“These days too many people stop training once they pass 2nd or 3rd Dan, they don’t realise that belts are not important. Grades mean nothing; all that matters is to train hard.” (End quote) – Tatsuo Suzuki Wado-Ryu (1928-2011)
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Are black belts in martial arts given away too easily?
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If your black belt did not cost you many years of your life, great physical and emotional pain, and the loss of important social activities, it was not earned.
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In short, if you did not work for it, then it is meaningless! And you KNOW that! The bottom line is that if a rank did not take years of blood, sweat and tears to attain then it’s not worth anything.
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I’ve seen instructors, black belts of 2nd and 3rd dans, that are extremely overweight, inflexible, and move in such a way as can only be described as a stuffed whale…. and these guys are in their late 30’s early 40’s!… Give me a break.
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Oh, you have been training for a couple of years and you transferred across from another martial art (you know who you are)? Don’t get me started on that one.
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If someone wants to be called a black belt from some belt factory after a couple of years of weekly classes, they can. The color of the belt isn’t a great clue to the proficiency of these karate-ka.
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A McDojo (or McAssociation) will basically sell you a black belt…. personally, I think it is easier to buy one from Walmart. The black belt should be earned, and it’s value commensurate with the amount of effort you put in to achieve it, not paid for because you think you deserve it. 
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