[Gambatte Karate]

Our system has the same requirements as HRD I think. If it were just about skill or merit, then we would have 10or 11 y/o 10th dan masters all over the place. LOL The balckbelt is as much a maturity thing as it is a physical thing. If you are not mature enough to hold it, then you don't get it. If you continue to show respect for your art as well as others, then you may get it. If you continue to learn new things, and keep your mental cup only half full, then you will get further. Does this mean to dump the useless stuff you don't need anymore? Not even close. It means to keep it and add to it. The brain is similar to a muscle. If you continue to learn, then it will allow you to learn more. Also, I can teach you a kata in a day. Will you remember it in 2 weeks? Not without practice. How about a week? Again, not likely without practice. How about tomorrow? Maybe....but you should practice it tomorrow so you can remember it in two days from now. Now, just knowing the moves in the kata are not enough....You must know what each move is doing. For a simple kata, it could take less time....For a more complex kata such as Unsu or Supraempi, it would take much longer. Now, add to that factor, the fact that you must learn more than one kata...you must learn (in my system anyway) TEN kata from one dan to the next. These kata get progressivly more and more difficult. You must also learn the bunkai or applications to those kata. There are also reports which are required for each dan. Some of these things a person would not be able to do in a years time.....or even TWO years time....I have been working on my requirements for 3rd dan for the last 3 years and I'm still not really ready.... *blush* A year requirement keeps people from selling rank (to an extent. It still happens...Do an ebay search for rank certificates sometime) It also makes it so you have learned what the martial arts is about. (Which isn't just fighting) This is my .02


*edit* Fixed complete. Thanks and sorry.