| Being a black belt is more than just another rank | | | | that. I would rather make a positive impact in a |
| in the martial arts. It's a milestone that every | | | | young martial artists life then see them throw |
| martial artist strives for but only a small | | | | their life away. I would rather inspire a |
| percentage actually achieve. Obtaining a black belt | | | | self-doubted child, than see him struggle with |
| or equivalent ranking in any art takes a lot of | | | | confidence issues throughout his childhood and into |
| dedication and perseverance. The journey appears | | | | his teenage years. |
| never ending as a kyu rank (under belt), but once | | | | So what does a black belt mean to me? A way |
| you reach that stage its an amazing achievement. | | | | of life. I pay more attention to the path, and not |
| When I was 13 years old I passed my Sho Dan | | | | the pinnacle of the art because in reality, there is |
| test. I can remember sleeping with my belt | | | | no pinnacle. It is a journey that will never end. And |
| practically every night. No joke. I would take it | | | | now that I am in the process of opening my own |
| everywhere - the folks and I are going to the | | | | dojo, being a San Dan has more meaning than |
| store, my belt came along. Spending the night at | | | | before. I wan to make sure I am the best martial |
| a friend's house, my belt came along. | | | | artist I can be in order for my future students to |
| What I didn't realize though, is there comes a | | | | learn the beauty of Wado-Ryu. |
| great deal of responsibility by being a black belt. I | | | | Our instructors, and their instructors, and their |
| don't believe one recognizes this until they have | | | | instructor's instructor were taught certain ways to |
| been a Yudansha (black belt) for a few years. It | | | | carry themselves and expectations of being a |
| probably didn't hit me until I was a full time | | | | black belt. Whether it be physically, mentally, or |
| instructor, and more when I stepped away from | | | | socially. This has been passed down to us and it is |
| teaching. Students look up to us. We are what | | | | our duty to continue to pass this "unwritten rule" |
| they want to be when they grow up. Remember | | | | on to future generations of martial artists. Why? |
| when you were a child and you had a favorite | | | | It's tradition. It's the martial way. We are the |
| athlete and when you played that particular sport | | | | leaders of our dojo. |
| you were always them. That's what a black belt | | | | Now that you know what a black belt means to |
| resembles. Students watch every move we | | | | me, I challenge you to find out what a black belt |
| make and duplicate them almost to a 'T'. We are | | | | means to you. |
| roll models to them and their families. I accept | | | | |