ESA-Shotokan Posted December 20, 2003 Posted December 20, 2003 I found this article on the web. If you have a few minutes spare, it is worth reading. http://www.judoinfo.com/bb.htm Enjoy.
stl_karateka Posted December 21, 2003 Posted December 21, 2003 That's a very excellent article! Good points about the humility a black belt should posses...and understanding that 1st degree black belt is just the begining. Usually when people find out I study karate, the next question is what belt are you, or are you a black belt....in which case I tell them yes....from there....it is one of two reactions: a. awe stricken, and anything else I say about levels of black belts or how its the lowest level of black belt is in one ear and out the other b. the cynical response -- do you / can you break x amount of boards, can you do this and that in a street fight I've only been a black belt since August...and I'm sure I stood a little taller and held my head a little higher But that's wearing off --- I think the problem is with some BBs it never wears off They think they've reached the goal, but if the goal is to just get a black belt, then you misunderstand the martial arts in my opinion. KarateForums.com Sempai
Sasori_Te Posted December 22, 2003 Posted December 22, 2003 I've read and written several posts on this very topic. A black belt doesn't mean anything without the proper technique level coupled with a humble attitude. If you're studying to get a black belt, save yourself some time and money and go downtown to your local martial arts supply store and buy one. Without the things I mentioned above that's about all it will be worth anyway. A block is a strike is a lock is a throw.
Scorcho Posted December 22, 2003 Posted December 22, 2003 Nice article. The fact that it is written by a Judoka shows the similarities of all MAs to each other. "The true master avoids the fight."Shodan - Uechi-Ryu KarateBrown Belt - Zen Budo Ryu JJ, Yoshinkan Aikido
aefibird Posted December 22, 2003 Posted December 22, 2003 Great article. It's true that a lot of people see the black belt as the 'end'. When I got my black belt one of the very first things that a non-martial artist friend said to me was "well, you don't need to go to karate class anymore". After I finished laughing at the thought I'd quit karate training, I gently explained that getting a black belt isn't the 'end of the road'. Like someone else wrote, if I just wanted a black belt I could go buy one from a sports shop and save myself all that time training. "Was it really worth it? Only time and death may ever tell..." The Beautiful South - The Rose of My CologneSheffield Steelers!
Sho-ju Posted December 22, 2003 Posted December 22, 2003 A black belt should mean you understand the basic's well enough to teach...and fight to defend yourself. I'm sick of seeing McDojo black belts come to my dojo and get their * handed to them from one of green belt girls. So I always included proper understanding and proper use in real time for black belt level.
Sasori_Te Posted December 22, 2003 Posted December 22, 2003 Nice article. I guess I should have read it before I posted before. I could have saved myself some trouble. A block is a strike is a lock is a throw.
Goju1 Posted December 31, 2003 Posted December 31, 2003 Great article, exactly as it should be - too bad about all the black belt factories churning out under talented and under motivated youngsters, it just lowers the bar for all of us, oh well not my problem
Cybren Posted January 2, 2004 Posted January 2, 2004 A black belt doesn't mean anything. It's a noun. An object used to hold up pants.
SaiFightsMS Posted January 3, 2004 Posted January 3, 2004 The karate belt does not hold your pants up it keeps your gi top closed. Your drawstring keeps your pants up.
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