Black Belt ceremonies

[IcemanSK]

Does your school have a ceremony when giving out Bb's? Dignitaries come? Special way to present new belt &/or uniform? Or is it, tie on the belt, shake the instructor's hand & get back to training?

I'll share some I've seen but I want to hear from you first.

[The BB of C]

For Kuk Sool Won, In Hyuk Suh (the style's grandmaster) presents the black belt uniform at a seminar/demonstration when the time comes for them to advance.

[pittbullJudoka]

When I recieved my black belt my Sensei set us into a formal setting potsition and called usup one at a time. While kneeling infront of him he gave me some advice and due respect. He then passed my belt tousand made me put it on. He continued class as normal. After the other that promoted with me were presented with their belts we shared a shot of fine whiskey that Sensei bought some time back for the day that he promoted his first black belts.

[bushido_man96]

Nothing special, really. The belt is given, and acknowledgement is given in class. Hand shaking and congrats happen after class.

[Shotokan-kez]

Same for us Brian, maybe a bunch of us will go for a beer in the pub to celebrate but thats about it.

[ninjanurse]

We have a convocation ceremony where the Master Instructor ties the belt on

you-lots of bowing & ceremony. In previous systems there was a big ceremony after passing the test but after completing the probationary period you were just given your "official belt" in class. The head instructor then tied it on and took a stick to your rear end!

[Zanshin]

Although not so much a long the ceremonial lines, my Daito school has something pretty nice.

Dan grade certificates are made out of hand made paper and are hand written / painted by Shihan himself.

Here's the cool bit though. The certificate is in two halves. Prior to tearing (not cutting) the certificate in two, the "Shihan" puts his unique stamp across the tear line. Then the certificate is torn in two, ending up with half a stamp mark on each part.

The successful candidate gets his half and School's Shihan keeps the other. The theory being that if anyone should bring into question your training and qualification, they can offer it up to the school's "official" copy and the Shihan stamp will become complete (tear and all).

Nice touch me thinks.

[IcemanSK]

Although not so much a long the ceremonial lines, my Daito school has something pretty nice.

Dan grade certificates are made out of hand made paper and are hand written / painted by Shihan himself.

Here's the cool bit though. The certificate is in two halves. Prior to tearing (not cutting) the certificate in two, the "Shihan" puts his unique stamp across the tear line. Then the certificate is torn in two, ending up with half a stamp mark on each part.

The successful candidate gets his half and School's Shihan keeps the other. The theory being that if anyone should bring into question your training and qualification, they can offer it up to the school's "official" copy and the Shihan stamp will become complete (tear and all).

Nice touch me thinks.

Wow, that's unique.

[IcemanSK]

A friend's school has each BB grab an end of the belt before the final knot is tied & everyone pulls really hard as a sign that it won't come off. Consider it a "welcome to the club." Our GM does that for 4th Dan & above.

[tori]

After the test itself. We all sit together and share saki after our instructor reads to us his meaning of what it is to be a black belt. Our testing and our ceremony is private. No family to witness until he ties our belts on us.