Kuro Obi [黒 帯]

Black Belt 🥋 

When one reaches this level or grade, being given independence of action, now pride themselves upon the award of methodologies, experiences and spirit of budo, capable of applying methods; the very possession of theses dangerous applications does impart to the wearer feelings of self-respect and great responsibility. It is with pride of the dojo, dojo mates and both senpai and sensei one is awarded this kuro obi, symbolic of a path take and instilling excitement of the path ahead!

A symbol of what the Obi means and thus what the wearer carries at one’s waist, in the mind and in one’s heart - honor and loyalty and responsibility!

Knowledge that one has committed oneself of his or her spirit into the forging and tempering of spirit and character.

The kuro-obi imparts to the wearer at its awarding the understanding that acquired and the acquiring of skills must not be misused as the dojo code denounces and abhors its misuse.

One must be of self-possessed character in knowing the appropriate time to make use of skills, and that such times come but rarely.

One thus knows, “to achieve success in the application of skills is to do so without causing grave harm or death, but to avoid or deescalate in conflict before violence is possible.