How to Earn a Black Belt

Co-authored by Yvonne Mo

Last Updated: October 3, 2021 References

It may take a lot of work, time, and effort, but earning a black belt in your system of choice is a worthy endeavor. Although a black belt is not often the highest grade level it is perceived to be, it does signify some expertise in the practice, as well as a graduate level to the person that wears it. Earning a black belt certainly won't be easy, but that shouldn't stop you from trying your best.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Understanding the Requirements

1
Sign up for a class. Some people think it is okay to study martial arts from a book, but it is not the same.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Yvonne Mo
Fitness and Health Coach & Kung Fu Instructor
Expert Interview. 10 September 2021.} An authentic school is preferable, but the important thing is to be in a class with good teachers.^{[2]
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- There are a litany of techniques you will learn to earn a black belt in karate. You will earn your way up the belt ladder, earning different color belts as you make your way to the black belt. Your instructor will teach increasingly complicated karate moves and defense techniques you continue.^{[3]
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- It can take years of training to earn a black belt. Enrolling in a class it just the first step. You will probably start by learning the very basics of karate. You'll learn basic stances, moves, and form.
- Requirements for how long you'll take classes vary, and largely depend on how quickly you can rise through the ranks. Some schools require only 2 years of training, while others require at least 4 and a half years.
2
Prepare for the tests by adhering to belt level requirements. Practice at home or in the park when you can. Keep the mindset of a martial artist.^{[4]
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- Practice every day. Ask your instructor to give you a list of moves to practice at your home. Try to practice for your own benefit. Develop a sense of autonomy by reminding yourself why a black belt matters to you. Do not practice for your instructor or to impress others. Practice for your own feeling of accomplishment.
- Think about the purpose of your practice. When you're feeling discouraged, go over the reasons you wanted to get a black belt. Did you want to feel more secure in yourself? Did you want to foster a sense of accomplishment? Whatever your reason, keeping it in mind can help you feel good about yourself and drive you to practice more.
- If you have friends in your karate class, considering collaborating with them to practice moves on one another.^{[6]
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  Expert Source
  
  Yvonne Mo
  Fitness and Health Coach & Kung Fu Instructor
  Expert Interview. 10 September 2021.} Remember to be careful. Karate is about self-defense, so you should never strive to intentionally harm an opponent.
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3
Put in the time and effort. Winners do things that losers don't think are necessary.^{[7]
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Yvonne Mo
Fitness and Health Coach & Kung Fu Instructor
Expert Interview. 10 September 2021.} Depending on which discipline you choose to study, there will be a number of belts you have to acquire before reaching black. ^{[8]
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- Consistency in attending classes and regular practice is crucial in earning your black belt. ^{[9]
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  Frank Blaney
  Certified Tai Chi & Qigong Instructor
  Expert Interview. 28 September 2021.}
- Keep in mind that age and rank play a factor in the difficulties affiliated with earning belts. The older you are and the higher you go, the more that’s expected of you.
- Be patient and climb up in the ranks slowly and with purpose.
- You may have to pay tuition and other fees as you get promoted through the different ranks.^{[10]
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  Yvonne Mo
  Fitness and Health Coach & Kung Fu Instructor
  Expert Interview. 10 September 2021.}
4
Understand what a black belt means. If you want to earn a black belt, you should know what it means to obtain one. Think about the history of black belts, and the steps you'll have to take to eventually earn your black belt.^{[11]
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- To earn your black belt, you will start at the lowest ranks and earn your belts along the way. A black belt is not just a measure of strength, however. It's a reward for putting years of discipline into a craft. A black belt should mold your mind as well as your body. It should teach your patience, dedication, and independence.^{[12]
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  Yvonne Mo
  Fitness and Health Coach & Kung Fu Instructor
  Expert Interview. 10 September 2021.}
- You should avoid any schools that award black belts after only a short period of training. A black belt is a great honor, and gaining a black belt takes year. Make sure the school you enroll in has a standard system of testing that all students must pass to rise in the ranks.
- The longer you have your black belt, the higher you'll rise. There are different degrees of black belt you can earn as you continue to study karate. If karate is important to you, strive to one day be a sensei yourself. This, however, will take years and years of training and is something you cannot do until adulthood.^{[13]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Earning a Black Belt in Karate

