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Reflections : What does it mean to be a Black Belt ?
People often ask me “What does it mean to be a Black Belt ?” or
they phrase the question a little differently, “How hard is it
to become a Black Belt ?”. As a martial arts instructor I often
think about both questions. You’ve heard me say in class many
times “Being a Black Belt is not in your fist, it’s in your
heart”. Your belt represents your rank, but your “rank” lives
in your heart and spirit. So…what makes someone a Black Belt ?
Today I promoted four students to Cho Dan (1st degree
Black Belt). It was a very awesome moment in the life of our do
jang. These students have worked very hard for years to reach
this moment in their training. As I watched them in class I
contemplated where they came from…and other Black Belts that
I’ve promoted. I reached an interesting clarity in my own
thinking. Let me provide a bit of background information first.
I’ve often repeated Grandmaster Kim’s words, “No bad students,
only bad teachers.” I take these words to heart and teach Tang
Soo Do to the very best of my ability. Yet I’ve promoted
several students to Black Belt only to see them lose interest
and leave the do jang. Sometimes students have left the do jang
under strained and stressful circumstances. The end result is
the same…they are gone. I often blamed myself and tried to
figure out ways to better retain my senior students. I had
taught them the necessary material, drilled the necessary
intensity and endurance into their technique and provided them
the opportunity to become “Black Belts”. I realized something
profound today, I put them all on the path of “Black Belt”…but
they alone must walk down that path. I can’t do it for them.
The ones that left simply weren’t ready for that journey.
I watched my new Black Belts today as we trained together for
the first time. Their intensity was good, technique was good,
but did they “get it” as they started down the path of becoming
a “Black Belt” ? We ended class today with all the Black Belts
doing 200 jumping jacks (we do this exercise on a 4 count --- so
it’s really 400 jumping jacks). I decided to participate in the
exercise and not just watch my students. I couldn’t have been
prouder. My adults were hammering away and looking very good.
The young athletic students were crisp and sharp in their
technique. Then I noticed something that almost stopped me mid
stride. One of my 14 year old Cho Dans was struggling a bit.
Her leg had “gone to sleep” while she was sitting just prior to
starting the exercise. Did she ask to sit down ? Complain
about the exercise ? Stop ? No, she hopped along doing the
very best she could. Another young student that had just
promoted was in a uniform that was too big with a belt that was
too short. Every time he did the “hop change” from front to
rear and vice versa he hiked up his pants. I really thought he
might lose them right there in the do jang. Did he stop ? Did
he even slow down ? No, he kept right on going. Near the end
of the exercise a new Cho Dan had a ‘stitch’ in his side. I
could see the discomfort on his face…one hand rubbing his side.
Again, did he stop ? Did he ask permission to sit down ? No,
his other arm kept swinging and he completed the exercise. My
two new adult Cho Dans gave me that “thanks a lot” look when I
told them 200 jumping jacks. I smiled and gave the command to
start. Both ladies “dropped their visors” and never broke
stride. Eyes front, focused effort, arms and legs moving in
rhythm. The extra bonus for me as their instructor was that I
never said a word. I just watched. They were executing in this
manner because THEY WANTED TO !!!!!! It was in their hearts to
go hard. My students know they can stop if they have to or
they’re hurt, but they also know sometimes you just have to keep
going.
So…my new class of Cho Dans took their first steps down that
path of being a “Black Belt”. Their first steps were impressive
and a pleasure to watch.
“What does it mean to be a Black Belt ?” It means you go hard
in the face of adversity and you always put forth your best
effort – regardless of the challenge or the results.
“How hard is it to be a Black Belt ?” INCREDIBLY hard…because
you’re ALWAYS pushing yourself to your limits, expanding those
limits and accomplishing things you never thought you could do.
Again…in or out of your do bok…in or out of the do jang.
Being a Tang Soo Do Black Belt is something you “are”…not
something you do. I have a few Black Belts that have left the
do jang for professional reasons or hardships. For them, the do
jang is ALWAYS here. For the others, as long as their rank is
about what they “do”, it will never matter how many stripes are
on their belt. I’ll hold up my “leg asleep”, “side stitch” and
“pants falling down” Black Belts against anyone. The Black
Belts I saw today are walking the right path. Their future is
very bright indeed.
Sa Bom
Nim Ben Johnson
Aim and
Focus Karate
Links to old "Reflections" articles:
June 2008 -- "Different
Roads Our Students Follow"
May 2008 -- "Simple Joys
of Childhood"
April 2008 -- "You Never
Know Your Impact"
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June
2007
May, 2007
April, 2007
March, 2007
February, 2007
January, 2007
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