🥋 Question: What does a black belt mean to you? 🤔 Overrated? The ”Holy Grail”? Comment below! 👇

I was at a karate tournament and this lady was bragging to me that her husband was so good that he achieved his black-belt in one year. I was listening to her and thinking, lady, I’ve been training very hard in kyokushin for 5 years and I’m still 1st kyu (brown-belt) - those microwave McDojo belts don’t make one an expert in martial arts!

A black belt is a like a visual diploma; a degree of knowledge. But a real black belt is in the heart. It is what you do with that knowledge that defines a person. Learning is a form of humility. It is a lifelong journey.

When I got my black belt, my sensei really emphasized that it’s a Shodan-level belt (first degree). Instead of hearing “Congratulations on your black belt,” I heard, “Congratulations Shodan.” That really emphasized that this is the beginning of my journey, no where near the end.

At my dojo, my sensei told me the moment i recieved my black belt that my journey begins from there.

I am myself a brown belt in japanese jiu jitsu. And see it like driving lessons. Black belt means you have your driving licence, it means you got the basics down. Nothing more nothing less

Daniel: Hey, what kind of belt do you have? Mr. Miyagi: Canvas. J.C. Penney. $3.98. You like? [laughs] Daniel: No, I meant... Mr. Miyagi: In Okinawa, belt mean no need rope to hold up pants. [laughs; then, seriously] Daniel-san, karate here. [taps his head] Karate here. [taps his heart] Karate never here. [points to his belt] Understand? Daniel: I think so.

“A white belt is just as important as a black belt. Just cause I can swing the stick a little bit better doesn’t mean I can be arrogant about it” -Grandmaster Dieter Knuttel

if the whole reason of learning karate is just to get a black belt, then buying it online would be the wisest decision

I started training in 1972 I was 7, had to be 18 to get shodan,sat on that for 8 years, 4 years later got my 3rd,another 4 years got my yodan,after 30 years of training I became a sensei. ALL these years later I am still learning and enjoying traditional karate.

To me, black belt is simply an indicator that one is, or at least should be, proficient in the basics and core concepts. By the way, I love these casual conversation videos. I hope you do more of them!

We have a little saying at my Dojo, "A Black Belt isn't something you wear, it is something you become." This is the point where the learning can really begin, yes you learn things leading up to black belt, but it opens new doors to opportunities, whether that be a better perspective on your journey or the desire to start a new one.

A friend uses the expression: "A Black-belt is a White-belt that didn't give up". A black belt means your instructors and those holding the test thinks you're good enough to wear it. That's what all the belts mean actually, so the black is no different than the others. A stepping stone on a path of fun and sweat.

I have always been taught that black belt is a practitioner who has “mastered” the basics. Because in our style after first degree you still have up to 60 years of curriculum to learn. It is a lifetime pursuit. Thank you

“White belt turns black through training. Black belt turns white through experience.” - Roland Crawford 5dan. That phrase and when I heard that black belt is just the beginning, as in if you were learning a language and can now get through a conversation and manage basic phrasing with ways to address areas outside your knowledge base, have impacted me deeply. Thanks for posting guys! Keep it up!

I received my 1st Dan Black Belt in 1987 from Sensei Enoeda (JKA), and at the time we were told that it simply meant that you were now considered a 'serious student'! that is how I still think of it to this day.

My instructor always says "A black belt is just someone who is an expert at the basics"

To my mind, a black belt should be able to perform everything they've learned up and until that point under stress. That means everything learned is installed in "muscle memory." The black belt should have a reasonable knowledge of the history of the art, style, and school and or organization. The black belt should be able to show the basics to a new student. And should be able to stand in front of the class as a role model. A psychological change should eventually happen after the black belt ranking is achieved, including a new level of confidence and command presence that sets the black belt apart from the under ranks.

I had such a great time! Thanks for chatting with me my friend! Hope to meet up in person soon!