1
Earn your gold belt. Have knowledge of hand techniques like the jab and reverse. Know how to do a front kick. Be aware of how to do high, low, and middle blocks.^{[14]
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- Stances of horse, ready, front, and attention should be known.
- The two form techniques of the kick front punch and stepping front punch need to be known.
- A minimum of 16 classes are taken to earn the gold belt and have to be taken within the minimum of two months.
2
Gain an orange belt. Know the knife hand, spear hand, and back fist hand techniques. You should also know how to do a roundhouse kick.
- Be knowledgeable of the side facing cat, front facing cat, and lunge stances.
- The two form techniques of kick front punch and lunge punch should be known.
- A minimum of 32 classes need to be taken to meet the requirements for this belt within a minimum of four months.
3
Obtain your blue belt. At this stage, you should know how to do the reverse stance, the open hand block, and the side kick. Hand techniques like one finger spear hand and ridge hand should be known.^{[15]
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- Form techniques like kick reverse punch and reverse punch should be known.
- For the blue belt qualification, you must take a minimum of 48 classes within a minimum of 6 months.
4
Acquire your purple belt. Learn the hook and jump front kick. the hook and jump front kick. Become adept at the elbow hand technique.^{[16]
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- A minimum of 64 classes has to be taken at this stage within a span of a minimum of 8 months.
5
Qualify as a green candidate to get to your green belt. As a green candidate, know how to do back hand techniques, spin kicks, and back fist and x blocks. For your green belt, learn the reverse lunge stance and the jump side kick.^{[17]
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- For your green candidate requirements, you will need a minimum of 80 classes and a minimum of 10 months.
- For your green belt requirements, you will need a minimum of 96 classes and a minimum of 12 months.
6
Become a brown candidate to earn your brown belt and 1st brown. As a brown candidate, be adept at the lunge reverse stance and the lunge reverse and kick lunge reverse form techniques. As a brown belt and 1st brown, the emphasis is placed on kata and kisos.^{[18]
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- For the brown candidate, a minimum of 120 classes is necessary and a minimum of 15 months before you move to the next thing.
- For the brown belt, a minimum of 144 classes and a minimum of 18 months is needed before you move to the next 1st brown level.
- For 1st brown, you will need a minimum of 168 classes and a minimum of 21 months.
7
Become a black belt. Earn your black belt candidate qualification by taking a minimum of 200 classes at a minimum of 24 months. Become versed in the Naihanchi kata.^{[19]
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- Earn your black belt by taking a minimum of 300 classes at a minimum of 36 months.
- Black belts can be earned as young as 9-10 years of age.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Earning a Black Belt in Jiu Jitsu

