The Black Belt Dream

[GuardMaster]

Hi everyone,

Its seems like BJJ is an art where acquiring a black belt may take 10 years or more. In fact its so difficult to acquire that status that the average person training may never reach it, or give up before they do.

To most people achieving a black belt is one of the first reasons they got into MA. So the question is how long do you think is reasonable to acquire such a status? 5 years, 7 years? Most people out there who can be proud to achieve their blackbelt status may train BJJ and may after many years of hard work make it to purple belt etc, but probably opt to train other styles like Karate, Judo or what have you to achieve their childhood dream of being able to wear a blackbelt and be proud of their accomplishment.

Note I am not saying that because you achieve a blackbelt you are invincible, or that a purple belt BJJ'er cannot beat a karate black belt. That is not the point. The point I am making is that of accomplishment -- of achieving that rank in some art.

[Szczepankiewicz]

In that context, what should a black belt be able to do?


What qualities should a person with a black belt have? What standard should they be held to?

[GuardMaster]

Black Belt Requirements

I would think it would be sufficient for a Black Belt achievement to cover a person defeating bigger , stronger opponents who are unskilled in his practicing art -- with key point -- under various situations.

For example even a blue belt may be able to defeat the 40 pound heavier strongman in grappling, but if he takes the situation to fights with strikes, fights in different environments (locker room, bar, street, washrooms), fights against multiple assailants or weapons, you'd soon find he has his work cut out for him.

Also a Blackbelt should be skilled in all fighting ranges, kicks, punches, takedowns, ground control, and submission. In the ring environment working the guard may be a winning strategy against an opponent who doesn't know grappling, but in a public washroom against 3 on 1 it may result in death. For this reason practical knowledge of how to fight in MANY MANY contexts is essential. You don't defeat the white belt student on soft mats and then jump to the next step thinking you've accomplished something great. Instead you try to defeat that same man in 100 other situations. When you can do this and have the experience of this you can feel more secure with what you've acheived as a black belt.

[jesse7]

I couldnt care less about belts etc, I just wanna learn how to lay the smack down. I take in the goodness and discard the crap. Blow'd if I am going to spend 10 years to earn a bit of material when I can learn all I need to learn in 3-4 years or less.

What was the question again??? spanky distracted me.

[Mr. Miyagi]

I have noticed in bjj that stronger more athletic guys progress quicker. I honestly can't see myself ever making it past purple, I've been a blue for two years now. I just don't have the time to train often enough, the energy to train hard enough, and the black belt is no longer my goal because I know I'd have to make bjj my life to get there, and it still wouldn't be easy.
Then you have someone like Fabio Gurgel who got his black belt in 4 or 5 years. I'm sure he worked very hard, but I'm also sure he was a strong, in-shape guy from his first day training.

[Scott Kano]

You cant set a time on black belt, as we have said many times before it comes down to the individuals skill and fittness. They will dtermine when you get your black belt.

[Core Nobody]

In most schools Black Belt means your dedicated to your art. In others it means you can handle a bad situation without too many problems.Others would be if you screw with me you will die.Sadly other schools it just means you paid your fees and know your form halfass.......Black Belt is what you make it.Attitude ,Heart,Ability,Mental toughness,and awareness...... Good topic..........

[aseepish]

Originally posted by jesse7
I take in the goodness and discard the crap.

That's got to be the best Bruce Lee paraphrase I've seen in a while! Right on!

[GuardMaster]

Limits

I myself too (no matter how hard I set out to train in BJJ) can't see myself making it past purple belt. To make it to brown or black in BJJ would require way too much dedication and being married and having a full time job that requires a lot of dedication makes it even harder.

But that doesn't mean I don't want to be able to say "I've achieved a black belt in martial arts". For this reason I think other styles like full contact Karate, kickboxing, and Judo are great compliments to BJJ and a realistic means of achieving a dream.

[Szczepankiewicz]

If you really want a black belt, check this out!

Ashida Kim

Pay your money and sign your certfiicate.


That's what I'm gonna do.

Spanky

[robertlee]

A blackbelt just means you on your way to learning. Nothing great just a belt . It means a lot at at first . Then as the years go by you relize its just part of the learning prosess. No powers came with it. Just work a little sweat ,bumps and bruises. To see a blackbelt is to ask your self what makes you that. If the answers you have are right to you then you are. To know is better then to wear. A blackbelt is a award given by your instructor to show you have and are learning. A white belt wore for many years will turn black. Different styles have different tests, and time requirements. a belt demonstrates that level. some systems give no belts. In the end it will be just you not a belt. what you can do is what you can do. To know this and learn from it expands beyond the color of the belt. Time means a life time in learning the blackbelt knows this.