Worn/Frayed Black Belts

[Throwdown0850]

C'mon folks...Its a piece of cloth...Its a new innovation in martial arts...Since the 1900's

The most important thing is that you train, and enjoy doing it. The belt cannot and does not hold your knowledge, and experience. Only YOU can do that.

No one said it did..

Edited August 22, 2008 by Throwdown0850

[tenshinka]

Maybe not directly, but for sure in the initial post opening this thread, there is an air of reverence, that indeed suggests more than a simple belt should carry. IMHO.

[Tiger1962]

Yes technically it is a piece of cloth, but those martial artists who study the old school very traditional styles that are strict with their philosophy and history hold the symbolism of the belt in high regard. This is by no means an ego thing. I'm not talking about being fanatical here either, just the tradition that some styles teach to students regarding the belt.

We would not dare touch or wear our instructor (or any senior member's) belt. The instructors and masters teach us that that would be a blatant show of disrespect. We wouldn't get whipped to a post if we did but its more of a respect thing, know what I mean?

So, you see, this is not something I/we conjured up in our heads, it's what *some* schools teach from the day you join. Maybe yours is more relaxed type of training and style. We could never wear shorts and a tee to train. No matter the temps, its a full do-bok / gi all the way. It's all part of the protocol and training that *some* styles teach.

The old school traditional styles tend to be more stricter with their whole philosophy.

[Throwdown0850]

Yes technically it is a piece of cloth, but those martial artists who study the old school very traditional styles that are strict with their philosophy and history hold the symbolism of the belt in high regard. This is by no means an ego thing. I'm not talking about being fanatical here either, just the tradition that some styles teach to students regarding the belt.

We would not dare touch or wear our instructor (or any senior member's) belt. The instructors and masters teach us that that would be a blatant show of disrespect. We wouldn't get whipped to a post if we did but its more of a respect thing, know what I mean?

So, you see, this is not something I/we conjured up in our heads, it's what *some* schools teach from the day you join. Maybe yours is more relaxed type of training and style. We could never wear shorts and a tee to train. No matter the temps, its a full do-bok / gi all the way. It's all part of the protocol and training that *some* styles teach.

The old school traditional styles tend to be more stricter with their whole philosophy.

I agree with what is being said here.

[bushido_man96]

Maybe not directly, but for sure in the initial post opening this thread, there is an air of reverence, that indeed suggests more than a simple belt should carry. IMHO.

I agree as well with this statement.

[tallgeese]

Tiger, you're certrainly right about schools that mandate that sort of thing from day one. And I have no problem with that, I'm sorry if I came off that I did.

Again, it has more to do with the enviornment of training and protocols at a school than anything else. That dosen't mean I think it's wrong, it's just not the way I do things. I do train from time to time with guys who insist in wearing a gi all the time and occassionally (usually for tests and the like) I'll even wear mine.

Funny story, I was testing for my black belt and, as a more senior student, hadn't been wearing my gi much for working out. Come time for the test, I tied on my belt and walked out of the dressing room only to have my instructor laugh at me. He then told me that the least I could do was tie my belt right for a black belt test. Turns out I did have a pretty funky configuration going on. It took me about two more tries to actually get it right. Much to the amusement of everyone else present.

[Tiger1962]

LOL - I still occasionally screw up how to tie my belt too and its mandatory for me to wear it all the time! (I chalk it up to a *senior* moment.)

You're right though, the whole thing is really dependent upon the style and how the flow of the school is, how strict it may be and whatnot. I don't always like or agree with some of the "rules" of my own school either.

[tweak9]

Yes technically it is a piece of cloth, but those martial artists who study the old school very traditional styles that are strict with their philosophy and history hold the symbolism of the belt in high regard. This is by no means an ego thing. I'm not talking about being fanatical here either, just the tradition that some styles teach to students regarding the belt.

We would not dare touch or wear our instructor (or any senior member's) belt. The instructors and masters teach us that that would be a blatant show of disrespect. We wouldn't get whipped to a post if we did but its more of a respect thing, know what I mean?

So, you see, this is not something I/we conjured up in our heads, it's what *some* schools teach from the day you join. Maybe yours is more relaxed type of training and style. We could never wear shorts and a tee to train. No matter the temps, its a full do-bok / gi all the way. It's all part of the protocol and training that *some* styles teach.

The old school traditional styles tend to be more stricter with their whole philosophy.

I couldn't have said it better...great thread IMHO...any more views? I really appreciate the one about folding your gi on the floor. Like it has been said...it's all what we are taught...

OSU!

pete

[bushido_man96]

To me, the TKD uniform is just another set of clothes to wear. I have work clothes, and play clothes, dress-up clothes, and workout clothes. My TKD and Hapkido uniforms are workout clothes. Nothing special, nothing sacred about clothes...

[tori]

I luckily got to test for San Dan this past summer. There were many students who were testing for their shodan the same night. My instructor had a small change made to the new belts he got for the new hopefuls. He asked me if I also wanted the new belt. As much as I like the small new change of the belts, I love the one I earned and have been wearing for years. The night he tied it around my waist was one of my proudest moments in my Martial Arts career. It is just a piece of cloth, but its my peice of cloth and I earned it.