|
|
 |
 |
 |
| What
Does a Black Belt Really Mean? |
One
of the questions most often asked
of martial artists is, "How
long does it take to get a black
belt?"
There are many different answers
to this question. Most people
want to hear that it takes just
a year or two of attendance in
class to get a black belt. Misconceptions
about what a black belt is tend
to give students unrealistic expectations.
At the same time, there is almost
a superhuman
|
|
 |
|
|
|
and
mythical character associated with black
belts that tends to inflate the ego of those
not properly prepared by their training.
The general public today sees black belts
worn by very young children, contracts at
martial arts schools that guarantee a black
belt within a short time, mail-order black
belts for sale in martial arts magazines,
celebrities with honorary black belts, and
demonstrations of black belt skill involving
walking on nails, swallowing swords and
other feats. This raises general questions
about the meaning of the black belt, and
threatens the legitimacy of all martial
arts ranks.
The founder of Judo, Jigoro Kano, created
the rank system used by almost all modern
martial arts. The black belt was the first
rank he created to signify completion of
the first step of training, and it was the
first time a belt rank was awarded in martial
arts. At the time it replaced the traditional
scrolls or diplomas used in older martial
arts. Essentially it was a symbol of a student's
graduation to another step in training.
Similar to other forms of graduation, a
Judo rank is recognition of accomplishment,
but it is the education and training it
self that is important.
|
| To
get a black belt you simply find a good
teacher and begin training. A school
in a convenient location helps so you
can attend regularly. A wide range of
serious training partners also helps.
But most importantly you must devote
yourself to your practice and work hard.
It is not easy, but it is a step-by-step
training process and someday, who knows
when, it may come. It may take a few
years, it may take ten years, or you
|
|
 |
may
never achieve it. A candidate for black belt
will realize that the belt is not as important
as the lessons learned along the way.
If
you think you deserve a black belt, you
are probably a long way from reaching this
rank. Strive to retain a sense of humility,
and refrain from thinking "I am better
than so-and-so". You cannot compare
your struggle or achievements with other
people. This is why ranks are earned by
the student, but awarded by the sensei (instructor).
The sensei (literally meaning one who has
gone before) has the responsibility for
guiding you through the training and development
that he or she has been through. The sensei
is more likely to recognize all the factors
that make up a black belt. These factors
include more than just the physical skills
and techniques. They also include conduct,
character, and internalization of the principles
of Judo. Application of the Judo principles
to life outside the dojo is one of the unifying
commonalities that bring black belts together.
As a black belt, you strive to apply all
the principles you have learned in class
to the rest of your life. For example, when
you learn that you must be committed to
a Judo throw and follow through to make
it work, as a black belt you should become
conscious of how these same principles will
help you to achieve other goals off the
mats.
|
Train
hard, be humble, don't show off or complain,
and do your best in everything in your
life. This is what it means to be a
black belt. Black belts are often ordinary
people who try harder and don't give
up. Black belt can be achieved in spite
of any weaknesses you may have. I have
promoted men and women who began training
very late in life, people who were disabled
or blind, and people who were very afraid
of physical
|
|
 |
activity
when they started. It is how you face and
overcome your own personal difficulty that
determines your character, an important component
of a black belt.
On the other hand, to be overconfident, to
show off your skill, to look down on others,
and to show a lack of respect characterize
the student who will have difficulty achieving
black belt. This is not to say that black
belts don't have faults, they are just the
ones working on improving themselves. Striving
for perfection as a whole person is a sign
of the black belt. What they wear around their
waist will always be more than simply a piece
of merchandise bought for a few dollars in
a martial arts supply store. The belt will
represent their personal struggle to achieve
excellence.
The first level of black belt in Japanese
is called shodan. It literally means "first
level" or "beginning step".
Sho (first) is an ideograph that is comprised
of two radicals meaning "cloth"
and "knife". To make a piece of
clothing, one first cuts out the pattern on
the cloth. The pattern determines the style
and look of the final product. If the pattern
is out of proportion or in error, the clothes
will look bad and not fit properly. In the
same way, your initial training to reach black
belt is very important because it determines
how you will eventually turn out as a black
belt. After years of training you have cut
the pattern and learned the basic techniques.
The promotion to black belt is recognition
of this hard work and a level of accomplishment
that one can be proud of. On the other hand,
shodan is really just the beginning, the base,
for learning Judo or any martial art.
In
many years of teaching, I have noticed
that the students who are solely concerned
with getting their promotion discourage
easily, as soon as they realize it is
harder than they expected. Students,
who come in just for practice, without
concern for rank, always do well. They
are not crushed by shallow or unrealistic
goals.
There
is a famous story about Yagyu |
|
 |
Matajuro,
who was a son of the famous Yagyu family of
swordsmen in 17th century feudal Japan. He
was kicked out of the house for lack of talent
and potential, and sought out instruction
of the sword master Tsukahara Bokuden, with
the hope of achieving mastery of the sword
and regaining his family position.
On their initial interview, Matajuro asked
Tsukahara Bokuden, "How long will it
take me to master the sword?" Bokuden
replied, "Oh, about five years if you
train very hard."
"If I train twice as hard, how long will
it take?" inquired Matajuro. "In
that case, ten years," retorted Bokuden.
©
By
Neil Ohlenkamp
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
