.

Was I abnormally slow? When would my technique be decent? How would I know? If only there was someone telling me when techniques would start clicking in my head. 

As I moved up the ranks, I partnered with many white belts who had the same anxiety. Most looked at my face for some feedback to tell if they had performed a technique well enough. It seems this uncertainty is common to beginners – and some were more paranoid than the others.

For the sake of motivation, I believe it’s important to give beginners expectations on when they may first experience the flow state; when technique kicks in, and work effectively enough. This gives white belts (and potential students) something to look forward to.

While many would argue that the first grading is a good indicator of progress, let’s quantify the average time.

What is basic proficiency in martial arts?

Obviously, being martially proficient as a beginner doesn’t mean competency in fighting or self-defense. That’s way beyond the level of a white belt. Instead, it means being good enough in a basic set of techniques, to the degree of knowing how to punch, kick, block, or parry (depending on the combat style you train in).

While the time needed varies depending on the style, syllabus, and dojo, the study (summarised) below covers the average time to become good enough at the basics.

Time Needed as a Beginner to Become Good at a Martial Art

So how long does it take to learn a martial art at a basic level of proficiency?

To answer this, we refer to the study Martial Arts: Time Needed for Training (2010) that recruited 15 volunteers with no martial arts experience to learn 21 different techniques (both offensive and defensive). Out of the 15 volunteers (aged between 27- to 50-years-old), 14 were female.

The study tasked two black belt martial artists to instruct the volunteers for 45 training sessions, which lasted 45 minutes each. What they wanted to find out was how long it took for beginners to demonstrate proficiency in 21 techniques.

Here’s what they found (that you should be aware of as a beginner, or instructor)…

The average number of sessions needed for the easiest and most difficult technique

Even something as simple as the ready stance took as long as 27 sessions (on average) to get good at. The most difficult technique was the rear elbow strike to face, which took 38.3 sessions.

Proficiency is isolated

Predictably, even after the experiment, not one person was good at all 21 martial techniques. Improvement in the various techniques came at an equal time frame.

Shocking failure rate (with lesser practice)

Since the volunteers “mastered” some martial techniques earlier than others, the instructors shifted the focus to the challenging techniques. This resulted in at least half of the volunteers regressing into failure for the simpler techniques that they had previously “mastered” during the final test.

So, getting good at a martial technique, especially as a beginner, does not mean retaining that proficiency. Beginners and intermediate martial arts practitioners need to constantly review and practice. Otherwise, they’d lose the skills that were acquired earlier.

Lower than average proprioception

Proprioception is the ability to perceive how your body parts are moving in relation to one and another. It also helps you perceive where your body will end up in a state of motion.

What’s clear from training in the rear elbow strike to face technique is that the volunteers found it challenging to aim the strike at the nose. This was likely due to poor intuitive perception in movement.

So, as a beginner, it takes much longer to get the intuitive feel and accuracy of executing a technique. The skill of proprioception comes into play after training for a much longer time.

Bottom line: How long does it take to learn a martial art with basic proficiency?

29 hours on average. 

Assuming that you are training two sessions of one hour each week, you will take roughly 3 to 4 months to be good enough.

However, being complacent in training will make you lose your competency very quickly. Also, it will take longer to be accurate at striking, as it involves an intuitive understanding of combat movement.

Even though the sample size of 15 people is not statistically representative, the study at least gives us insight on what blindspots to look out for when learning a new martial art.

If you are interested instead in how long it takes to get a black belt, read this. That was the first part in this series about martial arts mastery and proficiency.

Articles in this series (including upcoming ones)

• Black-belt: How Long Does It Take to Get a Black Belt?
• Mastery: How long does it take to master a martial art?
• Why So Curious About How Long It Takes to Get a Black Belt?
• How to Get a Black Belt Fast? Speeding up Martial Arts Mastery

The post How Long Does it Take to Learn a Martial Art? – Beginner Proficiency appeared first on Way Of Ninja.

How long does it take to get a black belt?

Fewer than 3 days… if you use priority shipping. Okay now, seriously…

Generations of martial artists have asked the very same question – how long does it take to get a black belt? Being curious about it is normal.

Deep down, everyone has an innate need to measure progress. We all want to feel a sense of certainty and know our destination when striving towards a goal – even in martial arts.

So, let’s delve into what it means to be a black belt and learn how long it takes to become one.

Here’s what we’ll cover.

Origins & Purpose of Martial Art Belts

Before tackling the question, you need to know the significance of holding a black belt. It isn’t what you think.

