How good is a black belt?
The popular film image of a black belt is that of an invincible warrior fighting off the forces of evil. It is true that Hokutou Ryu black belts have exceptional combat skills, but more important is the awareness that comes with years of training.
Black belt training in Hokutou Ryu focuses as much on understanding the psychology of confrontation as on the ability to injure opponents: the ability to outthink and 'psyche them out' without needing to seriously injure them and risk explaining your actions to a court of law.
Can anyone become a black belt?
The human body has limitations, there is only so much hard physical training one can do before your body starts to wear out or accumulate injuries. The human mind has no such limitations. Black belt training does not depend on super athletic ability, or being tough enough to take repeated blows week in week out, and so there is no reason why women cannot be as good as men, and why anyone cannot continue to improve as they get older. If you have the determination, you can become a black belt.
How long does it take?
If you are of average natural ability and make a commitment to train a couple of times each week you will probably be a black belt in about five years.
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