Back to basics

[mean fighter]

who else agrees with me when I say that when you get your 1st black belt thats when the real pain, and sweat training begins

[orion82698]

Well, I have yet to obtain my BB, but I know for a fact that that is when the real training begins. I guess that is why I find it so funny that most parents only want their kids to get Black belt.

[MasterH]

Some say that's were the training actualy begins. Phylisophy of the "color" belts say it's the end of the first day, and the beginning of the second.

[aefibird]

I agree. The belts before are preparation for being a beginner. By going through the kup/kuy grading process you're saying that you're comitted to the training and that when you reach BB you're ready for the real earnest training to begin. It's like the coloured belts are a pre-entry test for a school/college. Once you get your BB (get into that college) then the real learning begins. You've shown your dedication, now you're ready for the next level.

[IcemanSK]

I agree that its just the begining. Its funny how the Western mindset prizes the piece of cloth around your waist to prove what we've learned. (I'm just as guilty of it). I did notice that my mindset changed when I trained at a gym that didn't used belts. My focus became much more on internal motivation, rather than where I "ranked" in the class. While I still had external motivators (I liked this guy's technique on that kick or that gal's stances etc.) it was easier to focus on getting my techniques right, or doing them better.

[MasterH]

I agree that its just the begining. Its funny how the Western mindset prizes the piece of cloth around your waist to prove what we've learned. (I'm just as guilty of it).

So am I..........but that's part of our culture. It make our training just that much harder. We've got to learn to let go.

[Red J]

At Black Belt I am starting my journey again...

[shogeri]

Yes, a Black Belt symbolizes a new beginning.

But then it also symbolizes that a person has all the crucial technical and principle fighting skills in which to be an effective fighter in most situations.

That is, they should know how(and when) to fight.

The characteristics that mark a Black Belt as a new journey, is that you learn how to teach others how to do, what you just did.

So firstly by either 1st or 2nd Dan, one dives even deeper into, not necessarily more techniques, rather the philosophy, and underlying principles of combat and application of the techniques that they have spent all this time learning.

By teaching the art, you understand yourself, along with the reasons you began learning it in the first place, and you also learn how to adapt the style to various people, rather than making them conform to the style.

By learning as a teacher would, you learn that the dynamics of any style or system rest in the combination of the indvidual with the characteristics of the system itself.

That is, you merge with the system, and it becomes a deeper part of you, an extension, if you will, of who are you, and need to be in order to be an instructor.

This way, when you teach the style, you are actually teaching other's a little bit about yourself as well.

Just some tidbits...

[IcemanSK]

I agree that its just the begining. Its funny how the Western mindset prizes the piece of cloth around your waist to prove what we've learned. (I'm just as guilty of it).

So am I..........but that's part of our culture. It make our training just that much harder. We've got to learn to let go.

Us Westerners like it so much, we feel the need to put our rank stripes on our belts as milestones of our journey.

I've spoke to a lot of non-MA folks (usually kids, but adults too) that ask "what are those stripes on your belt for?" While I've tried to point to higher ranks (those w/ more stripes than me) & say something to the kids like "It means they've been doing this a long time & they deserve respect." To them it still translates, "Oh, so he/she could kick your butt." The deeper meanings don't get translated in those rank stripes either.

My 1st instructor was a young (32) Korean man with an old belt with no stripes to show his rank. His Kukiwon Cert. was on the wall of his office, but it all about the journey for him. The next school I went to, the American instructor had his rank clearly marked for all to see. (And his wasn't real!) He had doctored rank certs on the wall of his office.

I don't want to make it sound like the opposite doesn't happen or to make it sound like a deeper spiritual "Kung Fu" episode. But there needs to be another way to get across more than "more stripes on your belt means he can kick your butt."

[Balrog]

who else agrees with me when I say that when you get your 1st black belt thats when the real pain, and sweat training begins

Perhaps not to that level of intensity, as I like to think I have my students sweating and screaming long before then.

However, I always tell my beginning students that First Degree Black Belt is a wonderful goal to set, but it's like setting a goal that says you're going to graduate from high school - you don't stop there.

From White Belt to First Degree, you're learning the basics of Taekwondo. From First Degree onward, you're learning the art of Taekwondo.