"Get" a Black Belt or "Be" A Black Belt?

Getting a black belt and being a black belt are definitely two different things.

Like driving to the prom and staying in the car
Like getting a driver license and never driving.
Like cooking dinner and not eating

The first day you get your belt it doesn’t even feel right.  It takes time to feel like it is really yours and you deserve it.
I awarded a black belt to a student once whe never even came back to one class to wear it.’’

Did they get a black belt or become a black belt?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Jack Scott- United Karate Studio- Cookeville, TN

Image
Jack Scott- United Karate- Cookeville, Tennessee   Around 1988, I arrived at my inlaws who had relocated to Cookeville from New Jersey.  We had brought my four year old son there to visit his grandparents and spend some quality family time.  After being there a few days I casually leafed through the yellow pages to see what karate schools were around.  My eyes landed on Jack Scotts United Karate Studio and I decided to call.   I explained I was visiting family and asked if I could come down and watch some karate classes.  Mr. Scott said it was not a good night to come down but the next night would be better.  Of course that prompted me to go down and see why I could not watch.  Well he received me with open arms and let me watch for several hours.  We talked for a long time and then he asked if I would like to take a class the next night.  I responded I would like to but had not brought my uniform.  He loaned me a uniform...
Read more

Special "K"

Image
                              Special K Karissa Choquette came into her first introductory class with a port in her chest for her chemotherapy treatment.  Her Mom only asked that partners take care not to damage it during training because it had to stay in during her chemo treatments for her cancer. Karissa trained alongside all the teens and adults in each class with no worries about whatever special needs she might need or be entitled to because of her condition. Her training was always enthusiastic and the smile on her face was always there.  For a long time, no one even knew of her medical condition and we always treated her just like all the other students. As her training progressed she really connected with many of the students instructors and teens in the school.  It was a pleasure to see how great she did.  Karissa was able to go through the rigorous Black Belt training and achieved f...
Read more

The Ryu

Image
  The Hyung of Tang Soo Do were influenced by Ryu, or styles.    Weh Ga Ryu (Outside/External House Style). Weh Ga Ryu came from Southern Chinese Schools emphasizing speed, aggressiveness and dynamic action. Examples of the Weh Ga Ryu style are the Kee Cho Hyung, Pyung Ahn Hyung, and Bassai.   Another Ryu is Neh Ga Ryu (Inside/Internal House Style). Neh Ga Ryu came from Northern Chinese Schools emphasizing more deliberate technique, stability and fluid motion. Most of our advanced Hyung come from the Neh Ga Ryu, such as Nai Han Ji and Sip Su.   The third Ryu is the Joong Gan Ryu (Middle Way Style) This Ryu was a Korean influence due to the fact that they had to be versatile because of the threat of living between China and Japan. The traditional Tang Soo Do Hyung like the Yuk Ro Hyung and Chil Sung Hyung come from this style.   The types of moves in a Hyung are important to the character also. These techniques often repre...
Read more