Many people regard the black belt as the ultimate goal of a martial artist. They believe that getting it is the be-all and end-all of their training.

After all, a black belt equals mastery of a martial art, doesn’t it? That’s likely why you’d want to quantify the time taken to get one, right?

The problem is…  black belt doesn’t represent mastery; not even close.

Here’s a brief history of the martial arts belt system, which will help you understand what it originally meant to be a black belt…

Menkyo Grading System for Traditional Koryu Martial Arts

Before modern martial arts (gendai budo) were founded, the Japanese people trained in traditional martial arts. These were known as koryu bujutsu.

For simplicity, koryu bujutsu can trace their origins to 1868 and before.

What’s unique about koryu martial arts is the menkyo grading system. This grading system lengthens the time taken for martial certification.

Instead of belt colours, the menkyo system was based on licenses. Each license recognizes the practitioner’s competence in a set of techniques, which take years to attain.

Eventually, a practitioner becomes eligible for Menkyo Kaiden (a final license that permits them to transmit the full martial art). The award of Menkyo Kaiden is, of course, based on the head instructor’s discretion.

Kito-ryu, the main ancestor martial art of Judo, used the menkyo system.

Modern Kyu/Dan Ranking System (Martial Arts Belt System)

Modern Japanese martial arts adopted the belt ranking system that was invented by Kano Jigoro, founder of Judo.

Started with only White and Black Belt

At first, Kano only wanted a way to recognize his students by dan rank and the lack of one.

So, he designated only two obi belt colours: black and white in 1886. Black was for ranked practitioners (yudansha), while white was for unranked practitioners (mudansha).

Since martial art uniforms (gi) had not been invented yet, martial arts practitioners wore kimono. Their “belts” were simply traditional obi.

More Belt Colours & Modern Belt System Adopted by Other Martial Arts

After Judo began to spread to the west, Mikonosuke Kawaishi added more belt colours.

His rationale for doing so was to help motivate western practitioners and demonstrate how they were progressing. Using the old Menkyo system, or the original black-and-white-belt-only system would have discouraged many would-be beginners from even training.

Other martial arts like Karate, Aikido, and even non-Japanese combat styles began to adopt and adapt the Judo belt system for their own needs.

So, what did the black belt originally represent?

For many martial arts, earning your first-degree black belt (shodan, chuduan) doesn’t make you an expert or master. It merely signifies that you have a high level of competency in a set of techniques.

According to the longitudinal study ‘A way to mastery. Mastery in martial arts‘, a first-degree black belt martial artist “does not know the whole curriculum yet”. So, how can a person who does not know the full syllabus be known as a master?

Moreover, in Japan, martial artists generally need to attain at least a fifth-degree black belt (godan) before being conferred a separate title of instructor. This information is taken from the very same study.

Even more compelling, Jigoro Kano (founder of Judo and creator of the martial art belt system) intended the first black belt rank “to signify completion of the first step of training“. There are ten levels of black belt altogether in Judo!

So, if you believe the black belt indicates true mastery of a martial art, you are way off. First-degree black belts are literally beginning to become masters.

Are there Differences in how the Black Belt is regarded?

Surprisingly, the way the west and east regards the black belt (first-degree) is rather different.

Martial artists who train outside the martial art’s country of origin, tend to overstate the importance of the first-degree black belt. It’s as though someone with a first-degree black belt is some sort of grandmaster.

Perhaps this contrast is due to differing cultural perception.

Ultimately, dojos affiliated to Japan (or any other origin country) headquarters do share a similar idea of what first-degree black belt signifies – beginners to the journey. However, while the origin country takes the word “beginner” literally, foreign martial artists regard it as an abstract description.

An Exception: Brazilian Jiu-jitsu

Brazilian Jiu-jitsu’s (BJJ) first-degree black belt is an exception to the original significance given by Kano to the black belt. Unlike its ancestor martial art, Judo, BJJ’s belt colour representation is different. Rigorous sparring experience is also a huge factor in grading.

Where a first-degree black belt is often regarded as a beginner in Japan (not qualified to be master), first dan black belts in BJJ are considered experts.

Having established that black belts (at least in the initial few degrees) are beginners in the sense of the journey, let’s further explore what being a black belt means.

What does it mean to be a black belt?

If you’ve trained in martial arts for a long time, getting a black belt must be the worst letdown ever. There’s so much hype about it. But nothing actually changes after you receive it.

Think about it.

