What Does Having a Black Belt Mean and how do I get one?

Many people start their martial arts career with the sole purpose of wanting to learn how to become dangerous, or to get the famous black belt.  I am going to concentrate on the black belt because I have had numerous conversations with people inquiring about this.

The History of Color Belts

I have heard of a popular story that martial arts students way back in the day started out with a white belt.  Through the years of training, sweat and blood soaked into the belt causing it to darken over years.  When it darkened to black, you earned the rank of black belt.  My research shows that this story is probably more of a popular myth than truth.

My research more accurately shows that Jigoro Kano, the man credited with founding the Japanese martial art Judo, created the color belt system as a way to measure his students’ skills when paired with other Judo players. The color belts are a visible recognition of accomplishment in the style of martial arts.  The black belt was the rank Mr. Kano created to represent completion of the first step of training, which is mastering the basics.  Once you earn a black belt, it is like starting over at white belt again, but just on a more advanced level.  It is important to look at earning a black belt as reaching a destination.  But, it is not the destination that is important, it is the journey (becoming stronger, more flexible, more knowledgeable, more humble) that is the most important part of your training.  Through the journey is where you will temper your steel; your body, mind, and spirit.  Chances are you won’t be wearing your martial arts belt if you ever have to use your martial arts skills in a real life situation.  It will be the skills you learned during the journey that will always be with you.  The good news is that no matter where you are in the world, your martial arts skills go with you.

How to Earn the Black Belt

To earn a black belt you will have to start out by finding a martial art that interests you, and then a good teacher to teach you.  A dojo in a convenient location makes it easier to attend regularly.  A wide range of serious training partners also helps. If you were an adult, I would not encourage you to go train with mostly children.  Children normally require more attention and have less focus.  This may slow your progress since the teacher may have to use more instructional time helping the children in the class.  Training with teenagers can be beneficial.  They are usually in great shape and will present you with a friendly challenge to keep up with them.  But most importantly, you must devote yourself to your training.  Martial arts is not something you do when it is convenient for you.  It is a way of life.  It is about strengthening the body, mind, and spirit.  It is a step-by-step training process that is designed to take you from no knowledge (emptiness) to a wealth of knowledge (well-rounded).  Your reaching black belt may take a few years, or even ten years.  

There is a famous story about Yagyu Matajuro, who was a son of the famous Yagyu family of swordsmen in 17th century feudal Japan. He was kicked out of the house for lack of talent and potential, and sought instruction from the swordmaster Tsukahara Bokuden, with the hope of achieving mastery of the sword and regaining his position in the family.

On their initial interview, Matajuro asked Tsukahara Bokuden, "How long will it take me to master the sword?" Bokuden replied, "Oh, about five years if you train very hard."  "If I train twice as hard, how long will it take?" inquired Matajuro. "In that case, ten years," replied Bokuden.

If you are worried about getting a black belt, your mind is not empty.  In order for your instructor to fill your cup (brain) with water (knowledge), you must have an empty cup, or otherwise the knowledge will go in and pour out.  As stated before, the journey is the important part, not the destination.  Also, remember that Lao Tzu said, “The journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” As you begin to approach the black belt testing day, you will realize that the color of the belt is not as important as the lessons learned and the feats overcome along the way.

Of course in LOTUS, as in all the martial arts I have ever studied, there is a syllabus of required testing material for you to perform and complete if you are to be awarded your black belt.  This syllabus is important so that you know what has to be learned in order to achieve your black belt.  This is also important to preserve the integrity of the martial art.  If one person has to complete a torturous test, while the other student gets off easy, then that isn’t fair and degrades the respect of the black belt bearer.

Who is a Black Belt?

The martial artist, especially the martial artist who possesses a black belt, strives to live the martial way.  The martial way is a way of life that promotes harmony, knowledge, integrity, respect, and courage. 

Possessing harmony means that you have conquered your inner warrior.  Confucius said, “He who conquers himself is the mightiest warrior.”  Being in harmony with yourself keeps you in control of yourself.  Nobody can hurt you emotionally or make you angry unless you allow them to.  You are not quick to anger and you don’t feel that you have to prove your martial arts skills by beating people up or teaching them a lesson.

Knowledge is power because it promotes confidence.  Because of your many hours of hard training, you have learned much.  You know the proper way to punch and kick, and also the proper way to block and defend against a multitude of attacks.   Your knowledge of martial arts and the human body makes you confident in all that you do, inside the dojo and outside the dojo.

The American Heritage Dictionary describes integrity as adhering to a strict moral and ethical code, and also as the quality of being complete.  The strict moral and ethical code is practiced by respectful traditions, such as bowing to your instructors, students, and classmates.  The bow is not a religious act, but an act of respect and discipline.  Martial arts without rules is nothing more than violence.  LOTUS black belts achieve the quality of being complete by strengthening not just the body, but also the mind and the spirit.

My college psychology teacher told our class one day that another word for respect is fear.  I am sure that there are many people who are respected out of fear, but the black belt gains respect by giving respect.  The black belt doesn’t forget that he was a white belt at one time.  A black belt strives to refrain from thinking "I am better than so-and-so". The black belt knows he or she cannot compare his or her struggle or achievements with other people.  This is why a black belt never discourages anyone from the constant pursuit of improving the quality of one’s life through the martial arts.

A black belt possesses courage.  Courage is not the absence of fear, but doing what needs to be done in the face of fear and adversity.  The black belt test itself is an act of courage.  You are performing all your movements and having to fight with other well trained martial arts classmates in the presence of your instructor, fellow classmates, friends, and maybe even strangers.

This article does not mean that black belts have no faults.  Black belts are often ordinary people who try harder and don't give up.  It means that true black belts strive to live the martial way by practicing these virtues every day.  Application of the martial way in and out of the dojo is one of the unifying traits that brings black belts together. As a black belt, you strive to apply all the principles you have learned in class; harmony, knowledge, integrity, respect, and courage to the rest of your life.

Written by Tucker Axum