Training varies with each karate-ka (student). You cannot be definitive. The mystery of being a black belt and wearing a black belt cannot be defined in my opinion as they mark two very distinct moments. The point at which a student wears a black belt is th point where the syllabus is completed for that style. It marks the historic point where the 10 kyu gradings have been completed and the practical study has been learned. Mine was completed a few years ago and although I have continued to train, 3 times each week week in and week out, I have not the confidence to put myself forward for appraisal. I therefore remain 1st Dan. The point where a karate-ka is a blackbelt is the point where that student is ready to advance their understanding beyond the confine of the dojo to be able to anticipate in advance of responding to any given situation. It is not necessry to be a karateka with Dan grades of great depth and dreadth of knwoedge as they may not be worthy of being a black belt although that are eminently qualified to wear their high ranking black belt. Perhaps I am being a little philosophical, I don't know. What I do know is that in the last couple of weeks my confidence in my instructor (4th Dan) for the last 7 years was destroyed in a space of a few seconds when his weakness and failure to support his assistant instructors was evidenced during a grading of 4th, 3rd and 2nd kyu students by his instructor (6th Dan and UK Chief instructor) who was the grading officer on that day. He preferred to accept the grading decision given which was at a polarisation of the criterior which that grading officer himself set at the start of the grading. He accepted the heirarchy as being rigid and without compromise. There was no place for argument (in the true sense of the word) and the decision was definitive. Brilliant to be so devoted to his instructor and the formality within the grading system yet utterly stupid to be so unsupportive of those students and assistant instructors who were pre-examined by him that were failed for minor errors in their grading. "Get it wrong but do it strong" was a maxim that was repeated by the grading officer at the beginning of the grading to those being examined. yet the grading officer passed those students who were very attractive in their kata and performed to competition standard, but failed every student who performed kata as I believed that it was supposed to be done - a reminder that it is a series of fighting sequences - was failed. The 6th Dan in my opinion is now nothing more than a dancing teacher. Sure those students would never win any competition or even get close to the prize lists, but they would be pretty handy if there was any disturbance or they needed to protect their beer. But that was not the reason for walking. No, the grading officer, gave reasons to the Dans who were assisting in the grading (6 of us) in our 20 minute chat to assess each student and then a different reason to many of the students. And that to me was the point where I lost my temper and my genuine passion for those students and all that they had endured during that 3hr grading was just too much. I will not accept double standards and had no hesitation at that point in removing my belt and walking from that dojo. I did not bow out. How could I? I have remained frineds with my former instructor have joined a different association but will never train under his direction again. I am very saddenned by this as I drew my knowledge and love for karate from him and he is a brilliant teacher. I had many friends and students that I coached in that association and in many ways I feel as if I have let them down. I have left students with my former instructor so I know they will have good teaching. But, whether they will be black belts or weareres of black belts is some matter of conjecture. Would I do the same if circumstances repeated themselves? Yes, but with a variation. I would take the students with me as I threw away a few thousand pounds in as many seconds