Respect from Russia! I thought for a long time that people in the United States do not quite understand budo correctly. I thought that in america karate is something like mcdonald's. Perhaps this is due to popular culture, as well as the multitude of non-orthodox American kempo styles. But thanks to this channel, I realized that there are followers of the true spirit of Bushido in America.

Is not common to find a person so much wise and so young. Again express my admiration and your capacity to teach.

7:17 "You train a lot, what's your nutrition like?" "Paleo." Two cavemen chatting, 100,000 years ago: "You know, I'm going to move to this "Modern Man" diet ... apparently some of those guys live past 50!" :D

When I did taekwondo, I was able to continue right where I left off after moving and switching schools. It felt so awkward to be a red belt and yet knowing nothing of the school's curriculum aside from the patterns I'm supposed to know according to the Kukkiwon. Then I went from WTF to ITF style. It was nice to be able to go back to the absolute basics.

I progressed to nidan last year and at times I still feel like I know nothing. It's that feeling I think, that keeps people motivated and uninterested in the idea of rank. At least for me. I'm not a black belt. I'm a student, and it'll stay that way until I'm pushing up daisies!

I study Daito Ryu. This sentiment about belts is right on the money. We just wear the white belt that came with our gi until we receive a Dan ranking. And that's just the start of understanding. I'm really happy to hear this from other westerners. Karate fascinates me as does judo and taekwondo. Conversations like this make my heart happy. Thank you.

I practiced Hapkido for many years and my teacher (Korean Grandmaster) always said that everything up to black belt was just exercise. We were also taught to never ask what "degree" someone has, but rather ask how many years they've been practicing. Another thing was that if, for some reason, you wore your uniform outside (perhaps going from the car to a building), to never wear your belt.

I found in my experience that in Karate, there's two types of Student. One that focuses on their Kata and one that focuses their Fighting skills. I feel personally that a Student who has earnt a Black Belt, should be a Fighter first and foremost, and develop their Fighting System. I have taught many classes and had an accomplished Career, becoming National Champion. I was, as many other Instructors are given the respectful title of Sensi. That to me is what it is, a sign if respect to the Art. Other than that, some would just call me Champ, a title earnt. I would also like to add that Leg Sweeps are seriously underrated and hardly seen these days.!? Luckily, I had the foresight to mix my Martial Arts up when I was younger, before MMA was about. It saved my Life in Unarmed Combat many times. Once I knew what worked for me, I had no issues in my capabilities and developed my own Working System, which I will allways develop to the end of my days. Karate for balance and precision. Boxing for development of body conditioning, head movements and footwork. Wrestling for Stamina, strength and locks that breaks Limbes. Ju-Jitsu for submission and having good control of the aggressor. WhyTy, for power kicks and leg conditioning. Grappling for further Skills on the ground, including Judo. I took away some systems from Jeet-quando and Kung-Fu. Then I.learnt some really not so nice moves in the Armed Forces, when a threat had to be neutralized with your bare hands. A good Psychological Mindset, especially in regards to completing your moves through to its fullest effect. The main thing is a Will to learn and open your Mind to other Fighting Systems. I have thought decent Fighters who have only encompassed one or two other (FS) and I was therefore able to utilise a variety of FS, which gave me the edge. I went to many Competitions, full and semi contact before I Won a Title. I was knocked down, hurt, dazed, but still I went back for more. I NEEDED to know if it really works!? Not only did it work when I found my own FS, but it engulfed me further.. I personally feel that if you want to be a Fighrer, you can't learn if you don't actually go out there and put it to the test! That's how you learn what works and what doesn't. Then you will discover a hidden Powerful Friend that will guide you away from harm. Experience goes a long way.. From a British War Veteran God Bless America!

In Tang Soo Do, we say the Gup ranks are the beginning of learning, the black belt is the beginning of understanding. And I do subscribe to the fact that not all ranks are created equal. A first degree black belt in karate is different from school to school. Comprehension of the techniques and sequencing varies from person to person. Great video!

