How long will it take me to get a black belt?
It was a question that I get asked from time to time by
those starting the martial path, and unlike other teachers I don’t take offense
by it.
It is a natural question.
In our culture, given the popularity and misconception of
the martial arts, there is this idea that a black belt equals a master status,
or at the very least it means that the student knows *something* about the
martial arts.
New students want to know how long it will take before they
get good at the martial arts, they are looking for a model to compare themselves
against.
Understandable.
A level of proficiency.
We sometimes hear ridiculous assessments by educators trying
to equate the martial arts to an academic approach, stating that a black belt
is equal to an undergraduate degree, and that different levels of black belt
equal a masters or doctorate degree.
Is this an accurate model when you are trying to compare proficiency
and ability?
How does one explain the martial arts to somebody outside
the dojo, outside of the training?
Perhaps a story?
Imagine a martial arts temple, or a dojo to the gods of war
atop a mountain.
At the perimeter of the temple is a large gateway, a martial
gate.
You don’t begin your lessons inside the temple, but rather outside
it.
Those first martial arts lessons, those first few years are
outside the martial gate. You are learning how to move your body, learning
about distance, timing, balance. Learning about yourself, and how to move-
taijutsu. This self-discovery leads to a choice.
At a certain point one makes a decision.
They can leave the training, having learned valuable skills
about life and themselves, movement, philosophy, and ways of moving the body,
and take that as they continue the journey through life. Even if they never
study the martial arts again, what they have learned about themselves and
nature will allow them to lead an effective life.
The other decision point is to step through the martial
gate, enter the temple, shrine, or in this case dojo and begin a full and deeper
study of the art.
This would be the black belt level- entering the martial
gate.
Continuing to use our imagination to capture a feeling, and
explain an experience.
Training beyond the gate is before a shrine to the gods of
war. One trains and practices, inspired by the teachings, and hopefully picking
up on the transmission of the martial arts as the training begins to shift from
the seen to the unseen.
Slowly one finds that they are at another martial gate, or rather
at this point a hidden door to the dojo.
Can one pass through the hidden door and go beyond what is
considered normal perception?
Something mysterious.
Now in stating this, understand, that the martial arts are
not easy, but are very easy to master.
The martial arts are physical, correct training over many
years, no shortcuts or fantasy, but rather hour and hours of physical training,
leading to ability.
One has to have martial ability, but don’t worry about it,
the teacher will take care of helping you to develop it.
The secret to mastery.
That easy secret?
Simple, just keep showing up to class and training, keep
practicing on your own every day, keep pursuing the martial arts in your heart.
So how long does it take to get a black belt?