The Black Belt

[Jeffrey]

After a lengthy chat on facebook with a couple of members there was a story I going to relate and thought it might make a good KF discussion. This is more of what would you do and not what you think I would do.

I belong to a local Karate Club of all volunteers who come out 4 times a week and teach Karate to kids, adults and teens. It is a fairly large club with about 100 members. We also belong to a large organization the spans across Canada with over 3000 members in over 100 clubs. One of the great things belonging to a large organization is the ability to attend tournaments and compete as well being able to share knowledge and ideas. But what happens when you enter the political part? Nothing good, from what I have seen so far. Sure that is my own humble opinion but I have seen it first hand. Our club has always been sort of an outcast. In the past we there have been differences of opinions that have caused a rift between high ranking members from the governing part of this organization. There have been times when our club has thought about leaving but other reasons have kept us around. I ask a lot of questions. One of the largest problems we have had is the grading of our black belts. I have come to understand that to get graded you must also play this little political game.

Sorry for the background before the question but I thought it was a little necessary.

I was at the last big tournament with another member who is going to try for his black belt this year. One of the Sensei came up and asked if he was going for his black belt this year? I said yes. The Sensei than replied with “you should go train at this persons club to help with Kata.” What??? Is our club not good enough? (I thought this and didn’t ask it). I’m a loyal person and loyal to the person teaching me. I later found out this person is the head of the grading committee. WOW! So I guess the chances of getting graded down another few percent.

So why would I try to go for a black belt in this organization? Then it hit me. Why do I need a black belt? It’s just a belt. Do I need a black belt to practice Karate? Does it make me stronger? To someone like me it is really nothing all that special. I work hard and I practice hard. I also help out 3 nights a week in the kid’s class. So why do I need a black belt. When I want to learn a new Kata because I feel I’m ready there has never been anything said.

So now the question after that long winded rant. Why is it so important to have a black belt? Does it help?

[sojobo]

How much of this is a Shintani Wadokai vs JKF Wado-kai thing?

You mentioned before that your group was on the edge - maybe time to come over to the dark side lol.

sojobo

ps, I have links to the dark side.

[Jeffrey]

How much of this is a Shintani Wadokai vs JKF Wado-kai thing?

You mentioned before that your group was on the edge - maybe time to come over to the dark side lol.

sojobo

ps, I have links to the dark side.

I don't that has anything to do with it but the dark side looks good now doesn't it. It is mostly an internal thing. A lot of what our club suffers from are things that have happened in the past. We are not all that political motivated as a club either. Just a good group of people.

As for the links I did get the lastest book from Sensei Roberto and his DVD set. Very enlightning.

[sojobo]

How much of this is a Shintani Wadokai vs JKF Wado-kai thing?

You mentioned before that your group was on the edge - maybe time to come over to the dark side lol.

sojobo

ps, I have links to the dark side.

I don't that has anything to do with it but the dark side looks good now doesn't it. It is mostly an internal thing. A lot of what our club suffers from are things that have happened in the past. We are not all that political motivated as a club either. Just a good group of people.

As for the links I did get the lastest book from Sensei Roberto and his DVD set. Very enlightning.

Ahh cool,

What did you think of the ippon kumite?

sojobo

[bushido_man96]

Earning a black belt, although it is only a belt, can also be looked at as a great achievement. Its a step on the road you are on, for sure. A lot of what a black belt also is, is the perception that others see in it. I think that is where most of the power comes from; how others view it, mainly those of lower rank or with no MA experience at all.

Perhaps I'd need some more background on the political aspects of your organization, but just because that guy dropped a name to you, doesn't mean you should have to change where you do your forms training in order to be eligible to test. If I were you, I would just stay on your current course, with your current teacher, and then seek permission to test. At the testing, you will be able to see how you measure up to others from your other schools.

Best of luck to you in this, and I'm sorry the politics has gotten to you like this. Its kind of unfortunate, but you really can't go to any organization without there being some politics involved on some level.

[sensei8]

So now the question after that long winded rant. Why is it so important to have a black belt?

Those are the million dollar questions, and in that, there are a million different answers.

In any system that propagates the kyu/dan ranking, the Yudansha is everything. The Yudansha is the end of one beginning, and it's the beginning of the never ending journey.

Does it help?

Yes AND no!! Again, in any system that propagates the kyu/dan ranking, and depending on what side of the political fence one stands on, the Yudansha opens some doors, while sometimes it closes doors. For the Yudansha to help a follower of the kyu/dan rankings, it's the only way to the next rank, and depending on how many ranks decorate ones Yudansha, some things are required, and in that, yes, the Yudansha does help.

To teach: Sandan might be required.

To administer: Godan might be required.

To oversee a region: Hachidan might be required.

To train: Nothing is required other than a constant desire for betterment of oneself and of one's martial arts. To train, one doesn't need any type of decoration, for decorations can sometimes fuel the ego, and ego has no place in the martial arts; it can destroy the betterment of self.

A Yudansha guarantee's NOTHING, but it might require EVERYTHING. Albeit, the Yudansha is just a belt to some, yet, to others, it's one's very soul, heart, and breath.