I earned my first black belt when I was 13, and I thought that I would be so much better in karate, but actually, I was still not good enough! And then, at the age of 15, I started MMA, and all the stretching, drilling, and training karate, that opened a whole new world for me! I was so much better at kicking and throwing than anyone else at training in MMA! So I came to a conclusion, that I was only bad at karate, but when u want to start any type of fighting art that involves kicking and throwing and punching, even grappling! Karate opens up a whole new world for you, cause you will be able to kick, and throw, much better than anyone else! That has happened to me, in karate, youre not allowed to hit someone, which makes it so much harder, but then when you can, in full contact fighting, you can really see the effectiveness of those hits used in karate! Karate is a beautiful martial art, and takes years and years of practice to become good at it, I was amazed by this discovery myself, I was able to learn new kicks punches and throws, much easier, cause karate allowed me that, I am grateful to karate, cause it made me the fighter I am today, the black belt is only the beginning...

I am overwhelmed by all this modesty . I have been under the impression that something like 2 or maybe 3% of those who start a martial art continue to achieve the rank of black belt . I believe those who consider the rank of Black Belt of no significance are among those who would do anything to have one except to spend the hours and years to earn the rank . I'm 73 years old and still train . And when I go under I would be proud to go down wearing my Black Belt .

I felt my black belt was a weight in the dojo. I felt pressure for not making mistakes in front of lower belts. We all make mistakes and should learn from them.

This is a GREAT conversation!

And again, "Mr. Karate Nerd", you spoke well about black belt. It seems that this channel is the best source of karate information...

i love the new format pls do more of this intresting disscussions

It’s the quality of what you know not quantity. Mr. Miyagi was spot on.

As someone who is in the process in earning my first degree black belt in what is known as Americanized Taekwondo, I needed this. You say that the belts don’t mean anything outside of the martial arts school, but it shows how much hard work you've put in. As much as I want my black belt, I don’t want it to show off, but I want it because I just love this sport so much.

Thank you for this video!! I have gotten tired of asking martial artist I met, "what belt are you?" years ago. I finally started asking, "How many years have you studyed?" I learned back in the 1980's that in Japan some dojos, everyone wears a white belt. So people don't get defeated before they even start. You go by the abilitys not by the color of their belt.

These interviews Was awesome 😍😍😍

Karate for me is eternity learning news things about how fight and survive . The black belt it is not the end, but it is the new stage where we start give lessons for other people.

Awesome content as usual! Keep rocking you too.

So nice to see both of you, keep it up guys

This was a great video, I attended one school that had me doing heian shodan to godan, along with tekki shodan or nahanchi shodan as a green belt. I attended other schools that didn’t do tekki shodan until Black Belt. Your videos are awesome by the way you made me brush the dust off my Gi.

this was my Question on Seth's stream! Love what you do Jesse!

Great video guys! Loved all the answers from both perspectives! I especially loved the pink belt at seminars 😁since I was always taught a belt has nothing to do with how good you are or how much you know. It's just a place in line to bow in. I've always loved the quoat by the late J. C. Shin saying 'we wear our belts in our hearts not on our waists. Hope to see a few more collaborations !

Loved to see you guys online together, big fan of you both! You guys also inspired me to upload videos of my own too!

I got to meet Shihan Leo Lipinski before he passed in 2018, lovely man, but I got to meet him at the end of his life, it would have been amazing to see him in his prime. He didn't care what grade you were, black belt all the way to white, if you made a mistake, you made a mistake and he would call you out. We spent an hour on basic stances and he went through and fixed everyone's no matter what grade, he was even fixing the other Senseis who we Sempai looked up to. When I saw that I knew that grade doesn't matter, knowledge and experience does.

I'm so glad I'm taking this approach to karate. I'm learning the history, what behavior is acceptable in the dojo and cultural aspects before even stepping foot in a dojo.

I'm a 3rd degree black belt in Kenpo (Chinese, NOT american kenpo-karate/Paker/Mitose) I fully agree with your philosophy on this - a belt means nothing outside of your own school and I visit other schools to expand my own knowledge base and bring it into my art. I love the open minded approach. I cross train in Japanese Jujitsu and BJJ at the moment as I love grappling.

