Many students are rightly proud to be awarded their black sash and some mistakenly believe that this is the pinnacle of their martial arts training and hard work.  It is not, it is merely the beginning of spiritual understanding and what the traditional arts are all about. 

To become a holder of a black sash or belt doesn't mean you suddenly become a super class fighter, it demonstrates that you have the ability to pass on the knowledge learned from your instructor properly and safely.  This recognition by your instructor is also backed up by the society or association and there are several bona fide associations which will recognise each others members' qualifications.  The rulings are that an instructor can grade students up to two sashes below their own grade, hence a black sash 1st degree instructor can only grade to purple sash (6th cup).  

At White Dragon, we teach traditional martial arts, therefore to achieve black sash standard takes approximately three and a half years.  There are also rulings on time limits between gradings.  These limits are there for a reason, giving the students time to digest the system taught, repeating the techniques, focusing on correct movement and learning the applications at a steady pace and in a safe manner.  There is no fast-track way of learning this system, after all the Shaolin Monks did not fast-track their martial arts!

For a full listing of registered black sash holders with the White Dragon School please click on the link below...

http://www.bacloonggar.com/blacks.htm