Maturity in the martial arts requires no belt, no matter the color and/or the decorations upon it; only knowledge.

No matter the style of the martial arts; politics will exists. One who plays the political game better than the rest, weaves his/her Yudansha like a cobra that's only seeking its prey for a means that defies all reasoning's. In my countless years, I've been on both sides of the political fence; part of the student body, as well as part of the administration; have held several key positions. However, I never played the evil side of the politics, and this was my choice, one I've never regretted for one second.

On the political side, I've always looked out for the student body, no matter kyu/dan they held or didn't hold. I fought and won many political battles, very few I lost for one reason or another. I've stood face to face with the political machine, and I've fought toe to toe because I've never agreed with everything that my Soke/Dai-Soke/Hombu fought for, in that, I always spoke my own mind no matter if it was popular or not...

Student body

Soke/Dai-Soke

Hombu

In that order without any exceptions and/or any reservations!

Now, my Hombu has left the entire student body to fend for themselves. Once we had a home, and then, we have no home. Did politics play a role in this? I've no idea, nobody does because our San Dai-Soke only says that this was "the desire of his father" [Our Dai-Soke] before he passed away. I say that our San Dai-Soke must have misunderstood his father's meaning because the student body always came first to our Dai-Soke. The administration elected our San Dai-Soke into office; it's ended up being our demise.

My Yudansha has meaning and value to me; but that depends on the context as well as the content of the moment at hand. Still, I've never needed any organization to train, and this is what I eagerly do each and everyday. So much for the value of our Yudansha's and how much it [Yudansha] helped us in the long run. I'm extremely sensitive these days when it comes to organizational politics.

All of my days;, yesterday/today/tommorw,I have eagerly placed my Yundansha at the foot of Him who is more than worthy!!

[Jeffrey]

Once again Sensei8 your wisdom speaks volumes.

“To train: Nothing is required other than a constant desire for betterment of oneself and of one's martial arts. To train, one doesn't need any type of decoration, for decorations can sometimes fuel the ego, and ego has no place in the martial arts; it can destroy the betterment of self.”

This is where I am today. And to honest I feel good about it.

At one point I did struggle to achieve this all mighty black belt only to find it left me hollow inside once I received it. All that work and I didn’t feel any different then I did before I received it. But that a long time ago and I now have found a different art and a much different perspective. Perhaps age has humbled me just a little.

But, and there is always that but. You did bring to light something I was not considering and that is the ability to influence others for the betterment of a group. Without that belt you will not have a say in the political circle(s) that can help the student body, My Sensei and Dojo (and that order works fine without exceptions) to grow, learn and prosper. That will make for some tough choices in the future. But you can never tell what the future might bring. So I will try to keep an open mind.

I can understand your sensitivity towards organizational politics after what you have witnessed happen to your Hombu. For me I have that belief that all people can be good and it is the power that lets them lose their perspective. I will use one of your American Presidents quotes as an example "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." Abraham Lincoln.

Thanks for the advice and opening the eyes just a bit to other possibilities.

[bushido_man96]

Yes AND no!! Again, in any system that propagates the kyu/dan ranking, and depending on what side of the political fence one stands on, the Yudansha opens some doors, while sometimes it closes doors. For the Yudansha to help a follower of the kyu/dan rankings, it's the only way to the next rank, and depending on how many ranks decorate ones Yudansha, some things are required, and in that, yes, the Yudansha does help.

One thing that I do notice about Martial Arts that especially use the rank system is that the lack of rank can affect what you are taught, and the depth of the subject matter taught to you. You will likely continue to be grouped with the rank you retain, and may not be shown other things taught to higher ranks, simply because you choose not to test.

[Jeffrey]

Yes AND no!! Again, in any system that propagates the kyu/dan ranking, and depending on what side of the political fence one stands on, the Yudansha opens some doors, while sometimes it closes doors. For the Yudansha to help a follower of the kyu/dan rankings, it's the only way to the next rank, and depending on how many ranks decorate ones Yudansha, some things are required, and in that, yes, the Yudansha does help.

One thing that I do notice about Martial Arts that especially use the rank system is that the lack of rank can affect what you are taught, and the depth of the subject matter taught to you. You will likely continue to be grouped with the rank you retain, and may not be shown other things taught to higher ranks, simply because you choose not to test.

Lucky for me I will not have this problem. If I feel I ready to learn something new than all I need is ask. I do understand that others may not be so lucky.

Maybe remove ranking.. I know this has been discussed to death and will not happen.

[sojobo]

Lucky for me I will not have this problem. If I feel I ready to learn something new than all I need is ask. I do understand that others may not be so lucky.

Maybe remove ranking.. I know this has been discussed to death and will not happen.

Hi Jeffrey,

I was having this conversation with a very talented young Jujutsu-ka the other day.

He is a brown belt soon to go for his black belt, and when I mentioned that BB didn't really mean anything, he said "everyone that says that to me ARE already black belts".

I had to concede that he had a point.

Sojobo