The ‘Practice Karate’ Blog

Bryan Hix
www.PracticeKarate.com

This article was written for part of my World Tang Soo Do Association Cho Dan testing requirements.

A Strong Beginning
Pure luck and a flier on a wall guided me to my first karate dojo, a college club that trained Shotokan, a Japanese style. And trained hard. Our regional association, the International Shotokan Karate Federation, was lead by one of the original Senseis sent to the United States by the Japan Karate Association.

Mikami Sensei and his instructors drilled basics like no other I’ve trained under. Endless, technical, uncompromising. One of my rewards from this experience was an understanding of the importance of basics and kata. And how to train a technique, breaking it apart and putting it back together. I was also fascinated by the technical theory behind the movements. There was a lot of discussion about the physiological reasons why techniques were performed in their precise manners.

Through the years since, I’ve realized how important this foundation is and I’ve relied on it time and again. Too often I’ve trained under or talked with other karate-ka who reveal through comments and ‘corrections’ how little they understand the theory behind what they teach or talk about.

There were several facets of karate I did not learn during this time. Because of frustration over my stiff body not allowing technically correct movement, I did not develop much confidence overall, and especially with sparring. I was simply afraid of getting hurt (I got hurt anyway.) When I moved to another town and Japanese style, I was a little over half way to Black Belt.

What It Is, and What It Isn’t
The instructor at my next school offered strengths that I had not developed previously. First and foremost I learned to spar. Was I great at it? Not really. But I wasn’t afraid of it anymore (still got hurt), and began to successfully develop confidence in it. I spent a lot of time in the dojo and the workouts were hard, albeit more technically forgiving. Even with less focus on exact technique, I began to learn the key concept of relaxation and last-second tension for strength from this instructor.

The point where my understanding of karate grew exponentially came when I began teaching classes. My earlier frustration certainly followed me to this dojo, but I began to let go of it. Good karate – within my ability – is good. In spite of my faults my students learned. They passed tests, enjoyed tournaments and developed discipline. And yes, they mirrored my bad habits.

I began to understand the meaning of Black Belt from this instructor. From positive example, certainly. But unfortunately from negative example as well. This school was unaffiliated with a larger organization through my first two or three years there; maintaining focus and direction without good mentoring is virtually impossible.

It was disappointing to watch the momentum of this school spiral out of control. The instructor’s eventual re-affiliation with his original group was driven by lack of focus and money. As I reached Sho Dan a “money system” was in place but the foundation of trust between school owner/instructor, and assistant instructors and leaders, had been destroyed. With other ethical problems to consider, there was nothing else to learn here. And it was wrong for me to continue contributing.

Time Away
Earning my Sho Dan had been very rewarding and I felt like a beginner. A wonderful feeling! I was a beginner at karate again with a new world open to me. I now had the foundation to explore this exciting world in a new way. Instead, I finally left the last dojo with a lot of disappointment and an empty black belt.

Looking back on this time away, I simply continued my training outside a formal karate school. I experienced many life changes during the next eleven years. Married life was starting in earnest.

I had an important experience soon into my training hiatus. The death of my mother and our first pregnancy happened simultaneously. It was the first time I was conscious of experiencing extreme sadness and extreme joy, both side by side. It was everything wrong together with everything right in the world. These may have been the events where I best understood what Black Belt life is about.

My wife and I continued to build a close family during this time. More joy and disappointments. Child rearing happens to be just like karate instruction. And yes, my children also mirror my bad habits.

A Beginner With A New World
After dreaming of my last instructor in the first dojo dying, and seeing old karate-ka friends in this dream, it was time to begin training again. (And because of my fortieth birthday. And because of a few very minor health issues.)

I visited my present dojang to observe students in a class setting. I don’t know how many minutes passed before I knew this is where I needed to be, but it was not long. Kicks to the head? Never a strong suit (reference ‘A Strong Beginning’ above, Para. 4) but I was willing to accept the karate that my ability would allow.

Would a different style recognize my past achievements? Didn’t care. I was willing to begin again as a White Belt. I have ‘been there, done that’ and will be there and do that again. I want to enjoy this wonderful beginner feeling; it is richer than when I earned Sho Dan. There is great humility in seeing these new friends, from beginner to veteran karate-ka, excited about sharing their knowledge with me. And I am in turn motivated to find a way to give back more than I am receiving.

So, What Does It Mean?
I did have a lot to learn when I left my first dojo, but I don’t remember having much understanding of what it means to ‘be’ a Black Belt. Thinking back from this present time, there was a real ’setting the stage’ for future Black Belt understanding at my second dojo. And the meaning seems to be revealing itself more clearly in my present dojang.

I’ve been reminded many times how important the ‘extreme sadness / extreme joy’ epiphany was. Reflections on a recent conversation with a fellow karate-ka brought the meaning home. Situations and people are never perfect. It is our responsibility to guide them and ourselves in the right direction through Black Belt leadership. When we take care of our responsibilities now, moment by moment, we reach our goals and we develop this leadership. It means training basics and hyungs, taking them apart and putting them back together. It means understanding the techniques we learn. It means putting in the mouthpiece, bowing to our friend, and pushing them hard. It means seeing what needs improving, offering suggestions, and committing to making situations and people better. ‘Being’ a Black Belt means taking care of my responsibilities now, moment by moment.

I’ve been led in the right direction in the past, have had the awareness to know when to walk away, and am being led once again toward true Black Belt understanding.

What is the meaning of ‘Black Belt’ to you? Have you reached this milestone, or are you working your way toward that goal now? Are you thinking about starting karate training? Drop me a note.

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Copyright © 2005, Bryan D. Hix, www.PracticeKarate.com. All rights reserved. You may reproduce this article by including this copyright and, if reproducing it electronically, including a live link to www.PracticeKarate.com.