My instructor loves to tell us how he was training at 3 different aikido dojo's in the L.A. area (or was it San Diego?), 2 to 3 classes a day every single day of the week for about a year. Students in his classes would notice he'd pick up on things faster than they were and ask,"How can he do all that be my rank?" On of the instructors told that student," Because he's already a black belt... in his mind." I like Devon's comment," Dedication is in the study." I may steal that for myself. Its one of the more profound things I've read in a long time. Good luck!

Dedication is in the study, not necessarily attending dojo training. I used to train Aikido 4 days a week, and train at home the other 3 days a week. It didn't make me progress any faster than the students that did only dojo training. I noticed my techniques surpassed others very quickly, but the Sensei still did not advance me in rank any faster. It all depends on the instructor. A lot of instructors do not advance you based on skill, but only time. Some combine the two, and then there's those that hold everyone back from promotion because it took them X amount of time. <---- Those kind of instructors I hate. They will never ever let one of their students get the kyu faster than they did because it took them so much time to get there. Beware of those.. They are too prideful which takes away from learning how to harmonize with the universe. Good luck though.