The Hardest Part About Getting A Black Belt | ART OF ONE DOJO

What is the hardest part about getting a black belt? So many students enter the martial arts each year but only about 1-3% of them ever make it all the way to black belt or beyond. Why is that? Is it the difficulty of the material, or does life just get in the way?

This video explores some of the most common challenges when taking the martial arts including choices made by the practitioner and obstacles out of your control.

Location Provided by C's Kenpo Karate

Original Photography Provided by:
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Holly Pereira - A Captured Thought
Jennifer Shearn Wagner

Music and Stock Footage From

Video Productions by: Fade 2 Black Productions, Inc

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[kylestrong]

Watching this the day after i tested for my junior BB. And the hardest part for me was sticking with it. When i got my brown belt, i started skipping classes because i was mentally tired or i felt physically tired that day. But now i know those are the days where you HAVE to go. And while i never thought about quitting, my sensei noticed and gave me some good words and i was able to get back on track, and i am very glad i did

[carlosgranah]

I obtained my first degree black belt in Judo after 15 years. I was a brown belt for around 8 years and work and college got in the way. The exam is difficult and required a lot of preparation the examiner was very picky on japanese etiquete and protocol. 12 people that gave their exam 4 failed that day. It took two hours of practicing kata everday for 5 months to get a decent and passing score. I wear my black belt with pride knowing that I had to work very hard to get it as it should be.

[jahipalmer]

I wear my black belt with pride. Some days are hard (like today when I sparred my instructor, ) but it is always worth it. The past nine years training martial arts have made it an integral part of my life.

[mikedavweedman]

Your story is INSPIRING!! I reached my 1st Dan (Kenpo) in 2007, My school shut down in 2008. I took my own journey after that as well but continued to work with my Sensei. My Sensei Passed away last year before I could reach my 2nd Dan. A few months back, myself and 2 other Black Belts started getting together and refreshing ourselves. We finally found a 4th Dan who is going to help us get where we need to be!

[internationalshito-ryufede]

I was tasked with training two students for their black belt exam. They knew that they were training for the test. One guy quit!

[ThatRandomDude]

My school only had 6 belts ( white, yellow, blue, green, brown, and black) and depending on your knowledge of the level your at can take you 6 months to a couple of years to move to the next level. I got lazy when i was about to be tested for green belt and quit. I tried to go back a few years later but by that time I gained weight and just didn't have the energy. Now I'm kicking myself in the butt and about to start training again. But more for weight loss and better health.

[raynagel]

Enjoy your videos I am a Tae Kwon Do black belt former instructor tournament fighter and coach etc (at 72 yrs of age I cannot practice much anymore due to disability), everything you say in this video is very true in my experience. I have a friend who brags his grand-daughter took an accelerated course and became a black belt in less than a year, I could not convince him that all they did was take her money, my advice is when you are offered an "Accelerated course" run away as fast as you can because there is no such thing.

[daboi]

Today, is my black belt 1 Dan exam and i’ve been working towards it since 2010.

[benjamingodfrey]

I started in junior high school with Shotokan karate. I always love martial arts, but the instructor and the school wasn't what I was looking for. I tried again in college with TKD and GM Bong-Soo Han's Hapkido. I really liked that, but then I graduated and went to grad school in another state. I never got above purple belt in that system. Then life happened... work, more school, more training, marriage and kids. Finally in 2014 at the age of 40 I decided to get back into martial arts. I looked around and did my research and found a system that resonated with me and my goals. I found Kajukembo, a Hawaiian hybrid martial art. As a Kenpo guy, Mr Dan Sanz, I'm sure you are familiar with it. Anyway, after four years of training I was tested for my black belt in July 2018. It was a 4 hour test. It included static and walking basics, judo falls and throws, katas, the self defense portion (defenses against grabs, punches, kicks, knives and clubs, multiple man attacks), presentation and defense of an essay and then an oral exam on the history of the Art. I was privileged to be tested by an eclectic exam board that included my instructor (an 8th Dan), his assistant instructor (5th Dan), a 9th Dan Japanese Jujitsu master, two other high ranking black belts from another system and Mr Tommy Burks, 8th Dan Kenpo who is one of the 12 Disciples of Mr Ed Parker. No pressure! It was a total mind game... getting active feedback on techniques, questions about WHY I do something a certain way, asked to explain the physics, flow, choice of target and weapon, etc while sweating my butt off. The experience left me mentally and physically exhausted. Walking into the exam I felt I was prepared for the black belt... walking out I knew I had EARNED the black belt, and that is a great feeling.

[breakingboardrooms]

I just started out in Shotokan Karate in January. I want to learn it. I want to master it. I have found a new passion.

[sushirice]

Something that helps me get through repetitive training is trying to learn new things about it, even if it’s silly and probably won’t work I like using something in a new way or something

Just making it fun helps a lot

[counselorchandru]

This video has come to me at just the right time. Thank you so much!

[tokenstandpoint]

I started in '95 then realized my dojo was a McDojo then asked my mom to take me out 2 years later. In '97 joined a Kung Fu temple. It was great but my mom had hardships. In 2000 finally had a decent enough job then joined a Kyokushin place, loved it till I went to went back to college then met my ex gf. Just got back into it in June and injured my back. Going through therapy now and anxious to start again.

[flipsba]

20 fights was the most difficult for getting my Shodan in Kyokushin. Got it after almost nine years of training.

[DonMcGuire]

Hi I'm Don McGuire and I'm a Martial artist. I'm a second degree Black belt in Karate, and I'm training for third degree. I started training in Karate when I was 15 years old and I fell in love with Martial Arts. I never stopped training. I still train now, and I will never stop because I love it so much. I'm currently training in Dragon and Tiger Kung Fu because I always wanted to learn Kung Fu. It is awesome. Thank you for making this video and sharing your experience with everyone. I don't believe in giving up.

[tonyroy]

1-3 percent never reach black belt who start? you must mean the other way around only 1-3 % make it to blackbelt? I am a veteran full time school owner of 30 yrs and in my neck of Canada maybe 1 percent see it through

[fijiunlimited]

Props to you my friend - you're living the life of every kid who watched the Karate Kid and dreamed they wanted to be a black belt. Learned a lot about the different arts from your videos, good stuff.

[ruiseartalcorn]

Good advice. I studied for many years, in many systems (boxing and "unarmed combat" with my father from early age, fencing at 7 years old, Kung Fu, Karate, Pencak-Silat and a wee bit of JuJutsu), and nowadays teach my own martial art based on the systems that I became an instructor of (Pencak-Silat and Yau Hawk Tao Kung Fu). I am just about to turn 60 and still train daily - I will never quit! I have always been fascinated in American Kenpo and have found your videos to be inspirational, which is why I have just subscribed :)

[JazzBear]

I loved your video! One thing I might add is that the amazing friendships I have gained through the martial arts are a tremendous blessing. I’ve had several instructors over the years. (I’ve been with my current teacher over 25 years.) We are all like a big family. He is like a second father to me. I’m so very thankful for what the martial arts have done for me. At 51 I still train 5 days a week. And now I get to teach my granddaughter karate. Life is good!

[ardonthorn]

I’m not a martial artist, but my sone and daughter, 7 and 10, are in Tan Soo Do. I watch your videos for ways to inspire my kids and give them some different perspectives. Appreciate all you do! Keep it up!