A Challenge to Black Belts

By Robert McLain, 2004

I remember my time as a colored-belt (gup) student with fondness.  I was training hard and rarely had a dry spot on any part of my dobok following class, including my belt.  It would routinely hit the floor with a “squish” from the sweat of training as I changed into regular clothes.

One of my inspirations during training was looking up to the black belts.  There they were, lined up in the front of the room during class, practicing before and after class, cleaning the dojang.  From 1st dan through higher dan ranks, their level of expertise and enthusiasm was contagious.  I trained at 100% effort each class in an attempt to reach their skill level.  Training to my limit never seemed like an option to me, it was a requirement.   I always tried to emulate
a black belt that excelled at the techniques we were currently practicing.  I routinely arrived 30 minutes early to clean and meditate before class with the black belts.  I wanted them and my teacher to know I was serious and sincere about growing my skills as a martial artist and to reach my potential.

Today, many of those black belts are gone, but I’m still here.  I look up to my teacher, Masters of the system and memory I have of those black belts from my days as a gup-level student.  I don’t think I’ll ever reach their skill levels, but I try nonetheless.

Perhaps some of you have this same experience – looking up to the skill of certain black belts for inspiration.  Though you should always strive to reach those higher skills that mark a higher dan rank, do you ever wonder who is looking to you for inspiration now?

That’s right!  You’re a black belt and just as I looked to black belts for inspiration, there is likely someone looking to you for the same.  What level would you want them to reach for?  Would it be mediocrity or excellence?  Would they be bored or excited about training?

As a gup-level student we only had to worry about our own skills and the fight against bad habits.  But now, the responsibility has grown beyond us.  Any bad habit we develop is passed along to the under belts.  It is not always passed along through direct instruction, but through their observation of our skills and actions.

Don’t get lazy.  Train hard as if you are still trying to reach 1st dan.  Take care of your health and weight. No matter what amount of knowledge you possess, a serious student will rarely look to an overweight teacher for instruction.  What lack of training led someone to that condition?

 Put serious thought and practice into the principles and removal of any bad habits.  Inspire under-belts by arriving early, cleaning, helping with special events.  Your actions may even influence other upper belts as well.

You never know how much a good example could affect the lives of those that are quietly watching your lead.  The black belts I watched and trained with surely didn’t know how much it would affect my life. I could have done anything with my life.  But, now I am a martial arts professional with my own dojang in Arlington, passing along my knowledge and the inspiration of the black belts that came before me.  I hope that my example and instruction will inspire a student the same way my life and ambitions were inspired.

What message does your training and actions demonstrate to students?  Would you be a black belt that you looked up to as an under belt student?  Think about it.