How long until black belt?
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How long until black belt?
How long shoudl one take (on average) before reaching black belt in Uechi-Ryu Karate? I know there are variances in time, but I have noticed in other MA's that some can acquire this belt with less time and more money: Not a good thing the way I see it.
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Kevin Mackie
- Posts: 671
- Joined: Wed Sep 16, 1998 6:01 am
Mr. Mattson's book "Uechi Ryu Karate Do" (aka The Red Book) has a time-in-rank chart which shows White to Green covering 10 months,Brown belt ranks to 18 months, then Shodan at 2 years.
However I think this would be an intense and very concentrated regimen which not many, if any students in modern times could adhere to.
Plus they would have to be ideally suited to the demands of the style, I would think.
I might suggest 3-5 years is more like the norm, or 5-7 for ones like me who started late, only get 1 class a week and have a demanding teacher: which actually I prefer!
But I don't know what the real average of open-class school students is...might an interesting poll..."how long did it take YOU?...sort of thing.
Calling all Shodans!
NM
However I think this would be an intense and very concentrated regimen which not many, if any students in modern times could adhere to.
Plus they would have to be ideally suited to the demands of the style, I would think.
I might suggest 3-5 years is more like the norm, or 5-7 for ones like me who started late, only get 1 class a week and have a demanding teacher: which actually I prefer!
But I don't know what the real average of open-class school students is...might an interesting poll..."how long did it take YOU?...sort of thing.
Calling all Shodans!
NM
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Stryke
umm how long it takes is how long it takes .......
everyones different , and it varies school to school , id personally like to see it take about 5 years , not long enough to rush it but long enough toget a basic foundation , but thats just MHO and not referring to Uechi but Shotokan
My shodan took 11 years of consistant training , at least three times a week .
everyones different , and it varies school to school , id personally like to see it take about 5 years , not long enough to rush it but long enough toget a basic foundation , but thats just MHO and not referring to Uechi but Shotokan
My shodan took 11 years of consistant training , at least three times a week .
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Guest
I agree, there is no formula minimum time in rank are guidelines not auto promotion vehicles.Stryke wrote: how long it takes is how long it takes .......
As Kevin points out belts are earned!
Time in rank is not an indication of skill.
It always boils down to sweat, doing the training. There have been a few posts on other threads that appear to degrade the three year black belt. Like it is some how less worthy than one that look longer to earn. I'm not pointing fingers, I'm just pointing out that all who satisfy the test board are deserving of there rank and recognition.
There are many paths that lead up the mountain. If one is faster , slower , steeper, it does not matter. All that matters is one climbs the mountain, one improves their skills.
Here's an example of two different paths.
2Green AKA 3brown
, has been training for 5 years and wears a green belt. He attends 1 class/week I assume 1 to 1.5 hours per week. So he trains 52 to 78 hours per year in his dojo. After 5 years we can assume 260 hours to 390 hours of training.Ugly Elk AKA Laird trained for 23 weeks to earn his green belt. He attended 6 classes over 5 days each week. He trained 3 hours per class. 18 hours per week (936 hours per year) Laird was awarded a Green Belt after 414 hours of training.
Two different paths, same result
I believe it takes about 1500 to 2000 hours of training to gain the skills required to pass a shodan test. So how long depends on how hard you work. If your training is good and your sensei qualified I think one could accomplish it in a short time.
But it's not the belts that are important, it's the training that is important, and for the record when I wear a Gi I wrap it in the belt it came with.
Laird
from http://uechi-ryu.com/oldsite/iukf/standards.htm
In IUKF the minimum times are:
Minimum age for shodan 16 years and 3 years minimum in study.
Nidan: 2 years time-in-grade
Sandan 3 years time-in-grade
Yondan 4 years time-in grade.,
Godan 5 years time-in grade and thirty years of age.
6th dan 6 years time-in-grade
7th dan 7 years time-in-grade.
8th dan 8 years time-in-grade.
No one will be “grandfathered” . With the bare minimums a student can still get to godan by age thirty which is relatively young and rokkyudan by 36 which by most organizations standards is also quite young. The group also agreed that 36 was the youngest that we would consider for 6th dan. So anyone who has achieved the rank of godan before the age of thirty would have to wait the additional time to reach 36.
In IUKF the minimum times are:
Minimum age for shodan 16 years and 3 years minimum in study.
Nidan: 2 years time-in-grade
Sandan 3 years time-in-grade
Yondan 4 years time-in grade.,
Godan 5 years time-in grade and thirty years of age.
6th dan 6 years time-in-grade
7th dan 7 years time-in-grade.
8th dan 8 years time-in-grade.
No one will be “grandfathered” . With the bare minimums a student can still get to godan by age thirty which is relatively young and rokkyudan by 36 which by most organizations standards is also quite young. The group also agreed that 36 was the youngest that we would consider for 6th dan. So anyone who has achieved the rank of godan before the age of thirty would have to wait the additional time to reach 36.