1
Earn your white belt. Gain knowledge of the names of the main positions in Jiu Jitsu. Obtain familiarity with all of those main positions. For example, you need to be able to identify the guard position.
- Learn to control the ego and accept that sometimes losing will be something you experience, especially from older and stronger opponents.
- Focus your energy on the experience and not the concept of winning or losing.
- Choose and try to master one technique.
2
Obtain your blue belt. Build your game on a solid defense. Be able to escape from most of the major positions with ease during fights with an opponent.
- You will also need to know how to pass the guard, a difficult aspect of jiu jitsu. Because you will spend a lot of time in the guards of your opponents, you need to be equipped to deal with that position.
- Have two effective escapes from Side Mount, Back Mount, and Mount positions.
- Participate in at least one competition.
3
Lay the foundation of your game through earning a purple belt. Learn to use the momentum of the weight of your opponent as well as your own weight so that you achieve moment objectives the belt is known for. Focus on your weaknesses or the holes in your game.
- Keep in mind that earning the purple belt means you need to be dangerous from any position while maintaining a great offense.
- You need to have an effective guard, familiarity with the different guards, and specialize in one or two guard techniques.
- Have three submissions from Back Mount, Side Mount, and Mount. Have three combination attacks from the guard position.
4
Acquire your brown belt. At this position, few situations or positions will be unfamiliar to you. You will be sinister from top positions. Know how to use your bodyweight in side mount and mount positions to the point that your opponent feels every ounce of you.
- Try consolidating your knowledge by teaching a few classes at the academy you’re learning at.^{[20]
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  Frank Blaney
  Certified Tai Chi & Qigong Instructor
  Expert Interview. 28 September 2021.} Being able to teach jiu jitsu to others is a great indicator of your capabilities as a brown belt.
- Your balance should make you very difficult to be swept by opponents. At this stage, it should be perfected.
- You will be able to pass the guard even at the narrowest window of opportunity and counters most common attacks.
5
Symbolize your evolution to master grappler and get your black belt. At this stage, you know more about your mind, body, and limitations than the average person. You’re dangerous and highly adept at martial arts but you limit your skill set to the defense and help of people less able.
- You move with a exceptional grace and motion and are able to infinitely refine movements.
- Jiu jitsu practiced at this level will not only be effective but it will also look good.
- It should be understood that the journey isn’t over and there is still time to learn and evolve to the next level: a red belt.

Expert Q&A

Question

What is the fastest way to get a black belt in Jiu-Jitsu?

Frank Blaney
Certified Tai Chi & Qigong Instructor
Frank Blaney is a Certified Qigong and Tai Chi Instructor with over 15 years of teaching experience. Passionate about making Qigong more accessible to people, Frank is the author of "Qigong: The Quick & Easy Start-Up Guide." He also holds a 2nd Degree Black Belt in Jujitsu and trains executives and staff of corporations, NGOs, and communities in self-care, personal performance and conflict resolution. He holds an MA in Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, and Peacebuilding from California State University Dominguez Hills.

Frank Blaney

Certified Tai Chi & Qigong Instructor

Expert Answer

That can vary from person to person. My advice, though, is to not get too hung up on the end goal of getting the black belt. Focus on the enjoyment and the discipline of the process.
Question

How many days a week should I do Jiu-Jitsu?

Frank Blaney
Certified Tai Chi & Qigong Instructor
Frank Blaney is a Certified Qigong and Tai Chi Instructor with over 15 years of teaching experience. Passionate about making Qigong more accessible to people, Frank is the author of "Qigong: The Quick & Easy Start-Up Guide." He also holds a 2nd Degree Black Belt in Jujitsu and trains executives and staff of corporations, NGOs, and communities in self-care, personal performance and conflict resolution. He holds an MA in Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, and Peacebuilding from California State University Dominguez Hills.

Frank Blaney

Certified Tai Chi & Qigong Instructor

Expert Answer

Consistency is what truly matters. It's better to go twice a week for an hour class than to show up one Saturday a week and train for four hours. The more you can get this stuff into your muscle memory, the quicker you'll retain it.
Question

Are private Jiu-Jitsu lessons worth it?

Frank Blaney
Certified Tai Chi & Qigong Instructor
Frank Blaney is a Certified Qigong and Tai Chi Instructor with over 15 years of teaching experience. Passionate about making Qigong more accessible to people, Frank is the author of "Qigong: The Quick & Easy Start-Up Guide." He also holds a 2nd Degree Black Belt in Jujitsu and trains executives and staff of corporations, NGOs, and communities in self-care, personal performance and conflict resolution. He holds an MA in Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, and Peacebuilding from California State University Dominguez Hills.

Frank Blaney

Certified Tai Chi & Qigong Instructor

Expert Answer

They can be, but I recommend enjoying the camaraderie of the group. One of the greatest things about training in martial arts is the wonderful people that are there with you. You guys will definitely become a family.

Warnings

Don't expect it to be easy.

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Don't let your ego get out of control if you earn a black belt. Being humble is an important aspect of any martial art discipline.

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Don't expect to get a black belt quickly. It will take years of work.

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