Newbies to martial arts are FILLED with mis-information. Before I started training over 3 years ago, here is what I "knew":
1) Black belts were totally "bad a$$" at kicking butt.
2) Black belt martial artists have to register with the local police department as they're hands are "lethal weapons."
3) For a person to be a black belt, meant they could take ANY layperson in a fight, armed or unarmed.
4) Black belts had SOME form of ESP. Their senses were heightened beyond that of "normal" people.
5) Training hard, faster, more hours... even total dedication night and day, was best to train up to black belt... and would get you rank faster.
6) All martial arts have "secrets" that only the instructors and masters know... and will not teach to their students until they reach shodan... then you get the secrets!
SO... think about who you are talking to and be sure to give them the truth... and make sure they KNOW it is the truth!