A Black Belt symbolizes

[dodgeduckdodge]

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

That's what I thought too.

Alcohol

[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. ^_^

[wsdddoa012]

black belt response

Well since the black belt nowdays seems to mean soo many things to different people, I thought I'd just give my two cents now.

"The only thing the belt is good for is holding your pants up, let's spar shall we?"

Maturity in the arts, and holding your pants up. Seem too complicated? I still say we should go back to the old days when all the students wore a white belt, never washed it and as the years grew the belt became different colors because of the long time of training, green, yellow, brown then after about 20-30 years maybe black. But of course that's up for speculation, I think It's a good concept myself. Tell that to any of my students

BTW: would a loop belt be better then a strap on belt for my size 80 jeans? haha!!!

[kanik]

Well since the black belt nowdays seems to mean soo many things to different people, I thought I'd just give my two cents now.

"The only thing the belt is good for is holding your pants up, let's spar shall we?"

Maturity in the arts, and holding your pants up. Seem too complicated? I still say we should go back to the old days when all the students wore a white belt, never washed it and as the years grew the belt became different colors because of the long time of training, green, yellow, brown then after about 20-30 years maybe black. But of course that's up for speculation, I think It's a good concept myself. Tell that to any of my students

BTW: would a loop belt be better then a strap on belt for my size 80 jeans? haha!!!

Great response! I like that quote!! I also kinda gree with the white belt and never wash thingy too.

[dodgeduckdodge]

Well since the black belt nowdays seems to mean soo many things to different people, I thought I'd just give my two cents now.

"The only thing the belt is good for is holding your pants up, let's spar shall we?"

Maturity in the arts, and holding your pants up. Seem too complicated? I still say we should go back to the old days when all the students wore a white belt, never washed it and as the years grew the belt became different colors because of the long time of training, green, yellow, brown then after about 20-30 years maybe black. But of course that's up for speculation, I think It's a good concept myself. Tell that to any of my students

BTW: would a loop belt be better then a strap on belt for my size 80 jeans? haha!!!

That is a myth. It never was that way in the "old days".

Jigoro Kano invented the use of the color belt system back in the later 1800's for his Elementary school Judo students. Gichin Funakoshi copied the idea for Karate, then it took off from there. The original colors were white, red and black, the official colors of Japan at that time.

Alcohol

[KickNit]

That is the beauty of Karate in my eyes. I as a student can set my own bar and my own expectations to either meet or exceed that of my instructor. It is an individual "sport" for lack of a better word. I don't have to worry that the person next to me can't go the distance, my sucesses and failures are based solely on my efforts.

Well, that depends on whether you are involved in competition or not. If so then it isn't so individual after all because the performance of your team mates determines the success of the team. I'd say Karate at its best is an individual sport because I like it one on one. But it can be a team sport.

[darrianation]

This has probably already been said but a black belt means to me nothing more than a marketing ploy to dupe the unsuspecting out of their hard earned cash.

Obviously I didn't vote becuase the most correct answer wasn't there.

[bodhisattva]

Hm. I always heard...

I always heard the belt system actually came from an American, post world war. He was teaching Karate in America, something he found during the world wa - and to his surprise he found that Americans want a series of short-term goals as they work towards a long term goal.

the problem was his Karate had two belts - white and black. And he couldn't keep people interested long enough on the journey to black belt (it was too much of a long term goal to hold their interest for long) so he came up with small stair steps on the way to black belt - so the Americans could focus on short term goals.

Even during the time I spent studying Judo, I never heard that Jigoro Kano was the "inventer of the belt system."

But it may well be true, because my story up above is just anecdotal information passed around a classroom that claimed it taught "self-defense" and in reality only taught some weird dance moves that weren't good for self-defense, and weren't much good for dance, either.


--

In answer to your question, what does a black belt symbolize, it depends on the system. In most traditional martial art classes, a black belt signifies that you showed up to class, paid your fees to attend the class, did some movements in the air for hours, learned some semi-acrobatic kicks and self-defense moves that wouldn't work on Grandma.