Nothing Special Happens

You don’t suddenly feel fearless. And, you certainly don’t gain extraordinary skills.

If your techniques were shit before, that fact doesn’t change after getting your black belt. Of course, you can hide your inadequacies behind the belt. However, the truth reveals itself eventually, if you want a black belt before being ready for it.

You don’t feel worthy of the belt

It often takes time for a new black-belt to feel worthy of their belt. Overall proficiency in a set of techniques doesn’t mean being equally good in all techniques. Hence, you often have to train harder on your weaknesses to truly be on par with what the belt signifies. This makes it evident that black belt doesn’t necessarily mean mastery.

Taking the Process for Granted

What many people know, but fail to internalize, is that the black belt is a culmination of training from the time a person has a white belt. It is the endless trials, mistakes, feedback and corrections that fine-tunes a skill.

In that journey, the martial artist also gains an intuitive grasp of how to deal with sudden attacks.

So no. You don’t just get a black belt for showing up. You earn it.

Your journey to mastery has only BEGUN

In fact, a black belt does not even represent the end of your martial arts journey. The process of fine-tuning never ends.

Instead, it signifies that you are reasonably proficient in most of your techniques, which allows you to explore advanced concepts. Without strong fundamentals, forget about even exploring anything abstract.

So, if you are among those who regard the black belt as a status symbol, then welcome to “worshipping” an illusion. You have a lot more work to do for true mastery.

So, what does it mean to be a black belt?

Take the black belt for what it is – a piece of cloth that tells you that you are ready to pass the gateway.

What gateway?

The gateway that separates what you know you already know (fundamentals) from insights that you don’t even know existed. The journey never ends.

So, are there better questions to ask if you are interested in proficiency and mastery?

The Way to Black Belt: A Comprehensive Guide to Rapid, Rock-Solid Results

This is a great book that practically prepares you to get a black belt and become a better martial artist.

Get This Book!

Clarifying the question

Is it really a question of black belt or true mastery of your martial art?

When someone asks “how long does it take to get a black belt?”, more often than not they are asking about the time taken for martial art proficiency and mastery.

So, let’s be clearer and refine the question for martial artists in various stages of their journey.

• Mudanshas (Non-Black Belts) – How long does it take to get a black belt (first-degree) in various martial arts?
• Beginners – How long does it take a beginner to learn a martial art (with average proficiency)?
• Everyone – How long does it take to master a martial art?

We’ll tackle only the black belt question today, and answer the latter two questions in the next part of the series.

So…

How long does it take to get a black belt – in various martial arts?

According to a longitudinal study (conducted from 1998 to 2014), the average time taken to get a first-degree black belt is ten years. Of course, this duration differs among various martial arts. The shortest recorded training time is four years, while the longest to get a first-degree black belt is twenty-seven years.

The study measured the time taken for these martial arts: Aikido, Iaido, Judo, Jujutsu, Karate, Kenpo, Kobudo, Taekwondo and Wing Chun. It also used an approximate grade for martial arts that do not traditionally award black belt.

Differences between the martial art’s origin country and foreign countries

Yet, on various forums, many agree that students in Japan (and in Asia) become first-degree black belt significantly quicker than in other countries. The reason for this is possibly the western notion that black belts are masters, and that it should be an exclusive privilege. So, to adapt to this myth, many overseas dojos make the standards more difficult to reach.

This isn’t a problem for Japan because there is little misconception over what a first-degree black belt is. Also, as mentioned, most of the time fifth-degree black belts and beyond are seen as martial artists who have truly mastered the syllabus. One koryu equivalent, under the menkyo grading system is the holder of a Menkyo Kaiden (license of full transmission).

Now, relevant to this discussion is whether a shorter time frame (to get a black belt), has any negative impact on legitimacy. For instance, is the dojo a McDojo or black-belt mill. This is a topic that we will cover in later parts of the series.

The time taken to get a black belt (broken down by martial art style)

Breaking down the time taken to get a black belt by martial art style is inherently meaningless. After all, it depends vastly on the chief instructor, the quality of instruction at a specific dojo and how the grading syllabus is structured.

Nevertheless, here are statements by both martial artists and dojos.

Aikido

How long does it take it get a black belt in Aikido?

According to Jikishinkan Aikido Dojo’s FAQ, it takes most people four to five years to attain first-degree black belt, provided they train several times each week. Gold Coast Aikikai’s FAQ gives a slightly different answer; five to six years on average, when training 4 to 6 times each week.

