> Then you roll with a legit seasoned black belt, and realize you are even worse than you thought.

That's pretty much the case with all sports. Try to go skiing for the first time, and compare yourself with a champion. Fighting sports are similar, but maybe we wrongly assume there's something innate with fighting. In the end, it's all technique! at least in a sport context.

One funny thing in fighting sports, is that sometimes there are big thug-looking guys joining the class, they look intimidating and dangerous, and you realize they're just as harmless as any other beginner!