Why does it take 10 years to get to Black Belt in Jujitsu?

Question

Since Jujitsu is based on locks, holds and takedowns and no forms (Katas) are involved what is the reason for the length of time to get to Black Belt

Answer 1

That's just an average.

Average meaning that's what most people take in order to learn/demonstrate they are proficient in techniques, and do well in tournaments.

There are exceptions such as BJ Penn, who got his in about 3 years.

Answer 2

because thats the only way for bjj schools to make money...plain and simple.  There's absolutely no reason why it shoudl take that long.

Answer 3

Japanese or brazilian jiujitsu?

I'm only familiar with the 10 year rule within Gracie schools.

Other BJJ schools can grant them on the basis of personal proficiency.

Answer 4

In BJJ it does take 10 years.

I remember back when I started training, a teacher would not grant Yudansha unless a student had 10 years.

Nowadays, especially within specific arts, you can get it in 2 years. That is a shame.

But the norm at the present time is 4 to 5 years, which is OK if the teacher has a full understanding of his art.

It is easier to teach when you fully understand.

A student can learn faster and more proficient if they are being taught the full-spectrum of the art.

Everything ties in.

Answer 5

Because Ju Jutsu or any good martial arts school maintain high standards.  They are more concerned with passing on their art than making money.  

Not that Dojos shouldn't money, but all to often you see "Black belt in one year contarcts" Pay (insert obscene amount of money here) and you are guarenteed to receive a black belt no matter what your skill level.

Answer 6

Money

Answer 7

JuJitsu does have Kata's involved..

There are several kata's..

Also.. You will remember a move after doing it 10-20 times..

It will become natural after 100 times..

You will master the original move after 1000 times..

You will be able to teach it once you've done it 10,000 times..

You will only be able to start altering it to make it more practical and suited to you (or your students) once you have done it 100,000 times..

You must have done each move hundreds of thousands of times to be a successful sensei..

This is why it takes 10+ years to get your black belt in JuJitsu..

Answer 8

Well I only studied that style for a short time it just was not my cup of tea. But like any martial art it takes time to not only learn the moves but to ingrain them to muscle memory. Think of all the knowledge needed to reach black belt as a full picture of water. Now think of your brain as a dried sponge, if you took that picture of water and dumped it all on that dried sponge. 99% of that water would just run off and hit the floor not much would be retained in the sponge. But if you took that same situation and poured a small amount each day for a long time the sponge would at some point soak it all in.

The other thing to think about black belt is not the end, it’s actually the beginning. At that point you have all the basics down well and it’s time to really look in at your system and see what you missed along the way.

Patience grasshopper LOL.

Answer 9

There is a great misconception about what a black belt really means. It usually is looked upon as a sign that one has finished or mastered one's training, but this perception could not be further from the truth. In a way, the Black belt only is the beginning of what is considered a higher level of training and understanding.

If you are talking about traditional Japanese Jujitsu:

That depends on the person. Each person has a different level and speed of learning. In other words, some people pick up concepts faster than others. It also depends on how many days a week the person is training and what they are training for.

There is no set time period to earn your Black Belt, either you earn it, or you don’t. The length of time it takes to progress from rank to rank will vary a lot depending upon your personal skill level and how often you practise. A Black Belt can be earned in as little as 3 years or it can take as long as 10 or more years. The average length of time is usually 4-5 years with consistent practise. The amount of time it takes does not matter. You are not in a race and no one will be keeping track of how long it takes you to earn a higher rank. One of the goals of the various coloured-belt tests is to prepare you for your Shodan (first Black Belt) test. Generally, you will test for Shodan when your Sensei is confident you are ready and you are able to demonstrate successfully the proficiency required for that rank.

Answer 10

you need to perfect the locks, holds and takedowns. there is sooooooooooooo much to learn in BJJ and when i say "perfect" i mean absolutly perfect so you dont have to think when using the moves - muscle memory

it takes about 10 years if train once or twice a week.

if you train nearly every day then about 3 years

Answer 11

Hi there

I'm with Mushin on this one. First off grades what are they all about then?

