Not everyone can be a black belt

 

Posted by ADAM CARTER on MAY 21, 2023

Not everyone can be a black belt.

 

Karate is a commitment - a hard, slow road and a journey full of fear, pain, failure and sacrifice.

It's a pretty thankless task as the only one to beat is yourself, and nobody likes the stark honesty of self-evaluation. It hurts and getting hit hurts, metaphorically and physically. That's the truth of it.

So despite what many would have you believe, karate really isn't for everyone, and to those who give up the path, who are not committed to hard training, can only be a good thing for the rest of us.

I used to think everyone could be a black belt. The ‘way’ was simple; all you had to do was train every day for 4 - 5 yrs, attend 2 or 3 lessons a week, pay attention to instruction, and you will make the grade.

But over the years I realized that was not true. Many just won’t make it.

Some are just scared of the responsibility of being different, or scared of their spouses and family. Some are just so weak willed they don’t have it in them.

Most people blame the Instructor, their family, or work commitments, or the relationship with other students, or injury or illness. But overcoming these problems is what makes a black belt.

Some give up when they get a black belt. Not realizing that this is also a test. Black belt, “Shodan” means first level, it only means that you’ve found the ladder to climb, ‘snatching defeat from the jaws of victory’ describes them well.

A black belt is an investment in a person. It’s only a belt and a piece of paper, but wearing it….. that’s another thing.

Anything great requires hard work and sacrifice. It’s tough, difficult, challenging. It’s should stretch you and make you dig deep on the inside.

Many practitioners don’t realize they failed at that point. Taking responsibility for themselves, their own training, their own standards, their own progress. Never blaming others for a setback, Being strong enough to help others.

Not everyone can be a black belt, for it requires a blend of dedication, self-discipline, and a spirit that refuses to be defeated. It is in the relentless pursuit of excellence that the few rise above the many.

 Inspired by and with thanks to Steve Rowe 9th dan Shikon International