--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm a black belt and have been since 2000." description: "\"I'm a black belt and have been since 2000.\" — Matt Serra" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4c/matt-serra-6052_been_i-m-a-black-belt-and-have-been-since-200_1102155.jpg" --- # I'm a black belt and have been since 2000. ![“I'm a black belt and have been since 2000.” quote by Matt Serra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4c/matt-serra-6052_been_i-m-a-black-belt-and-have-been-since-200_1102155.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4c/matt-serra-6052_been_i-m-a-black-belt-and-have-been-since-200_1102155.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4c/matt-serra-6052_been_i-m-a-black-belt-and-have-been-since-200_1102155.jpg) > “I'm a black belt and have been since 2000.” [Matt Serra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-serra/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Skill and dedication can earn titles early, but continued growth matters. **In simple terms:** Earned belt early, keep improving. Key Takeaway Never stop learning. Themes discipline martial arts achievement Mood motivational focused Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - training - competition - teaching Key Concepts skill development humility Questions to Reflect On - How do you stay humble after early success? - What does continuous improvement mean to you? A Different Perspective Early success may breed complacency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Black belt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-belt/) [Wrestling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrestling/) ## Related quotes > [I'm the first American black belt under Renzo Gracie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-serra/i-m-the-first-american-black-belt-under-renzo-gracie/) [Matt Serra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-serra/) > [Microsoft is still not a black belt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kutaragi/microsoft-is-still-not-a-black-belt/) [Ken Kutaragi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kutaragi/) > [I started training in martial arts when I was 7 years old. I got my first black belt at 13.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katheryn-winnick/i-started-training-in-martial-arts-when-i-was-7-years-old-i-got-my/) [Katheryn Winnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katheryn-winnick/) > [I'm a 3rd degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and 2nd degree in karate, and I'm a licensed bodyguard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katheryn-winnick/i-m-a-3rd-degree-black-belt-in-tae-kwon-do-and-2nd-degree-in-karate/) [Katheryn Winnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katheryn-winnick/) > [I was awarded a second-degree black belt in jiu-jitsu by Rigan Machado.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-barnett/i-was-awarded-a-second-degree-black-belt-in-jiu-jitsu-by-rigan-machado/) [Josh Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-barnett/) > [I'm not a black belt, but in MMA, the difference between a black belt and white belt is just a few elbows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-blaydes/i-m-not-a-black-belt-but-in-mma-the-difference-between-a-black-belt/) [Curtis Blaydes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-blaydes/) > [I started doing martial arts when I was about 7, and I got my second degree black belt when I was 19. So I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-vandervoort/i-started-doing-martial-arts-when-i-was-about-7-and-i-got-my-second/) [Laura Vandervoort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-vandervoort/) > [It's not the black belt that you wear on your waist. It's the black belt in your heart and knowing that you can go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-canino/it-s-not-the-black-belt-that-you-wear-on-your-waist-it-s-the-black/) [Bonnie Canino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-canino/) > [My training in martial arts was kind of a crash course in how to look like a black belt. 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And if you're a nice guy, you'll wake up in a hospital.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-serra/there-are-no-rules-out-in-the-street-and-if-you-re-a-nice-guy-you-ll/) [Matt Serra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-serra/) > [I've had a great career I feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-serra/i-ve-had-a-great-career-i-feel/) [Matt Serra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-serra/) > [It's a rarity in this sport that you really get a guy that's not a good person. I think we've found that in Matt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-serra/it-s-a-rarity-in-this-sport-that-you-really-get-a-guy-that-s-not-a/) [Matt Serra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-serra/) > [The thing is this, this sport you deal with a lot of guys in this sport and most of them are cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-serra/the-thing-is-this-this-sport-you-deal-with-a-lot-of-guys-in-this/) [Matt Serra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-serra/) > [What is a 'lucky punch?' 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He's so powerful, cardio never seems to be a problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-serra/who-s-held-down-gaethje-and-beat-him-up-nobody-he-s-so-powerful/) [Matt Serra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-serra/) > [Whenever there's something you've done that everybody and their mother said you couldn't do, and it was like an impossible feat, of course, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-serra/whenever-there-s-something-you-ve-done-that-everybody-and-their/) [Matt Serra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-serra/) > [Chris Weidman is a stud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-serra/chris-weidman-is-a-stud/) [Matt Serra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-serra/) > [I don't gotta walk around like Mr. Macho Man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-serra/i-don-t-gotta-walk-around-like-mr-macho-man/) [Matt Serra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-serra/) > [This game has such extreme highs and lows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-serra/this-game-has-such-extreme-highs-and-lows/) [Matt Serra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-serra/) > [I always look at things in a positive light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-serra/i-always-look-at-things-in-a-positive-light/) [Matt Serra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-serra/) > [If I beat Hughes they'll say he was done before our fight. 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It's not like I go to a desk job somewhere and then throw on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-serra/i-m-always-involved-with-training-and-the-martial-arts-it-s-not-like/) [Matt Serra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-serra/) [Explore all 100 Matt Serra quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-serra/) ## More Been quotes > [When I was trying to come up with a stage name, I thought 'Lord' was super rad, but really masculine - ever since I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/when-i-was-trying-to-come-up-with-a-stage-name-i-thought-lord-was/) [Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. 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Growing up in the segregated South, it was a very painful experience for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cybill-shepherd/well-i-ve-been-politically-involved-for-a-really-long-time-growing-up/) [Cybill Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cybill-shepherd/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [I have always been a big meta guy because I think the way journalism is practiced in Washington, and the way everyone sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-have-always-been-a-big-meta-guy-because-i-think-the-way-journalism/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [Windmills and solar cells are carbon-free sources of electricity. But they are costly. If you've been investing in those, give it up. 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It's great to have an instinctual human reaction to a character, too, of course, but it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/i-ve-always-been-a-believer-in-research-it-s-great-to-have-an/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) Browse all 13,699 Been quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm a black belt and have been since 2000.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Matt Serra" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-serra/i-m-a-black-belt-and-have-been-since-2000/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Been" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-serra/i-m-a-black-belt-and-have-been-since-2000/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4c/matt-serra-6052_been_i-m-a-black-belt-and-have-been-since-200_1102155.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4c/matt-serra-6052_been_i-m-a-black-belt-and-have-been-since-200_1102155.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4c/matt-serra-6052_been_i-m-a-black-belt-and-have-been-since-200_1102155.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'm a black belt and have been since 2000.” — Matt Serra", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Matt Serra", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-serra/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I'm a black belt and have...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-serra/i-m-a-black-belt-and-have-been-since-2000/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-serra/i-m-a-black-belt-and-have-been-since-2000/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```