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Articles
Perhaps a black belt is in fact an individual who is beginning to understand the finer points of his or her chosen martial art. It is interesting to note how many Japanese martial arts systems have their grand-masters wear belts that are initially red and white, then red and finally white. This is done in order to demonstrate a return to sources and humility.
The possession of a black belt is generally considered as being synonymous with the mastery of a given martial arts basics. According to some, the black belt represents a certain renewal or the beginning of a new quest. Consequently, it can be argued that obtaining a black belt ought to be viewed as a starting point for serious study into traditional martial arts rather than an objective unto itself.
The meaning of a black belt
Article created: 2006-10-07 -- It was read 11926 times
COMMENTS
A anonymous user said ...
Iīd agree I look at having a black belt as just the start of really learning a martial art. Taking for instance that there are 12 degrees for a Ju-Jitsu black belt and only 7 coloured belts. And itīs said that even if someone was to reach 12th Dan that then there would be a 13th dan and so on to support the idea that no one is finished learning.
2007-03-28
JohnF said ...
In my kung fu school we get our black sash after about 6 months of intensive training but we know that it means nothing to become an instructor in my system it takes at least 1000 hours of training (about 5-7 years)
A friend of mine went at the kodokan institute in japan with a green belt in Judo he became a black belt after only 4-5 months of training it would have taken him about 3-4 years here. I have half a dozen similar tales. For me itīs not the belt itīs all about the fighter some are better then others just like in any other sports or arts. But you know at the end we will do the fighting not our belts.
A friend of mine went at the kodokan institute in japan with a green belt in Judo he became a black belt after only 4-5 months of training it would have taken him about 3-4 years here. I have half a dozen similar tales. For me itīs not the belt itīs all about the fighter some are better then others just like in any other sports or arts. But you know at the end we will do the fighting not our belts.
2007-04-06
Knowname said ...
Look I been doing Judo 4 years now. No one in my class can beat me except one black belt. I have only lost a couple matchs since I been at this and that was to a guy whos practiced 15 years. Im so good Teacher will not let me randori anymore because I have no competition. I even put a guy in the hospital. Im not bragging this is what happened. I am only a Sankyu. There are guys who havent been there half as long as me and arent half as good as me. Yet they have the same rank as I do. Dont tell me the color of your belt dont mean nothing.
2007-07-04
marty said ...
I personally found that itīs easier for most people to attain a black belt in Canada or U.S. even than say..South Korea. This mostly applies to Karate and Taekwondo one thing Iīve noticed is that the endurance training in Hapkido was much harder than our little 10-minute warm-ups in Taekwondo. Even if you canīt fight you can basically get a black belt in alot of Western places if you put in the hours. To me Western Karate and Taekwondo have become too commercialized to give our black belt status a significant meaning. And as Bruce Lee said:The only thing belts are good for is holding up your pants.
2007-09-08
Jackob said ...
Well Chuck Norris got his black belt in tang soo do in Korea in one year.
Stephen F. Hawking became a ninjutsu black belt in a handfull of months.
Bruce Lee had studied Win chun for 3 years.
It take only 1 years to earn a black belt in japan at the Kodokan institute.
Most spetial forces use Krav Maga thatīs what i do I also study BJJ. I became disilussioned with classic MA after watching a guy with 3 black belt lossing to a streetfighter in a UFC match.
Stephen F. Hawking became a ninjutsu black belt in a handfull of months.
Bruce Lee had studied Win chun for 3 years.
It take only 1 years to earn a black belt in japan at the Kodokan institute.
Most spetial forces use Krav Maga thatīs what i do I also study BJJ. I became disilussioned with classic MA after watching a guy with 3 black belt lossing to a streetfighter in a UFC match.
2007-10-22
Mario said ...
Indeed the belt is only a pants holder to me as well. I saw black belt Karate guys getting smashed easily by beginners. The symbols are irrelevant the only person who should look different in a class is the master. Competition brings negative energy and sadly the western way of marketing martial arts is by using flashy colored belts instead of explaining the spirituality of it.
2007-11-14
Jim said ...
True martial arts start at black belt. Black belt means I have learned the syilibis and can perform it well...Now it is time to dive deeper into the physical sience of it all.
For some black belt is the end but for the true artist it is the begining.
For some black belt is the end but for the true artist it is the begining.
2008-05-26
D.G. said ...
