So I've posted before about how I made 1st kyu brown belt in Goju Ryu and that 1st dan or first degree black belt is next. My sensei is really having me prepare for it, he's asked me to participate in black belt classes and he's also given me some papers that say everything I need to do to get to first degree black belt, all the requirements and so forth. It's not easy and I wouldn't want it to be easy but the important thing is he's telling me what I need to do and he's given me the papers with all the requirements. All senseis should do that, they should give you papers or at least let you know what you need to do for your next belt or rank, up to and including black belt. Just like in college, when you enroll in college and choose a major you get papers that tell you everything you need to do to get your degree in that major, all the classes you need to take and so forth. It should be the same way with belt ranks in the martial arts.