I really enjoy both your guys's pages and when you guys team up it's really fun because both have a lot of knowledge and a lot of respect for the other person's knowledge. I love a good transfer of knowledge between two people who have a great amount of it but are also smart enough to know that they don't know it all. Well done guys

Hii jesse sir I watch this live sention Instagram and I thank u for teaching me so much good stuff

Sensei Seth! Great video and topic. Would love to hear more discussions between the both of you.

Well played Sir and thank you for your Candor

Outstanding discussion on "blackbelt".

Great discussion. Thanks to Jessie and Seth.

Very interesting video Sensei, thank you for the upload sir 🙏 I found myself agreeing to a lot of the stuff you said coming from a taekwondo background where you literally can't compare 2 people with the same belt from different clubs.

Really find your channel interesting and usefull even though im a fencer / sabreuer. Always suprised at how many applications it has.

A black belt to me is mastering the physical basics and a beginning of the journey into the Void. The ultimate goal of a martial artist is to have no technique; we must learn to be beyond everything we have learned in the previous journey to get to a black belt and become one with the Tao/Way (not being labeled as this or that). Everything comes together and this is where the real learning and creativity begins.

A brilliant video to see differences of intelligence, articulation and flair. One has heaps - one has none.

Jesse-san - I really appreciate the points you brought up in this video! Even within my karate organization the knowledge base among different kyu and dan ranks varies so widely between dojo, they're almost meaningless. There is also a "sensei" certification within our organization that I disagree with, but it is a very western thing to want to have certifications for darn near everything. Additionally, I've had multiple years of training in other martial arts (primarily Kwan Nyam Hapkido) and I see it all as "karate" - it may not be traditional Okinawan Karate, but I think I'm following the same principle that Toyama Kanken Dai-Shihan followed and proposed in his training and instruction. Everything is Karate to me, and while that's making it difficult to have an identity as a karate-ka, especially within my organization, it has been so incredibly fulfilling for my own martial arts and instruction. Thank you for another wonderful video!

❤️this interview!

I stopped studying Shotokan Karate at 19 y.o. because of an accident I had. I was green belt at the time. One of the things I noticed during my tenure was that I sparred with with TKD 3 and 4th grade black belts and they were never able to defeat me. Fast forward 30 years. I had my kid in a TKD school ran by an Olympic TKD champion (the closest thing available in the burbs) and they invited parents to participate for one month. I was pretty much out of shape, but when it came the time for me to spar....the same; I connected him more than ten times while he was unable to score a single point. So yes, I believe the belt grading system make no sense out of the dojo. My sensei used to tell us that belts were there to hold the uniform neatly, nothing more.

Yes I totally agree! This kind of talk is really important as there is lot of misconception regarding belt system. I very much appreciated your idea of pink belt and I really appreciate the topic in this video. And your views about diet are also very realistic as not one diet works for everyone, very true.

Very well explained. Especially Sensei and senpai. Arigato, Sensei

When I got my black belt I was told “congratulations you’re now a master.... of the basics”

Yoooooooo sensei seth collab thats so epic you should collab with icy mike that would be cool

For me after getting my black belt in shotokan karate, I felt that I have a good grasp of the basics. It's less for me to really worry about as far as moving up the ranking systems and I can focus on really training. It's a great accomplishment for me but training consistently and living the lifestyle means so much more to me than my black belt.

Love this collaboration!

“Congratulations on getting a black belt. You are now officially a beginner.” I love the humility about that! And my Shihan says that after black belt, I will be able to teach and correct myself, which is pretty cool. I have decided not to cling or be attached to my belt color, right now a green belt. in my mind and heart, I let go of belt color, I don’t cling to it. To me the beauty is that karate is a way of life and a way to conquer myself and to get in touch with the laws of nature on so many levels, which our society has lost. If we don’t get in touch with the laws of nature, we are going to destroy ourselves. The martial arts mixed with wisdom and compassion, is a win-win situation. It’s a way to age gracefully, have good health, have fun, be challenged and get deeply in touch with Mother Nature. It’s all so interesting! Gratitude! 🙏thank you so much Jesse!