It was only after studying MMA for several years at a North American camp as opposed to an Eastern-style dojo that I realized all my coloured belts in the traditional martial arts didnīt necessairly translate into real-world applicatons. In fact the most sound defeats I ever experienced werenīt at the hands blacks belts. One was against a multi-title holding kickboxer (no black belt) and the other against a Manchester freestyle wrester. Given the option of fighting either of them again or taking my chances against a more traditional opponent Iīd choose the latter as opposed to the former.
2008-06-06
naomi said ...
Ilook at my self having a black belt and i fell amzedat my selfi think that it is amazing that i have got this far and achived so much in the 9 yers that 9i have trained in teakwondo.
I have never trained in something that i have loved so much...
I have never trained in something that i have loved so much...
2008-09-26 naomi_buzzin@hotmail.co.uk
Dave Francis said ...
I belong to a traditional family style Aikido dojo in Canada. We study the art by the way of the sword and practice with live swords. I have achieved an award from my Sensei of Ichiban Menkyo (first black) and have been studying for 14 years. We have no lower belts you are a beginer or a senior. We also only have Ichi and Ni for black levels with the culmination being your approval to teach. That would make you Sensei. This form allows me to know that I am always a student of this art even after I have been let know I am a master.
It is my belief that anyone who thinks that having a belt level makes them better than anyone else causes them to not be able to continue to learn from that other person.
I love my art and probably would be able to test for a higher level at most other dojoīs but that would only boost my ego. I would prefer to stay humble and continue to learn.
Our longest kata is 113 moves with a live sword and I have never cut myself. I built my own katana. We do brushwork painting Kanji with indian ink. Where in the testing do you get that knowledge from? How many black belts have learned to build a sword or tie a suba?
Level means nothing when the purpose is to continue to joyfully learn your art.
It is my belief that anyone who thinks that having a belt level makes them better than anyone else causes them to not be able to continue to learn from that other person.
I love my art and probably would be able to test for a higher level at most other dojoīs but that would only boost my ego. I would prefer to stay humble and continue to learn.
Our longest kata is 113 moves with a live sword and I have never cut myself. I built my own katana. We do brushwork painting Kanji with indian ink. Where in the testing do you get that knowledge from? How many black belts have learned to build a sword or tie a suba?
Level means nothing when the purpose is to continue to joyfully learn your art.
2008-10-18
A anonymous user said ...
i bought mine at kontact sports
2010-03-08
A anonymous user said ...
it mean that your belt is black... no but am 100% serious here it means nothing... you are still human... when I got mine... the sky didnīt split in half and I didnīt receive any powers from heavens. the real meaning itīs that its from this point you begin
2010-04-14
A anonymous user said ...
You generally start getting real good around 4th dan.
2010-05-18
A anonymous user said ...
anyone who is a blackbelt nowadays is considered a yellow belt in the old days. people dont train hard enough now to even be given a masterīs title let alone a black belt. i searched for two years where i live to find a good school after being unsatisfied with my first. teachers are mostly in it to make a buck invite grandmasters from around the world and pretend they know what theyre talking about but donīt because they dont practice. if i were to say here how to practice and how long everyone would say they dont have enough time and think its crazy so ud best just buy yourself a blackbelt and save the trouble
2010-11-17
DARKKNIGHT said ...
WHEN I GOT MY THIRD DEGREE BLACK BELT I WASNīT AFRAID OF ANYONE OR ANYTHING. MY TEACHER WAS THE BEST HE SHOWED ME HOW TO BE THE BEST AT THE USE OF WEAPONS AND HOW TO BECOME A NINJA
2010-11-18
Darius said ...
A black belt is nothing more than a belt around your waist to hold up your pants. A true black belt wears his belt in his heart and mind.
2011-01-07
Name Here said ...
A black belt in some schools means nothing for example I have seen some schools give away black belts within 6 months in that case it shows minimum experience. but in some schools such as mine it took me 4 and a half years to get my black belt because in my school they make sure that you have great form discipline respect and power in that case a black belt means something.
2011-03-07
A anonymous user said ...
I have been practicing karate for just over 5 years.At my dojo it will be another 3 years before I am ready to test for my black beltif I am successful at my studies until then. I believe the black belt has meaning.It shows a committment to learn and respect what one has been taught and to use it appropriately. I also agree it isnīt an end in itself. Iīm not sure that there is meant to be an end to the study of the martial arts since self discovery is a life long quest.
2011-10-24