What does black belt mean to you?

When testing a Black Belt they must meet these things in my mind.

 

1. Can they defend themselves against a person of equal size, age, strength, and ability. Hopefully this is better but its the least thing I look at.

 

2. Do they have a GOOD understanding of the orgins of Shotokan its History, evoulution, teachers, ideas, customs, etc....

 

3. Do they have the ability to teach a beginnner the basics. Hopefully this is better as well.

 

4. Are they mature... This is a big one... Do they respect the rank and the work or is it just a trophey for them. Do they respect the teachers and younger students. Basically are they a good person....

 

5. Would they make me proud. More importantly would they make my teacher proud if they walked into his dojo and said I am ___________ a first Dan under Sensei Justice. Or would I hope they never met. LOL...

i agree that there is a large physical and mental level of achievement, what g95 said and some more

from a kyu stand point as an issinryu student, shodan to me represents moving out of simply learning an art and moving in to try and master it. as well as to improve, not just yourself, but the art, the martial arts community, and the world as well. at shodan, you are not even half way, there is still much to learn, but at shodan you dont just take any more, you give back.

nicely said fireka

thank you

fire ka i agree with you what black belt means to me is well its just the begining

What does nidan mean to you? Is it something to aim for, or is training itself more important?

Black belt is a goal for me, but yet, it's just the beginning of my long MA road. When I get my BB, it's time to give back for what I have learned as a color belt, but learn and grow more as I keep training.

 

Here's a saying my TSD instructor often said to those who thought BB was the "end": Color belts learn the basics, BB's learn how to USE the basics

nidan reminds me of fourteen. so far from adult, yet so far from a child. it is a confusing time in an artist life, i bet theres a lot of people who get here and this is the real moment of truth, because beyond this, karate really cant be a hobby anymore, thers no way. its either a way of life or your stuck were you are. i bet a lot of people quit at this point to. (im sure a lot of people will disagree with my budo statement)