“A black belt is nothing more than a belt that goes around your waist. Being a black belt is a state of mind and attitude.” – Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1969)
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Many people feel like they deserve the belt, deserve the rank (I don’t like the term ‘rank’ btw). “I can beat this guy, I can beat that guy. I know the syllabus. I know more than him”……The fact of the matter is!….. You DON’T deserve anything.
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A grade or belt, is an agreement between you and the instructor (or organization), that you represent what they teach, and that’s it.
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There aren’t any universal standards governing how martial arts grades are defined. Each form of martial art has its own traditions, rules and principles, and there can be many variations even within the same style.
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Achievement of grade should be considered as a side effect of karate training, not taken as a key goal. The key goals must include personal development, understanding, competence and growth.
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Tests vary among styles but each school has set criteria around minimum requirements which can include; time elapsed from last karate grading (time in grade), consistent training, proficient technique, demonstrated progress, a level of understanding commensurate with the grade you represent, approval or recommendation of an instructor, and in the advanced grades, age.
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As a student advances from white belt to black belt, and beyond, it symbolizes the knowledge, skill and dedication the student has acquired and experienced.
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But grades are only meaningful within a particular organization, and is an indicator of your ‘dedication’ to the particular style, or group of martial art. The grading test displays physical ability, and sometimes a written or spoken test goes further, and taps into the underlying intellectual knowledge of students.
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As for advanced grades, they may be tested for intangible qualities such as emotional confidence, discipline, leadership, a person’s insights, and their ability to pass on what they know to other students.
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Like any test, the karate grading test is not a perfect way of assessing competence. A grading test acknowledges ability at a ‘point in time’. The true test of a person’s karate level is their ongoing understanding and commitment to their art.
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Don’t be under the impression that having a new belt grade is going to make a big difference to your life…… Because, let me explain. It won’t. You are just the same as you were yesterday. 
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“Karate is in the mind. Karate is in the heart. Karate is never about what you are wearing around your waist.” – Mr. Miyagi
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