Make no mistake the belt system was introduced by the founder of judo because he wanted a way of being able to distinguish how compitent an uke was before he used them for demonstration. Its general use has been modified and changed to represent the students level of technical ability. Belts just didnt exist in the Koryu Jujutsu arts which Bjj and modern budo roots are based.

I personally feel a grade is something you grow into not something you suddenly gain! It should be a measure of someones character, determination and ability. It should not be based on a test that you do on the day but overall assessment by your instructor over the years you have trained with them.

I find it rather odd that a style that is supposed to be so combat based in practical application that it has a 10 year rule? Belts dont measure youre ability to fight so why should it matter? It fact it doesnt!

Dont be fooled by the fact that because someone has trained for 30 plus years that makes them an expert because it doesnt. Nor does the fact that they are title holders. Afterall what's in a name? It's the level, qualilty of training and exposure plus open mindness that makes someone special.

Can someone be considered good after 3 years of training? If they have been training correctly with the right people putting the mat time in then yes. More often though it does not.

And dont kid yourself that there arent any organisations that hold students back to make more money from instruction when they should have graded  them years ago! The bent grading system works both ways! What about the you scratch my back and i'll scratch yours grading system?

I was once told never to worry about belts just keep training and learning and the belts will come all by themselves and with good instruction they do!

Its not how many years but the quality of training you receive during that time thats important. Plus willing to change your ways when you know what youre doing is wrong even if you may have already invested 10 years trying to master it! An instructor with a budo heart will grade you when you are ready!

You dont need to be proud about a piece of cloth wrapped your  waist. You just need to be able to do it! Otherwise your dead!

Best wishes

idai

Answer 12

Ten years is not that unusual from an historical perspective for most arts.  Today four to five years is considered the norm and anything under three is considered McDojo.

As to BJJ taking ten years, that is an average, some do get it faster others longer.  It is some what semantics too, in most martial arts first degree black belt is considered the first instructor rank.  In BJJ a purple belt which can be earned in as little as four or five years is considered an instructor rank.  In fact many purple belts run their own schools.

Answer 13

I've recently started in BJJ and I have to say that I wouldn't want to go against a Blue belt if untrained. Martial arts for a lot of people are a part of their lives so 10 year of practice isn't all that long say if you start young in life. I've introduced my son to it at the age of 11 and he likes it for now. I know he is in an art that doesn't just take it easy on him and give him the next belt level just to keep him interested. So if he puts in his time and can one day say he is a Black Belt in BJJ he can be proud of his accomplishment. I hope we both can stick it out and enjoy the ride. I'm not so much interested in being a Black Belt (although I would like to get to that level someday) I just want to be able to use the techniques if I have too and with the "Rolling" I think you are better prepared since you are practicing against a live resisting opponent in most if not all classes. Good luck on your training and I hope you don't let the time to get your Black belt make you miss out on ALL the things you can learn and use on the road too it.

Answer 14

Many different BJJ schools have different philosophies on belt promotions and obtaining a black belt in BJJ.

Typically it can take over 5 years or more to obtain a black belt.  Mostly this is because BJJ is extremely intricate.  There are millions of details and 1000s of varieties of techniques in every position.  In order to truly be a black belt in BJJ you need to be able to understand and execute those techniques.

Also, that is about the time it takes for your body to be able to train and perform these techniques.  Once someone shows you a technique, you need to repeat it 1000s of times just to begin to know it.  If you want to master a technique, you could do it 1,000,000 times and still need to work on it.  Now you try applying that to all the positions and techniques involved in BJJ.

Another reason, which sometimes I don't agree with is that students DO NOT want to be promoted.  The reason for this is that BJJ is a sport and competition art now.  People want to win, so they stay a blue belt for 5 years and continue to compete in the blue belt division and keep winning.  Some instructors actually don't promote until you prove yourself in competition.

Lastly, I think BJJ schools and instructors take a lot of pride in becoming a black belt.  It is one of the few martial arts out there that when someone is a black belt in BJJ, I immediately have a great deal of respect for.  People want to keep that respect, and only promote people to black who truly have earned it.

Matt

www.fightauthority.com

www.martialfighter.com