However, in a BJJ curriculum, the belts are handed out for performance - fighting ability. If you can hang with the blue belts then you will eventually find yourself receiving a blue belt. It's all based on actual fighting performance - and its the only kind of "belt system" I care about.

It's a really, really, really good thing to have a belt system based on performance. People actually learn to fight!

[bodhisattva]

It would be funnier if she ducked it, threw him to the ground, and went to stomping..

[Huntley]

What does a black truly symbolize?

To me it's experience.

I'm a 5th Dan but I know I was better as a 3rd or 4th Dan, so I can't say that I'm better than an 18 year old 3rd Dan just skill. And I’m a much better coach at 34 than I was at 18…so experience is my answer.

[KarateOx]

I always viewed the Black Belt like a driver's license. You have to learn all the basics before you get your license. Where to stop, where to yield, how many feet behind a fire engine, how to park, etc. You also have to learn all the physical aspects. Actual driving, braking, parking, 3k turn, etc. Then you have to put them all together, the theory AND the practical, before you can take your test. Then you take your test and either pass or fail. Once you pass, you get your driver's license and are now free to drive on your own. However, as anyone here who drives knows, NOW is the time where true knowledge and understanding of driving takes place. Now is when you hydroplane on a wet road. Now is when you have a child run out in front of you. Now is when you have to deal with someone suddenly cutting you off or stopping suddenly in front of you. Now is when you experience all these driving difficulties and have to put all you have learned into use. You start to develop your own diving style and your very own understanding of driving. I believe the Black belt is the same thing. From white to black is all the basics. Once you reach your Sho-dan, that is when TRUE understanding of Karate, or whatever art it is you study, takes place. Now is when you apply what you have learned, to either teach others or yourself, or to defend yourself. THIS is when the real learning takes place. Don't know where exactly in tot poll this puts me, but... well, there ya have my .02 cents. LOL.

[Ben Grimm]

Today, a black belt means jack all. There are so many McDojos out there which have destroyed the image of martial arts for the almighty dollar.

[WildWest.]

A black belt is......a belt that is black.

[ShadowAce]

I have my second degree black belt in Hapkido and Ive been working on that for eight years. I received my first black belt under my uncle's studio, and then my second training with the person who taught him. Four years at each studio. I slept with ice packs atleast twice a week. I think thats the way to do it. Be sore. Be very sore. But keep going.
A black belt should show others you have the emotional intelligence and the true character to earn what it is you desire. Not the belt itself, but the level of personal mastery, the satisfaction, the truth that you were strong enough, devoted enough, to train and try till it hurt and until you got it right.
But thats only how I view it. There are many drives people hold towards getting a black belt. Mine was not a grab for power, or ego, or control. I wanted to prove to myself that I was strong enough. Inside. Deep down that the real me, the REAL me could take it. And when I was handed my first black belt my heart pumped satisfaction, and pride. Not arrogance, or pride to be shown to anyone else. But pride in myself. I had done what I wasnt sure I could do. I was proud of myself.
Maybe this sounds cheesy or ignorant. But my black belt means alot to me. Thats all it really should count for. What it means to you.

[Tant01]

Hmmm... If only.

I have my second degree black belt in Hapkido and Ive been working on that for eight years. I received my first black belt under my uncle's studio, and then my second training with the person who taught him. Four years at each studio. I slept with ice packs atleast twice a week. I think thats the way to do it. Be sore. Be very sore. But keep going.
A black belt should show others you have the emotional intelligence and the true character to earn what it is you desire. Not the belt itself, but the level of personal mastery, the satisfaction, the truth that you were strong enough, devoted enough, to train and try till it hurt and until you got it right.
But thats only how I view it. There are many drives people hold towards getting a black belt. Mine was not a grab for power, or ego, or control. I wanted to prove to myself that I was strong enough. Inside. Deep down that the real me, the REAL me could take it. And when I was handed my first black belt my heart pumped satisfaction, and pride. Not arrogance, or pride to be shown to anyone else. But pride in myself. I had done what I wasnt sure I could do. I was proud of myself.
Maybe this sounds cheesy or ignorant. But my black belt means alot to me. Thats all it really should count for. What it means to you.

Everyone should work so hard...