What it means to be a Black Belt.
For most people that chose a martial arts they have been influenced by a karate movie, influenced by friends that participate in martial arts or have been to competitions and thought hmm that looks awesome I want to try it!
Whatever the reason why someone gets into martial arts the main thing is they are learning to defend themselves and to better themselves as a person. Martial Arts goes back centuries in the Far East and for each country there is a different style that each form of Martial Arts stems from, example, Judo is from Japan, Kung fu from China and Tae Kwon Do is from Korea, Modern Arnis from the Philippines to name just a few.
Which Martial Arts form should one study? Well that can be challenging it depends on what the individual is looking for. Martial Artists always say their system is the best but who is to say.
At the end of the day the individual needs to assess what art will suit their needs and research each one and decide for themselves but trying each art if possible.
Many people want to attain the coveted "Black Belt" many start the journey but very few finish the journey. There are many reasons why people do not attain it. It takes too long, they get bored, family, work and finances and many other reasons why. However there are the few that attain their goal, some quicker than others. Who is to say their Black Belt is better than someone elses.
Black Belt is where the real learning begins. The other ranks are the building foundation that leads them up to Black. Think of the belts as a house you need a solid foundation before you can erect a house. The walls need to be built, windows and doors need to put on and then the siding and finally the roof. Once the house has been built then the finishing touches can be done, decorating the individual rooms and the house to be made a home with the owners finishing touches. Just like a black belt the foundation is created in the colored belts and the finishing touches come with the Black Belt.
It is always important for one to remain humble, to remember that they once too started as a white belt and traveled the long journey to achieve the rank of Black Belt. There has been many a time I have questioned how can that person be wearing a black belt or I have seen people test for them and I thought wow that was too easy. Who am I to judge it is down to the instructor. The instructor bears all responsibility of how the student performs and if they meet the criteria every instructor is different that is what makes us all unique. No matter what style we should all have enough respect for each other to recognize that time has been put in to achieve the rank and we should be humble and respectful enough to learn from each other. Everybody has something to offer no matter what style.
Whatever the reason why someone gets into martial arts the main thing is they are learning to defend themselves and to better themselves as a person. Martial Arts goes back centuries in the Far East and for each country there is a different style that each form of Martial Arts stems from, example, Judo is from Japan, Kung fu from China and Tae Kwon Do is from Korea, Modern Arnis from the Philippines to name just a few.
Which Martial Arts form should one study? Well that can be challenging it depends on what the individual is looking for. Martial Artists always say their system is the best but who is to say.
At the end of the day the individual needs to assess what art will suit their needs and research each one and decide for themselves but trying each art if possible.
Many people want to attain the coveted "Black Belt" many start the journey but very few finish the journey. There are many reasons why people do not attain it. It takes too long, they get bored, family, work and finances and many other reasons why. However there are the few that attain their goal, some quicker than others. Who is to say their Black Belt is better than someone elses.
Black Belt is where the real learning begins. The other ranks are the building foundation that leads them up to Black. Think of the belts as a house you need a solid foundation before you can erect a house. The walls need to be built, windows and doors need to put on and then the siding and finally the roof. Once the house has been built then the finishing touches can be done, decorating the individual rooms and the house to be made a home with the owners finishing touches. Just like a black belt the foundation is created in the colored belts and the finishing touches come with the Black Belt.
It is always important for one to remain humble, to remember that they once too started as a white belt and traveled the long journey to achieve the rank of Black Belt. There has been many a time I have questioned how can that person be wearing a black belt or I have seen people test for them and I thought wow that was too easy. Who am I to judge it is down to the instructor. The instructor bears all responsibility of how the student performs and if they meet the criteria every instructor is different that is what makes us all unique. No matter what style we should all have enough respect for each other to recognize that time has been put in to achieve the rank and we should be humble and respectful enough to learn from each other. Everybody has something to offer no matter what style.
How to chose a certified martial arts school
There are many martial art schools all over the USA. Just pick up the phone book and you will find plenty. The question is are they certified to teach or are they Joe Smo from down the road that put a black belt and give the rest of us a bad name.
There have been many incidences where people have opened up a school without being certified, it is so dangerous for the general public to go to a school non-certified and for people not to research the school.
Certified schools have a lineage that can be traced back. The black belts will have an instructor and their instructor will have an instructor and so on. They will have board certified certificates up on the wall and have no problem with answering questions as to where they obtained the rank. A certified school will also have the ability to contact the instructors instructor for verification and also they will be part of an association. The general public needs to be aware that there are many fraudulent schools out there to take your money and give you little to nothing in return. Many people want a quick black belt and there are schools where you can purchase one, now you can buy them on the internet with certificates. It is too easy these days to obtain a black belt. If people do the research on the potential school they are looking to learn martial arts from then they know they will learn from board certified instructors and have quality tuition.
http://www.usadojo.com/articles/choosing-school.htm Article from USA Dojo
There have been many incidences where people have opened up a school without being certified, it is so dangerous for the general public to go to a school non-certified and for people not to research the school.
Certified schools have a lineage that can be traced back. The black belts will have an instructor and their instructor will have an instructor and so on. They will have board certified certificates up on the wall and have no problem with answering questions as to where they obtained the rank. A certified school will also have the ability to contact the instructors instructor for verification and also they will be part of an association. The general public needs to be aware that there are many fraudulent schools out there to take your money and give you little to nothing in return. Many people want a quick black belt and there are schools where you can purchase one, now you can buy them on the internet with certificates. It is too easy these days to obtain a black belt. If people do the research on the potential school they are looking to learn martial arts from then they know they will learn from board certified instructors and have quality tuition.
http://www.usadojo.com/articles/choosing-school.htm Article from USA Dojo
