Today, I am a Black Belt

Congratulations from one Phil to another.A great achievement indeed.You now have your feet on the first rung of the ladder :thumbup: let the journey continue.
 
Congratulations. That's a lot of work.

7 years is about right according to the instructor I had in 1965.
That's how long it took him to get his first degree black belt at the Lo Han monastery near Hong Kong.

He told us that he would award a black belt to us impatient Americans in 2 1/2 to 3 years if we really worked at it.

BTW, there was no name for his style. It was just fighting, but it was much like what we might call kung Fu. It was also a lot like some styles of karate but with a lot more fluid motion.
 
Took me about 5 years to get my shodan, after that I really didn't care...but was "requested" by my Sensei to test for nidan last year....in an art that you thoroughly seem to lack an understanding in, Iai heiho. This is my tenth year.

It is my hope that you will grow into your dan ranking(or whatever they call your black belt) and attempt to understand and show respect for ALL legitimate martial arts.

Congratulations on making the first step, and earning the accord of your teacher, it is something to be proud of.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Congrats Phil! I hope you get a lot of enjoyment from your art in the coming years.

DancesWithKnives
 
I demand a picture of you in full black belt regalia.
 
Please, no pics. :D

Congrats, Phil, it's a good feeling.

(Five years for me to reach Shodan.)
 
nice one:) i know from personal experience that those sort of grades in decent clubs don't just get given out for nothing, well done
 
Congratulations :). How are degrees in this system? black belt, 1 dan, 2 dan...10 dan ?
 
A black belt is very hard to earn, you must be very proud. Congratulations!! However, as Mas Oyama often said, a black belt only means that you finally are ready to learn. Keep up the good work !
 
Pa Kua (baguazhang) is a very complicated art. Just curious, what is your teacher's name, and who did he learn pa kua from? What style of pa kua?
 
I wrote an article about him a few years back. It answers the questions about Pa Kua, among others not asked here.

http://themartialist.com/pecom/sifudan.htm

Allex said:
Congratulations :). How are degrees in this system? black belt, 1 dan, 2 dan...10 dan ?
Click to expand...

It goes from beginner to yellow, green, gray, and black. There's an "orange" instructor certification if one wishes the instructor's blessing to teach the whole system. Looking back at my old certificates (which I keep in the same frame), I did roughly one grade per year.
 
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