How to spot a Black Belt

[AngelaG]

What do you think sets apart yudansha from everyone else? Is it purely in skill or is there something else more important? What about attitude etc?

What makes a black belt?

[Aefibird]

It's the piece of dark coloured cloth that they have tied around their waist that usually gives it away...

Seriously, I think attitide has a big part in being a worthy blackbelt. There should be a humility and a humbleness within Yudansha. Not that I'm saying that this shouldn't be there within other grades, because obviously it should - it's just that the dan grades are naturally those who are looked up to and are expected to set the example for those who are coming up the ranks behind them.

Also its about being of a certain skill level - Shodan is still a beginner stage, but if a Shodan's technique isn't any better than that of the white belts then there's summat gone wrong there somewhere.

Perseverence is also a large part of it - if someone has trained for 5 or so years in order to become a Shodan but is still a beginner, then they've got the 'stickability' - especially if they keep training after getting their blackbelt and don't just quit 'cos they think that's the end of the journey. That oft-used quote that "a blackbelt is only a beginning" is certainly true.

[bunkaiseeker]

A blackbelt should have decent proficiency and understanding of technique to a point where they are able to explain and teach it to others. (I guess it shows that I'm a member of a very small org where the typical club is led by shodans/nidans, sometimes even 1st kyus.)

Also, they should feel self-secure enough in their technique that they are not afraid to admit to gaps in their knowledge or ability - in reality this typically only comes to pass after nidan; when shodan most people put themselves under too much pressure to prove "worthy of the belt".

Read: I'm used to people getting to shodan after a minimum required training time of 6 years, with 7-10 years being more typical.