It took me 4.5 so I don't know where to put it so I put 5 years down, and another two years for my 2nd degree.
The question wasn't really how long should it take, or how long will it take me... it was just "How long did it take you" Yes, it is like an apples and oranges comparison, but it's an interesting question.
WTF taekwondo: 10 years. Started age 4 and passed 1st dan at 14. My family was military, so I moved house (and dojang) a heck of a lot. Took a break between 14 and 18 to study American-style kickboxing. Resumed the sport and passed 2nd dan within a year. Have dipped in an out over the years since but haven't bothered grading again. American kickboxing: 1 year. Started at 14 and passed 1st dan at 15. It was my main style for the next 4-5 years but I was too focused on competition to bother going any higher in rank. ITF taekwondo: Just under 3 years. Started at 19 soon after my WTF 2nd dan. Joined an organisation which insisted on minimum terms between grades. Never really agreed with the concept of arbitrary times in grade, but I didn't mind too much. Stopped testing after 1st dan because I only wanted my black belt so I could fight better opponents. Full-contact karate: 4 months for 1st dan. 1 year after that for 2nd dan. Will be testing for 3rd dan at the end of this month (2 years since 2nd dan). My style of karate is an offshoot of Kyokushin heavily blended with Bill 'Superfoot' Wallace's kickboxing system (Bill is the head of our association). I've memorised and used Bill's methods since I was a kid so I already knew most of the syllabus.
I have begun to accept the fact that I will never get the black belt ever, in fact I think I now totally dislike the notion of having one, but I still train, my skills are improving and my health is still good.
Ive been in the bujinkan for six years, still no blackbelt. My last sensei stopped training not long after I got it. I want one, but not for its sake or for bragging rights
Technically, I guess you could say it took me 10 years to get my 1st dan in Kyokushin Karate. I started when I was 11 and dabbled on and off, but didn't get serious until I was 16 and achieved the 1st dan when I was 21 years old. Starting from 16 years old, it took me 5 years. It took me 8 years to get my purple belt in BJJ as I also started when I was 11. I got the purple at 19 years old. As of right now, I don't plan to go any further in either.
I've sent you messages asking you not to chase people across different threads. Legitimate questions are fine, but one question in one place please. Last warning.
About 12 years, but I had a few breaks. I recall a few similar discussions elsewhere about this, and the answer seems almost invariably to have come out at 1000-2000hrs of actual training. That applies to me also. G
I've gone for a PROJECTED time of 6 years, as I have currently been Training in Goju Ryu for around 4 and a half years now, and whilst I have yet to achieve my Black belt, I have been informed by my Instructor to (tentatively) expect to be attempting my 1st Dan grading in the September of next year... Regards, Travess
Yeah, I had some times though where I was putting uni above training, so I had stints of six months off more than one or two times.