Becoming proficient varies based your own abilities and the time you spend training. After four

months you will have learned techniques for most situations, and after eight months most students amaze themselves with their own abilities and accomplishments. You should feel that you could defend yourself fairly well by that point. As for reaching Black Sash level, the same variables apply, but somewhere between three to five years is about right.

How long will it take to become reasonably proficient in Kung Fu, or to reach Black Sash level?