After testing for my sixth degree black belt on April 29th 2017, at the age of 55, my only thought was, “Time to move on and start training for my seventh!”
Here are a couple of take-aways from my sixth degree test experience:
Making the decision to training, preparing and pass a black belt test is a journey and experience everyone would remember for a lifetime. One of the highest color belt awarded in many martial arts belt promotion systems, your black belt does not turn you into a superhero, but the process is trans-formative and rewarding.
Having just tested for my 6th degree black belt in Tang Soo Do at the age of 55, here are a couple lessons learned from my years of training that perhaps can encourage, inspire and motivate you in your own black belt journey.
1. It’s Up to You
Maybe you chose your martial art to learn self defense, get in shape, compete in tournaments, or discover yourself. Whatever your motivations, while your martial arts instructor will show you the path, he or she cannot walk the road and do the work for you. Sure, life sometimes happens and you might have to miss a practice. Family, job, and other responsibilities pull you in different directions. You get sick and injured. You don’t want to miss that Eagles game on TV. Simply put, life throws you many excuses not to train, but it’s up to you to make it work. Remember, martial arts is about discipline for real life, not utopia.
Have to go out of town on travel? Arrange with your instructor to review material in a private session or practice on your own. At home with an illness? Get your rest and get healthy. Injured? Come to class and watch or participate as best you can. Want to watch television? While I understand the temptation, especially on those hot summer days when the cookouts stretch late into the night or when it’s storming outside and the couch is soft and comfy, just remember that the responsibility for your advancement, or lack thereof, rests alone on your shoulders. Just get off your butt and GET IT DONE!!!
2. Be in It for the Long Term
They say the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. You began your martial arts adventure by showing up to practice that first day. Now you have to survive to the end. I don’t mean survive as in not get killed – remember the martial arts is about improving the quality of and extending life. Not to destroy it. However, the road to black belt is a challenging one and in some sense a journey of attrition. Many who started training when you did will not be there when you take your black belt test. Though things can happen that cause you to quit your training, “chance” as they say, “favors the prepared.”
The black belt journey takes years to complete and you certainly won’t make it if you allow your fire to burn out. As new students, we give every practice 110%, with the intention of transforming into a Bruce Lee by the end of the first month. But your body needs time to build and get used to the routine. It needs to recover as muscles are challenged, joints are stressed, and bones are hit. Adequate rest, active recovery, and healthy food help keep the body build.
Likewise, injuries can hinder progress and enthusiasm. While you should not train timidly, it makes no sense to purposely ruin your body with reckless training. You can’t cram for your black belt test and you won’t make it by going all-out all the time. You get there through consistent practice with constant, incremental improvement over the long term.
3. It’s More Than Just Technique
By definition, martial arts focuses on training armed and unarmed techniques for self-defense, sport, and combat. Over time you will become proficient with the basic techniques of your chosen style. While the black belt test will verify that you know your stuff, technique is just part of what makes a black belt.
If you think about it, your instructor already knows whether or not you know the techniques. After all, he or she has trained with you for years. But one thing your instructor needs to see is how well you can bring together all the techniques you’ve learned and apply them as a whole. In other words, you need to demonstrate understanding of the art of your martial art.
Also, while knowing the techniques is an obvious, tangible part of the black belt, there is an important intangible component that is just as critical. Some call this grit, courage, or character. My first instructor called it heart and the “Indomitable Spirit”. Whatever the name, it’s that quality that keeps someone from quitting when confronted with an over-whelming challenge. It’s that unbreakable spirit.
Say you have two people who are equally proficient with the techniques. Also, say one of the two has this indomitable spirit quality. Yes, both can fight, but if you had to pick one of these people to fight on your team or to cover your back in a combat situation, you’d pick the one with the indomitable spirit. Thus, the one with heart will earn the black belt.
4. It’s Not All About the Black Belt
If you are doing martial arts just to get a black belt, you are missing the point and will likely fail in your attempt. The belt is a reminder of the tremendous growth you’ve made while training in your art – becoming fit, learning technique, gaining confidence, becoming disciplined, showing respect, overcoming mental and physical challenges – all important life skills that make you into a better person. Similar to how a diploma is just a piece of paper, a black belt is just a belt. It’s the mountains you climb while on your black belt journey that should be your focus and your reward.
5. It’s Not All About You
Though it’s true the journey is all up to you, the real secret is that earning a black belt is not all about you. Though you may think that when training you should concentrate only on your own technique, you should also focus on your training partner’s technique. Your training partner is spending time holding pads or being a great partner for you. In turn, you should try to be the best pad holder or partner for him or her. By helping your partner get better, your partner in return will help you get better. Also, by learning the receiving side, your understanding, technique, and performance are improved.
In addition, you should be a good and loyal member of your school. Support your school’s activities, represent well your instructors when out in public, and encourage teammates when they are testing or want extra training time. Remember that in order for your school to be awesome, it needs to have awesome members, so do your part.
Finally, try to be considerate of the impact your training has on your family. While it is true that no one is going to take the black belt test for you, no one will support you more than the other members of your martial arts school and your family, so be sure to show the love in return.
6. It’s Really Just the Beginning
Unfortunately, I suspect that a large percentage of students, upon earning their first degree black belt, soon quit martial arts training. This is sad for several reasons. First, earning a black belt does not mean there is nothing else to learn. In fact, there are enough applications, subtleties, and variations to explore to last a lifetime. Second, there are other martial arts to add to your current skills, which can increase your understanding of not only how to fight, but also of yourself. Third, you can pursue teaching opportunities. They say you really don’t understand something until you can teach it to someone else.
And… Fourth, your body will evolve with the years. Your ability to adapt with your physical changes is part of your evolution as a martial arts black belt.
No matter how old you are, training in the martial arts is one of the best ways you can invest in yourself
No matter how old you are, training in the martial arts is one of the best ways you can invest in yourself, and the black belt serves as a stepping-stone for a lifetime of growth, learning, and exploration.
Hopefully these thoughts will help you make the most out of your own black belt experience.
If you are not training in martial arts… Train!
If you are live in Mount Laurel New Jersey, connect with me and I can definitely recommend great instructors. :)
Visit where I teach martial arts by going here > www.DinotoKarate.com
or
Visit where I train Brazilian Jiu Jitsu by going here > www.McHughbjj.com
