The black belt challenge...

Our dojo is probably different than most out there in one distinct way. Our black belts do not wear the fancy belts with stripes or colored belts to signify rank beyond black belt shodan. Over the years it has been fun for us to attend seminars and tournaments wearing only our no stripe solid black belts. About three months ago I attended a tournament where all these Master level guys wore everything from the white/red/black to a white/red with gold stripes belts. It was amazing that none of the highest ranks there even competed yet they were all down talking other black belts there. When it came time to assign rings they were all center officials which is typical for high ranks but there were two of them there that you could tell had no idea what they were doing...oh well.

During the black belt kata division I entered the Masters division and was told by the one center official "why would a lower rank black belt such as yourself enter this division?". I was the only one wearing a solid black belt, falling apart, but solid non the less. I just smiled and said I would be fine. He laughed and walked away. There were eight of us in this division and I had never seen any of them compete before. I got picked to go dead last. I could tell there was some good ole fashion favoritism going on as I watched the scores...but I did not care. I ran one of our open / traditional kata and beat them all. As we got our trophies one of the gentleman I had just competed with threw a fit about me not being master rank and in their division. I found this odd but was enjoying it deep inside. He went to the promoter of the event and started complaining (this was a small open event...no points...no cash...just fun and he wanted to act like a little baby). The promoter called me over. I spent the next 10 minutes wasting time with this whiner. When he finally quit complaining I smiled and told him I was ranked as a Godan and held a Hachidan rank as well as others. What shocked me was when he asked me what a Hachidan was! I said 8th dan. He got real quite and walked away...

This has happened many times when I first attend an event I have never been to and I find it funny. If you don't wear some colorful belt you evidently are not master level huh? Well that is fine put me in the lower ranks and make it easier for me...please!

At this same event I fought and won the Master Kumite division but never fought the guy who complained. He lost his first match and was out. The guy I ended up fighting for first was fun to fight and very good at Kumite. That made my $50 entry fee worth it!

All this may seem odd but the point I am attempting to make is to challenge every single black belt out there to simply wear a black belt...no color, no stripes...absent of all ego. If everyone did this then people could truly be judged on their skill in comparison with others instead of their cute belt around their waist. Is there a reason to do this? Yes...to be simply a black belt and not worry about the rest. I have always taught my students there is no reason for flashy uniforms, belts or patches all over the place because they feed the ego and cloud the true purpose of training which is betterment of your own personal life. It is amazing though that many of the people I have met who wear all that stuff really aren't what you would expect from a Master level...but a few are. The best instructors and masters I have ever seen, trained with or worked out with wore a white gi and black belt...that was it...but then again that was in Okinawa except for meeting people like Fumio Demura Sensei and others here in the states.

I know I am not the best at what I do and not even close to being what I feel a Master should be but I let others judge that part of me for me. If someone has to base their opinion of me, my Karate Do or my abilities by what I wear around my waist then I personally do not want to bother with them.

Is anyone up to the challenge? Go back to solid white. Wear your origional black belt...no stripes...no fancy colors? Do it for a year and see what happens. Can you imagine the confusion in the martial arts world if every single Master level teacher were to do this? But maybe it is time to shake things up since we live in a world of self inflated egos that go beyond the skill level of the people who live by their colored master belts...but then again that is just my opinion.

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Comment by Franz Shihan on July 15, 2009 at 1:57am: Michael...

This was not aimed at any single person but rather all of us, including myself. Everyone who has trained for a long time has felt the pull of the ego trip that can happen with rank advancedment. The point I was attempting to make is that we, claiming to be leaders, should lead by our actions instead of demands and empty words. I understand that the use of belts is a great achievement for students as well as helping them to learn proper goal setting. We have the same thing at our dojo but when a student reaches black belt we do not permit fancy belts, colored stripes or indicators of rank to be worn on their belts. Even though each student of mine gets thier "ego belt" as we call it you will not find us training in them. They are there for special formal situations for us and that is it (belt exams, year end banquets, special pictures, etc...).

The only thing I do not agree with is the statement about helping students see their is farther to go by bars on the belt. I have been training 31 years as of last may and still remember that bars on the belts only became a popular thing in the late 1980's. A few people wore them before that but not like it is today. I still feel that students should already understand this and not have to see accomplishment driven goals based on the number of bars one wears on their belt or anything that aimed at the belt. After black belt training, at least to us and how we teach it, is about balancing your Karate life with your everyday life to improve it...along the way you may move up in rank but that is not the focus and honestly rank achievement is not that important since it has become very watered down now. When I earned my shodan in 1987 you could go to an event, seminar or tournament and there were a bunch of shodan and nidan running around but very few sandan and even less at yondan or above...today everyone you meet is some kind of master rank...even little kids. I teach my students that if someone introduces themselves as Master / Grand Master so and so then they have missed the meaning of everything we do. Fumio Demura Sensei is a very high ranking black belt and when I first met him in 1995 he simply said to call him Sensei even though he was a master at the time. When you meet a black belt from our dojo they simply tell you their first and last name, bow and then shake your hand. Why announce your rank? Does it really matter? Nope...a black belt's actions will demonstrate their competence in their art instead of that which lies around the waist...but he I am very old fashioned I guess...and I thank my Sensei for that everyday.

Comment by Michael Mershad on July 14, 2009 at 5:53pm: I am in a taekwondo system that is goal driven and very high energy. We are more modern than we are "old school" in the way we run our academy, however, we definitely aren't over the top in our "decorations". I wear a Black Belt with 6 bars on 1 side and my name on the other. I don’t think that makes me better or worse, but I do think it helps to motivate my students. It helps them to see that after becoming a Black Belt, there is much farther that they can go. I don’t think anyone is better or worse based on what their belt looks like. It is my personal preference that I like my Black Belt to be sharp, black, with gold stitching. My wife and kids keep my ego in check, so no worries there. I’m not sure this blog was intended for me. I have never competed in an open tournament. In fact, I just recently attended my 1st one. I was impressed with it though. But I’m sure people get those egos in their schools where they are the king. That is going to spill over when they attend events… Good luck.

Comment by Franz Shihan on July 7, 2009 at 1:04am: Hmmm....I was hoping for more interaction on this one...did I hit a nerve? Did I offend? Oh well.

Comment by Daniel Hect on June 29, 2009 at 7:48pm: Great story,

I do have a Red and Black belt that I wear at my Dojo and when attending functions that have me there because of my rank and position. However, never wear it to someone else's dojo were I am training or attending a seminar. I would never wear it to a tournament.

I also wear by Black Belt, as old and and beat up as it is. I feel the true value of your rank is between you and your instructor you bled with to get it. I am lucky enough to have trained with some exceptional martial artist and also been luckey enough to be understand the lesson I have learned does not relate to a belt that closes my Gi.

Best,

Dan