Get me fit in 2 weeks...

shodan

So what is the progression of the belts with a time frame of training 2 of 3 days a week?

DrPhil

A new start training 2-3 times a week you should hit blue belt in 2 years or so. I've known guys do it in under a year. Took me a good bit longer due to my age and numerous injuries plus less training time.

Blue to purple should take another 2-3 years but again for me, I'd be happy to make it in 5.

BigStu1972

I trained twice a week until I got my blue and then I found that I needed to train 3-4 times a week once a blue belt.
Most guys who get purple train 4 times a week, which seems a lot.

shodan

So how long to get to black belt?  I've known people in karate to manage it in 3-4 years (although I'm old school and we used to say that someone with 20 years experience was a good beginner!!!)

BigStu1972

On average around 10 years if they train 4 times a week but some just aren't up to it and stay at brown or purple for a long long time.
I know guys who have been purple belts for 8 years and they train twice a week.

I got my Judo black belt in 5 years of training twice a week. However in Judo (in Japan anyway) a 1st dan (shodan) is someone who has just mastered the basics and is ready to start learning.
In BJJ a Black belt is mostly considered a master already, whereas a Purple belt is considered a junior instructor, similar to a 1st dan in Judo.

mjn

They reckon for every one million students that start a martial art, only 1 will progress to black belt!

That is a lot of dropouts. But if you’re that one in a million student, instant respect.

DrPhil

Saw a similar line the other day.

Q - how long does it take the average person to reach black belt?

A - an "average" person doesn't reach black belt.

mjn

I’ve seen some utter dross over the last 30 years. And i guess it comes down to whether your instructor is interested in making money or passing on knowledge. The instructions that are only interested in making money will grade anybody as long as they pay their subs. We call those McDojos.

But on the other hand not all black belts are equal. Although there is a syllabus for each grade, for me, grading is about personal development. Some people are never gonna be able to do some of the fancy kick/foot work, but does that mean they’re not black belt material? For me, being a black belt is more than just being able to bang out the syllabus when asked.

Anyway, i could talk all day about grading, training and the like, but lets not derail the thread.