black belt• The general then went on to learn Shotokan karate and gained a black belt in the art.• Mr Iqbal, 37, was a black belt judo expert but he was no match for Vernage's knife.• As soon as she winds her black belt around her waist, however, her personalityundergoes a remarkable change.• She had successfully gained her own black belt four years previously.• Taking any testrequirescommitment; the black belt test takes the most commitment of all.• That is the first rung on the ladder of karate learning for the black belt.