I've been taking Karate for 3 years, and I am the 2nd brown belt(2nd Kyu), and it's somewhat difficult. It took me 3 years to get from a plain white belt, to close to 1st Kyu Rank. Probably within a year or so I will be a black belt.
EDIT: I stay an hour after my class just to help the beginning class(white, yellow, and orange) with katas, like Heian Nidan, Heian Shodan, etc. It's very easy once you know it a lot. I take part of kata competitions for my dojo every year, and I either get in 2nd place, or 1st place.
SO... MANY... LITTLE... KIDS...