The poll from AikiWeb sums it up – the time varies among individuals and dojos. The majority of practitioners take 3 to 6 years. Some take less than a year, and others more than 12 years.

The Aikido Fast-Track Option

There is a legitimate 11-month International Sehusei Course by Yoshinkan Aikido Headquarters that awards first-degree black belt certifications. Although it takes only 11 months, trainees train four hours for five days every week – often longer. That’s an estimate of 880 hours of training – same as someone who trains for two two-hour session each week for 4.5 years.

BJJ (Brazilian Jiu-jitsu)

How long does it take it get a black belt in BJJ?

It takes up to ten years to get a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and ranges from 4 to 16 years.  BJJ requires not only technical proficiency but also verifiable sparring ability. Also, mentioned earlier, the grading system and belt significance are different from the regular dan/kyu ranking.

Of course, as with all martial arts, there are outliers with prodigious skill, people who have trained in another similar martial art, or both. Here is a list of BJJ martial artists who took under four years to get a black belt.

Judo

What about Judo – the martial art whose founder came up with the martial arts belt system? How long does it take to get a black belt here?

One to two years, 5 years, 10 years and possibly longer. You get the point. It varies.

The Judo Fast-Track Option

Similar to Yoshinkan Aikido, it is possible to get a black belt in Judo within a year, graded by the Kodokan in Japan. And it is certainly not easy.

Japanese Jujitsu

Japanese Jujitsu? How long does it take to get a black belt in this style?

According to Goshin Martial Arts – up to seven years but usually four to five years for shodan (first-degree) black belt. A handful gets it in less than four years.

For Ju-jitsu Center – approximately three years.

Again, this just goes to show that it really depends on the dojo.

Karate

How long does it take to get a black belt in karate? Again, it depends.

The Japanese Karate Association, in Japan, specifies a minimum of three years of diligent training. Every subsequent degree of black belt takes several years.

King Lam’s Tamashii Karate and Tai Chi Center, which teaches Shotokan Karate state two to five years to be the norm.

Taekwondo

How long does it take to get a black belt in Taekwondo? It seems there are parallels to Japanese martial arts graded in their home country; it takes much quicker to get a black belt in South Korea.

Sidney Mangoye’s Quora Answer

In South Korea, where I live, you can get a Taekowondo black belt in 6-7 months with an intensive training (everydays, 1-2 hours -usually for foreigner), and the test for this belt is pretty serious. […] I have a Korean friend who explained me that he got his black belt during his military service in 4 month, but it was something else (if you can perform 6 hours of really intensive training everyday, you are good to go) […]

Roam Thorsteinsson’s Quora Answer

I achieved my black belt at 14 and am one of only 6 people in my entire organization to have done so. So it took me 6 years, training 2–3 times a week on average.

Bottomline: Time Taken to Earn a Black Belt

There are many factors that affect the length of time for you to earn a black belt. Evidently, from the above, each martial art style, each variant of a style, and each dojo is different. The quality of instruction is also a factor.

Hence, with these differences, knowing how long on average it takes to get a black belt is meaningless. You can’t use the average result and expect a particular dojo to fall within that time frame.

It is enough to know that the range for earning a first-degree black belt is between four to twenty-seven years if you are training in martial arts for leisure.

If you really want to know how long it takes to become a black belt at a particular dojo, either ask the senior students or the instructor(s).

The Way to Black Belt: A Comprehensive Guide to Rapid, Rock-Solid Results

This is a great book that practically prepares you to get a black belt and become a better martial artist.

Get This Book!

More to Come – Martial Arts Proficiency & Mastery

Using the black belt as an indicator of mastery relies on a flawed assumption. Instead, we need to ask specific questions on martial arts mastery to yield useful insight. In the same vein, beginners are more likely to be interested in the time it takes to be good enough. They’d rather know how much time they need to train to mobilise their skills in real life.

The next part of the series will cover exactly that.

Also, with regard to the question of “how long does it take to get a black belt?”, we will explore the reasons for people to ask the question in the first place. And find out why some senior-ranking martial artists have expressed annoyance towards the question.

Lastly, everyone is interested in speeding up the process to gain mastery or become a black belt. How do you do it? Is this only possible through Mc Dojos (and black belt mills)?

Articles in this series

In short, here’s what you can expect to come:

• For Beginners: How long does it take a beginner to learn a martial art (with average proficiency)?
• Mastery: How long does it take to master a martial art?
• Why So Curious About How Long It Takes to Get a Black Belt?
• How to Get a Black Belt Fast? Speeding up Martial Arts Mastery

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