I do shotokan karate and I am a jr black belt going for my shodan(first level black belt) and I am very excited for the new experience and to progressively improve

You are an intelligent guy, it comes across in your body language and your speaking skills, keep it up!

Great video.

This is so informative. I trully understand what you both are saying. I have a segment I started where I am on a journey to earning my blackbelt. By any form I believe Black belt is not the title sensei. Though my students may call me that. I have to correct them and saying that i dont have enough experience to be called that. It is a western way of approaching this topic. I tell them I am simply a student that teaches what I learn. I prefer being called martial arts student. I like Jesse san want to gather all knowledge from other arts to better my understanding of my current art. Awesome awesome video. Thank you... when this lifts i will be at the next KNX and jesse i will have something for you. You have helped me so much over the years with your videos. I want to show my deepest gratitude. 🥋ui

GREAT conversation!!! I hope America is paying attention! 🙏

When I started Martial Arts in the 80s, I went to class around 30 hours a week. Almost going 4 to 5 times a week. Sometimes all-day Saturday. (Our school was open all the time and teaching). It took me 8 years at 30 plus hours a week to earn my black belt. Tests where hard and if you didn't pass you didn't pass. Different times. Getting a black belt in our school was truly something to be proud of. Very few made it that far.

Jesse, each video you put out makes Japanese martial history and culture more attractive. Great perspectives, information, and approach.

"Sensei" just mean teacher in the Japanese context, while "senpai" is your senior classmate, and "kohai" is your junior classmate. In fact, that's how they call each other in mainstream Japanese education. The Dan Belt system was invented by Jigoro Kano, the founder of Judo, and he was also a Japanese educator. The purpose of it is purely a grading method for both teachers and students to track progress. Jigoro Kano was the first Asian that I know in history, who modernized an Eastern martial art.

Oh the end made even more sense to me. In my early years I was taught to be brutal and fight and tournament. And Martial arts mean so much more to me now because I'm a warhorse if I learned the mechanics first. I still might be competing but it would be for fun to me. Even now the little I do even like teaching it hurts. Yes the bunkai and kata. Or vice a versa I could have preserved my body better. Thank you again sensei.

I got to purple and white belt in shotokan when I was 9, then went into boxing then kick boxing. I'm studying Wing chun and Brazilian jui jitsu. I love all the arts, always something to learn.

I love it! You sound like my good friend,1st U.S. World Kick boxing Champion Joe Lewis--he never wore his belt training, just karate pants & t-shirt. I loved him like a brother! Rip Joe

Most Japanese/Okinawan traditional schools require 3-5 years to earn Shodan. There are other "training centers" that hand out black belts like french fries. Also, take into consideration how many time a week that you train at your dojo.

My Aikido Sensei used to tell newly minted black belt "Now that you've put up the frame, it's time to start building the rest of the house".

I agree with your take on belts, very insightful video. I trained in Taekwondo for 15 years and taught for well over 5 years. I reached 3rd Dan then I tore my ACL twice the first time from a sparring kick to the knee. I also Trained some Kung Fu, Modern Arnis & Karate. When anyone would ask my "belt" when they heard I did martial arts id normally ask does it matter? I feel like the guest was a bit disingenuous towards other arts especially Taekwondo. Sure do some Taekwondo schools give away belts? Yes.... I am sure some Karate do the same. Also in my years of Taekwondo we did, forms, sparring, One steps, weapons & constant drills on kicks and hand techniques passed downed from my Korean Grand master.

Jesse Enkamp, I was very pleased to hear your beliefs and knowledge about belts and what they really mean, I was taught a belt is nothing more than a tool to hold your pants up. I too train in a dojo where the name includes "martial arts center", we train multiple disciplines as well, Shuri Ryu Karate, Shinto Yoshin Kia Jiu Jitsu, and weapons, thanks again for explaining and reinforcing truth.

