Urban Samurai posted the question “Black Belt Responsibilities: Are There Any?“. His article is thought-provoking and all of the comments are worth reading as well. I’m not a black belt. Right now, my black belt seems a distant goal on a far horizon. But his article got me thinking: why do I want to be a black belt?
When I first started martial arts, being a black belt was something I figured would come with time. I was in no hurry and I held what, at the time, I considered the “correct” attitude towards the idea — the color of my belt didn’t matter, only my skills did. At least, that’s what I told myself, though in reality I prized each new belt and looked forward eagerly to gaining my next one. This time, however, I look at the idea of a black belt very differently.
White Tiger encourages its students to view attaining a black belt like attaining a college degree. You put in four years of effort and your black belt is your “diploma” — a measure of what you’ve learned and the level of your skills. In my opinion, that’s how it should be. A measure of your skill level. I’ve heard it said that you only start your real training after you’ve received your black belt, that all the colored belts are merely introductory steps to build the necessary foundation skills.
But a black belt also frequently confers another ability: the right to teach. Indeed, in many schools, black belts are expected to share at least some of the teaching duties. And that’s why I’m pursuing my black belt. I want to take what I’ve learned in the dojang, combine it with my life experiences and teach women and girls how to apply the skills of martial arts to their lives as a whole. I want to teach them how and when to defend themselves, even when it’s against someone they love. And I want to pass on my art.
Which is not to say that’s the only reason I’m pursuing my black belt. I’m also a person driven by the desire to master whatever I do. Not just get good at it — completely master it. The problem is, I often don’t know when I’ve achieved that level. I tend to equate mastery with knowing everything about a subject, an impossible goal. One of the things I love about the martial arts belt system is that I have a visible reminder of my skill level. I think women tend to undervalue their skills; I know I do.This undervaluing of our abilities is different from the “beginner’s mind” concept which has worked its way into martial arts from Buddhism. It’s not about approaching something with humility and eagerness; it’s about devaluing our own worth.
But everytime I tie my belt around my waist, I have an external reminder of the true level of my skills. It doesn’t matter that it’s yellow — it doesn’t even matter that it was once blue. What matters is that I have an objective rating of my skill level. It’s much harder for me to say “Oh, I don’t really know that much about it” or “I’m not really that good at it” when I’m wearing something I’ve earned that says otherwise.
Do you need a black belt? I think that’s a question each person needs to answer for themselves. For me, the answer is absolutely yes.
How about you? Why do you want a black belt or, if you already have one, what drove you to attain it? If I get enough responses, I’ll write a “x reasons for gaining a black belt” post, listing your comments.
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Tags: belt ranks
As Mr. Miyagi said, a belt just means that you don’t need rope to hold your pants up. How hard, and how long you train is much more important than your rank, particularly with all of these ‘McDojos’ around.
If all training were standardized, I’d have a different opinion. Too many black belt under the age of ten. If you’re not living in a temple in China, I don’t think so.
I think you and I have a lot in common and think very much alike. I like the fact that my belt shows I worked hard and earned it. Although I was told by my sensei that when you get a belt, you really earn that color on the way to your next one. I have gotten sidetracked so I am anxious to get back in the swing of class and work toward my orange belt. I hope to have it before the end of the year.
What are my motivations?When I started in the martial arts (age 46), my goal was to learn to do a sidekick that looked decent. And to get limber. As I worked out, I wanted to have higher level of skills. And, since I like a good challenge, I wanted to see how good I could get. I had been a lifelong competitive soccer player, I wanted a new sport in which I could stop thinking about “how good I use to be.” So for me, karate is an opportunity for intense sports, for recreation, and for challenge. At some point, the next meaningful target was a black belt. Now, it’s to get a second stripe. I like your reasons for wanting to a black belt (to teach), it’s meaningful and specific. Good luck.
I thought I’d mention that the A/T blog has a great post on a related question this week. American/Traditional debates whether the churning out of black belts by belt-mills diminishes the value of more hard-earned belts. ….
On one hand, “no one else’s belt…can diminish the meaning or value of …yours. The meaning of the belt lies in a combination of what it took to earn it, and what the wearer continues to do to live up to it.”
On the other hand, he points out the difficulty of holding to a standard which takes seven years to earn a belt when his students have friends earning their black belts in three down the street.” Great blog and article: Does an 8-year-old’s black belt reflect on mine?
I started training at age 38 while undergoing radiation treatments for breast cancer. For me, the idea of doing some really cool new things – most of which I’d never thought of trying before – was very empowering. In other words, if I could do pushups ’til my pecs were screaming, could throw a front snap kick and could do a basic form, I just had cancer, it didn’t have me. The idea for me was much like that of BB@50’s: to improve a little bit more each time. So I took more classes and started working on the basics on days away from the dojo. Eventually, the belts got darker and before I knew it, the shodan test was not so distant anymore. My “ceremonial” black belt will be embroidered soon with the word “survivor”. Like you, every time I look down and see it, I’m reminded of something: that I most certainly can kick a booty – cancer’s included
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Wow. Thank you to all of you who’ve taken the time to share your stories.
@Dan. I like the term “McDojo’s” — it seems to capture the essence of the black belt mills we see far to many of. I hunted through several schools before I settled on White Tiger because I wanted my son to have to actually earn a black belt, should he choose to pursue one. I’ve actually heard some parents complain at the front office of our school because their kid had been studying there for three years, but still hadn’t yet gotten his black belt. We have our McDojos churning out kid McBlack Belts to go with the McMansions.
@Martial Arts Mom: I like your sensei’s thinking and I think (s)he’s right — that we do earn our current belt on the way to our next one. You’ve put in words something I was trying to explain about martial arts to one of my relatives, but couldn’t quite express. Thank you.
@BBat50: Thanks for mentioning A/T’s post. If people haven’t read it by now, go do. I found it very thought-provoking. I can certainly understand wanting a new sport so you’re not always comparing yourself to “how good you used to be”. It’s something I’m struggling with in tae kwon do — I can remember when tornado kicks (for example) came easily to me and I’ve pulled muscles because of muscle memory trying to do something my body isn’t physically fit for yet. I’ve been thinking of taking up Kung Fu, Aikido or some other new and very different style just to get away from that feeling.
@Felicia: Congratulations on beating cancer! Your story is very inspirational. I don’t blame you for having your belt embroidered “survivor” — I think I would’ve too.