Wear my black belt or "restart"

[u/Tafsky]

Hi all,

A few years ago I (22f) got my black belt, after that I mostly taught the basics to new beginners at my small club (like 70 students 80% of which are -13). Last year I fully quit because of work/school/internship and losing interest tbh.

I've been thinking of starting up again next year when I move for my minor, it will just be for a few months but I have really missed the sport and the culture. However the fact that I've done nothing, only a little bjj where I wore a white belt (bc its a different sport, but I do wear the same gi) I'm not sure if I should just sort of "start anew" white belt and all. Or wear my black belt.

On the one hand I trained like a dog to get my black belt and I deserved it at the time, my kata's are still perfect and I still know all the basics, on the other hand I haven't properly trained judo in 3+ years. And at that point I really mostly trained techniques and barely did any actual competitive training anymore. For context: my last proper competition was 7 years ago.

Any advice?

Edit: thank you all for the answers! I think I'll ask the (head)sensei what they'd recommend. And no matter what he says I'll at least remember that I earned my black belt and there's no such thing as demotion.

[u/small_pint_of_lazy]

I've had someone come from a break of 20 years asking if they should start over. No matter how long the break was, the answer is always the same. You wear the belt you've earned, no matter the time or colour. It's disrespectful to the others to lead them on. Having a white belt with vastly different knowledge than everyone else makes tve others feel like they should know more and will just result in them feeling less about themselves. Don't do that to them.