Having a Black Belt

Blog Article/Post Caveat (Read First Please: Click the Link)

"I you just want a black belt...ok; if you want to be a black belt...that is another matter altogether." This has been a bone of contention for as long as I have been in the disciplines, even longer. Everyone has their idea as to what it means to have a black belt and to BE a black belt. Yes, Yoda says they are two different things.

I can get a black belt just by purchasing one through the internet. I can even have a realistic certificate that says I am a black belt. I can get a lot of trophies to put on my mantle and not one person can truly, completely and comprehensively say they are not real. 

But, a huge BUT, is being a black belt is about honor, humility, ability, dedication, endurance and attitude that makes one's character and personality that simply exudes an aura that says, "black belt." 

In the end, it is not about who you know, who and what org you belong to, whether you got trained by a master or an Asian master or anyone because their status as being a black belt is also subjective to whom happens to be in a position to judge others - not many, if any, can do that in all reality.

I could go into a long desertion of what it is to BE a Black Belt and that may be a good thing if people wanted to truly know what it means…to ME. It may even inspire them to reach for those concepts and ideologies and philosophies and then in the end it is up to the INDIVIDUAL to come to realize and be a black belt. 

Being a black belt does not mean attending session a certain number of times a week, a certain number of hours per session or to practice over any particular period of time. It just isn’t that simple…don’t believe me, then do a search (Google is our friend) of black belt definitions and you will receive back thousands and thousands of different views, definitions and beliefs. 

Lets get down to brass tacks, “To BE a black belt is a personal belief and accomplishment.” This means that although fledgling martial practitioners MUST INITIALLY go with the dojo and sensei’s beliefs and teachings it DOES NOT mean it has to be a set immovable and unchanging one. Everyone, and I mean everyone, has to build concepts from without by taking in data and processing it then as one builds their own PERSONAL set of concepts, beliefs, etc., then they begin to create personal concepts built on personal philosophies and there is only ONE way to get that done…stop following and take a lead for the self, yourself, and absorb as much as possible related to what your objectives toward either just wanting a black belt and BEING A BLACK BELT! In short, take your studies OUTSIDE the box and let Heaven and Earth be your guide to a Universe of POSSIBILITY!

Bibliography (Click the link)