A Black Belt symbolizes

[kanik]

That's what I thought too.

Alcohol

Well I aint gonna try and justify my stupidity, because that would be... well... stupid! All I can say is. Oh damn, there goes me making dumb-ass assumptions again. But seriously, what you said makes perfect sence, good job pulling me up on that. ^_^

[dodgeduckdodge]

Hmmm... good point, you sure showed me ^_^

That's what I thought too.

Alcohol

[kanik]

Now-a-days?

That's what black belt meant when it first came into popular use, back in the late 1920's. Nothing has changed except people's fantastic ideas of what black belt means to them, and what they think it should mean to others.

Alcohol

Hmmm... good point, you sure showed me ^_^

[dodgeduckdodge]

In an ideal world the blackbelt would mean all of the above... BUT we are in a world where martial arts are run by money hungry, greedy, crap-wads. SO yeah. Now-a-days a black belt only seems to mean you have been doing whatever art for whatever amount of time. Or you have some minimum amount of knowledge needed for one.

Now-a-days?

That's what black belt meant when it first came into popular use, back in the late 1920's. Nothing has changed except people's fantastic ideas of what black belt means to them, and what they think it should mean to others.

Alcohol

[kanik]

In an ideal world the blackbelt would mean all of the above... BUT we are in a world where martial arts are run by money hungry, greedy, crap-wads. SO yeah. Now-a-days a black belt only seems to mean you have been doing whatever art for whatever amount of time. Or you have some minimum amount of knowledge needed for one.

[ledfut]

A black belt is nothing more than a white belt that never quit!

i would have to say this is the most accurate answer. i've seen some people that were very bad at executing technique, but were very good at teaching technique make it to black belt. it takes them about twice as long to achieve black belt, but to say that they don't deserve it because they can't execute as well is a bit ludicrous.

[shaolin-warrior]

I think that a black belt shows the practitioners commitment to the martial art as they Will have constantly train over a substantial time period to become "skilled" enough to receive the "award". The Black belt also shows the experience as mentioned in an above post. The one thing i think that a black belt is not a symbol of is : overall fighting ability

This is because some martial arts practitioners may have received there black belt by learning forms (Kata's). These do teach how to fight but only from the forms perspective eg. you go into stance A if your opponent is in stance B.

I think that the only way to judge fighting ability is through sparring, competitions etc and also look at the techniques that a practitioner can perform

Suhieb

I agree with you. First Dan or Shodan is for technical merit.What I mean by that is a good working knowledge of the criteria or curriculum taught at that particular school.Second Dan or Nidan we did a lot of full contact fighting and ground and pound. It took three weeks to grow all the skin back that got scrubbed off my feet and ankle bones from being dragged all over those mats. And that was a Kempo test.

[suhieb]

LoL that is sure one way to put it and a very true statement

[JStinson]

A black belt is nothing more than a white belt that never quit!

[suhieb]

I think that a black belt shows the practitionsers commitment to the martial art as they wil have constantly train over a substantial time period to become "skilled" enough to recieve the "award". The Black belt also shows the experience as mentioed in an above post. The one thing i think that a black belt is not a symbol of is : overall fighting ability

This is because some martial arts practitioners may have recieved there black belt by learning froms (Kata's). These do teach how to fight but only from the forms perspective eg. you go into stance A if your opponent is in stance B.

I think that the only way to judge fighting ability is through sparring, competeions etc and also look at the techniques that a practitioner can perform

Suhieb

[dodgeduckdodge]

it would depend on the person what the black belt symbolizes

This is true.

I have heard some radical statements on what a black belt means.

For myself, it was important for me to find out what the Dan means in Japan and Korea.

Alcohol

[ITFDespoja]

it would depend on the person what the black belt symbolizes

[dodgeduckdodge]

Interesting reading for sure.

The Dan was orignally given out in the Japanese game "GO" and was based on skill. It is also given out in Japanese and Korean Dance. From there it took the place of the Samurai Menkyo and eventually took on more meaning. One thing for sure is it certainly has little to do with fighting ability. Early on in this thread I was reading where some 1st Dan felt he could beat up some 2nd and 3rd Dan's. Maybe he could, but there are white belts and no-belts that could beat up that 1st Dan, no problem. So what does that mean? Mike Tyson should be a 10th Dan? No. Talking about Dan in terms of fighting skill is juvenile.

DAN today is about your relationship with your instructor, seniors and your place in your organization. Whatever skill, knowledge, intellegence, ettiqute, politics, time in the system you have is your own and not comparible to others. Of course your reputation within your organization might be based on those qualities.

Alcohol

[Piston]

Again the wisdom of Mr.Miyagi shines like a beacon for all of us.

[akio123]

mr miyagi on karate kid...

Mr Miyagi on karate kid.....

Daniel: Hey, what kind of belt do you have?
Miyagi: Canvas. JC Penny. Three ninety-eight. You like?
[laughs]
Daniel: No, I meant...
Miyagi: Daniel-san... karate here.
[he taps his head]
Miyagi: Karate here.
[he taps his heart]
Miyagi: Karate never here
[points to his belt]
Miyagi: Understand?