I love your last comment! Great video.

Black Belt is just a rank, and only has any meaning within your dojo, and if someone's looking for rank, then rank means absolutely nothing; search for knowledge and experience, and not for any rank!!

this is a good video.. thanks. I would love to hear another discussion about the black belt. when did it start? what was the original intention, etc? what are the truths or myths, etc? when I trained in Shotokan for like 6 months, they said you were a white belt (kyu if I seem to remember) until brown belt and then black belt; they said it was like wearing a white belt, which kept getting dirtier with time. they said that they only reached until 5th dan. I remember a guest teacher was Sensei Sada Honda, who was a 5th dan.. this should be an interesting topic..

The real ultimate goal of being a black belt, is the person you become with that black belt

Getting my black boat is a honor and a big achievement but it was just the beginning of a long road that I learned would never stop you never stop learning it's a ever-growing field

Jesse, you're doing an amazing work getting everything as down to earth and as true to historical facts as possible. This is what I've been expecting to see for so long. Sensei (the i being a reduplication of the e, so in fact read sense'e) comes from Chinese 先生 xiansheng, it means "Sir". It's the same term of respect you use to address to teachers at school, ranks above you at the military, and experienced skilled and knowledgable older men, like factory owners, artisans etc. just the way we say "Mister". And just as you've mentioned, it's nonesense to use it to refer to oneself as an instructor, bc in fact you'd be saying nothing more than: "I'm a Mister".

Great talk. Another issue in the US... people tend to see attaining your black belt as the goal, not understanding that your journey starts when you have obtained the tools (kihon) which is signified in your dojo by being awarded a black belt.

My style is really a hybrid of Karate, Judo and Jujitsu (Japanese) and I personally have also trained in BJJ, Muay Thai, TKD, Boxing and Aikido.

When I earned my black belt after 11 years I was told that my journey was just beginning. I believe this.

The thing is disappointing about the belt system in general is how it's been used as a marketing gimmick associated with how schools charge for training. Typically in the US you'll see fees associated with every belt rank.

Legendary

I had brown belt for 7 years, I attempted to get black belt and failed, took 7 year break and coming back in a month to start training again and attempt to get my black belt. I got my brown belt in summer 2005.

Great !!

My sensei mentiones the black belt as a driving license (or cooking license). When you receive one you are supposed to know how to drive (or how ingredients work). After receiving the black belt you start driving (or cooking). It’s a start of the rest of your path.

I honestly like comparing the criteria that different dojos have for black belts. It's not necessarily to say that one criteria is better then the other, I'm just fascinated by the differences and thought-processes behind them. It's also interesting to see the different combination of styles each dojo teaches. Because for my dojo we didn't train just one style dogmatically, we took certain things from many and made it our own. My dojo that I trained at expected a certain level of not only proficiency, but also maturity and commitment out of aspiring black belts. And at baseline, I thought this was a good criteria. I won't get into specifics, but they laid out more specific requirements that would demonstrate these qualities. And after I got mine, I trained there for a few more years, and I certainly was held to a higher standard, way more was expected of me, I had to act as an example for the other students. And my training only got harder from there. Which is exactly as it should be in my opinion. Before I got my black belt I wanted it so bad, and was extremely happy when I got it. I'm still proud of it, but it's not something I like to tell people necessarily. Usually when people ask me if I've done any martial arts, I just say "yeah, I've trained here for 10 years now". Rather then mentioning anything about belts.

100% agree ....👍👍👍

The problem with the Western Perspective of martial arts is the lack of understanding behind belts and the purpose of martial arts. Your belt doesn’t mean anything. You can be a black belt and still have a poor skill level or not understand the concepts of the art that your learning. The last school I was at they always talked about Repping your form. Just basically go through the form and move on to the next. They don’t give understanding on the purpose of the moves in the Kata. It’s difficult to find a martial artist that can give in-depth teaching.