<p>how significant is a black belt in a martial arts in college applications? is it equal to boy scout ultra camper award thing? (i don't know the name of the highest boyscout honor)</p>
<p>which degree of black belt? (varies depending on martial art)</p>
<p>If you're the ranking martial artist of the world in a specific discipline, then duh, It'd have a huge impact.</p>
<p>But if you're just a first degree in say, Kendo, which has 10 degrees, it may be marked off as another EC. If you were 6th degree though...</p>
<p>It has to be a big thing...to become a first degree black belt in most martial arts it requires a 5 year committment. </p>
<p>What degree black belt are you? If you're a second degree that would be very impressive, I believe second degree for TKD is almost 7 years.</p>
<p>LaptopLover, I'm not sure what Kendo is, but in most martial arts to become a 6th degree you need to be active for 20-25 years...</p>
<p>^ Not necessarily, I'm talking about the best of the best...</p>
<p>My AP Chem teacher, in his good ol' college days, had a 22 year old classmate who was a 9th degree black belt (out of a total of ten total levels), and since the reigning 10th degree holder died, his classmate became one of two top-ranked martial artists in the world in his discipline</p>
<p>6th degree impressive? Of the martial artists in my system, that was about a 25-30 year committment for them. The HIGHEST ranking kid from my system will have his 3rd when he applies to college, but he started when he was 5. I started when I was 9 and I may have my 2nd degree if I can get to class more often by the time I graduate. If I had a car and didn't depend on my parents for rides to class I'd have my 2nd degree already, but I guess I'll have to grind going to class when I get my license.</p>
<p>Do colleges care enough to recognize the fact that different styles and different schools are not comparable (kinda like GPA)? I've been doing karate for almost 7 years and I only have a green belt. The class I used to be in focused more on kata and testing for new belts, but the adult class does not, and testing is very infrequent, which I think is fine. So will colleges be impressed by my committment even though I just have a green belt? Should I even put my rank, or just the years/time spent?</p>
<p>My friend was a third degree black belt by 8th grade in TKD... (4 years of it)</p>
<p>How's a brown belt? :D And then quitting in Junior year...</p>
<p>I'm a 1st dan in Tae Kwon Do. Took 2 years with double testing everytime so it probably would've taken 4. I love martial arts, however, and showed/explained it well. I was an assistant instructor under my teacher who is a 9th Dan and the Korean National Champion. I also studied other forms like Aikido, Kung Fu Praying Mantis, Chen Taijiquan, Capoeira (loved the look but had to stop since I had no acrobatics equipment, instructor, and Osgood Schlatter's in my left knee), Jeet Kune Du, Karate, etc. I devote probably 12+ hours a week to martial arts easily (that's saying I didn't have much time with my senior courseload).</p>
<p>Black belt matters, especially the degree and the hours put in, but what most is what you do with it.</p>
<p>Meh, kinda lose respect for the system if someone is earning a 3rd degree black belt in 4 years. Not really trying to dig on your friend since I don't know him/her, but a lot of styles will just give away belts to keep membership up and increase their incomes with more members, but it totally ruins the system. Not talking about you Sephiroth because dedication/time like that will get you a black belt quickly and you have previous experience. My master (8th dan) got his in 2 years as well, but he was also putting in 2.5 hour classes every day per week.</p>
<p>Unless your EC is a nationally recognized club/scholarship/award, you have to play up on your EC's to make them have an impact. I could start 4 clubs at my school and put no effort into them, and bam. 4 leadership positions. Colleges know this. Write about your martial arts experience in your essay, etc.</p>
<p>I don't think its really underrated at all. Lots of kids go to a McDojang, pay money, show up twice a week for a couple years, and get their black belts.</p>
<p>Personally, I've been competing in sport taekwondo for over 11 years. I've been practicing 6-7 days a week and for the past 5-6 years my weekends have consisted of traveling to out of state tournaments, attending training camps, or just doing conditioning drills at the track. I have completely devoted myself to this sport for most of my life. I've been the one out running in the snow Saturday morning, I'm the one picking training sessions over parties, I'm the one training my heart out to be the best. I certainly hope the admissions officers realize that taekwondo is not just a "hobby" for me. Its a year round sport, with practice over 15 hours each week plus the time to travel to tournaments, trainings, etc. </p>
<p>Sorry, it just kinda bugs me when people make a big deal about what belt they are in taekwondo. I've seen lots of people earn their "black belt" by attending once or twice a week as long as they pay money. Just makes the whole system a little credible.</p>
<p>I think that K's McDojo point is a good one. I have no idea of how colleges evaluate the black belt achievement these days, but its value has to have been hurt by its unstructured proliferation, which is unfortunate. </p>
<p>Not exactly germane to the OP....but I also wonder, when I see all these young blackbelts out there--how many actually get in the ring on a regular basis and fight full contact? Benny Urquidez used to say that an experienced boxer will defeat almost any karateka because they're used to being hit whereas the "karate kids" aren't, and I have found this to be very true. If I were an admissions person, I'd be much more impressed with a regional Golden Gloves champ than a typical modern-day teenage McBlackbelt. Which is not to say that they are all McBlackbelts, by any means......</p>
<p>Like many other ECs a black belt shows commendable commitment and dedication. That's really all colleges are looking for. I think some are over analyzing this way too much. Black belt? Good for you!</p>
<p>I think a black belt can mean a lot...if you are passionate about it, and explain how many years/hours you have devoted to it.</p>
<p>In 3rd grade kids were like "oOo I got my black belt!" so just the fact that you /have/ a belt isn't going to mean anything, but if you are devoted and comitted to the sport, then yeah, it's good!</p>
<p>I kinda feel the same way about "Eagle scouts" <em>cough</em>. But yeah...another discussion entirely...</p>
<p>I am going to 2nd what Pearl said. Any activity that shows commitment-devotion etc is good. The colleges aren't going to care or probably know the specifics re: degree /type of martial arts etc.<br>
My d too has a black belt- studied 7 + years. In addition she volunteered to teach martial arts to kids with special needs. She did one of her essays on what is was like to be the "only girl" testing for a black belt and what her role was to the other young girls studying jiu jitsu. She used the "girl studying martial arts" as one of the a essays on her application. I guess they liked the essay -she's at Cornell.</p>
<p>I don't mean to denigrate anyone's martial arts studies. But the OP queried as to the basis upon which colleges evaluate the "black belt" achievement. I honestly don't know. However, given the fact that there are few universally accepted accredited methods of assigning rank according to the Japanese/Okinawan system--I don't know how they could evaluate the simple belt rank. Yes, spending six or seven years pursuing any interest--whether karate, ballet, violin, what have you--is valuable, and a demonstration of tenacity. I just don't know that the simple mention of "black belt" is going to mean that much to an overloaded admissions person if there isn't something else to make it special. After all, being a "blackbelt" just means that you've graduated from "martial arts high school," in a sense, and that you're now ready for "martial arts college." High schools vary, as do colleges.....check out CC if you don't believe me.</p>
KARATE Does not help in anyway in college application. It helps in physical exercise but not in College . Karate black belt is diluted. Some kids are tested black belt within 3 years of doing karate. Some center stretches for 7 years. The amount of Money and Time you will be spend can be better spend on other sports like Tennis, Soccer, Basket Ball, Swimming etc. That will help kids getting into School team and may be varsity team and they can put that in college application and that counts a lot compare to Karate.
Please use old threads only for research.