What being a Black Belt Means To Me
by Aileen Goldberg
Discipline, humility, pride, concentration, respect, confidence, adaptation, courage, obedience, knowledge, personal growth, obsession, thirst for more.
The above words are what come to mind when I think about the training to get to black belt. I started karate with the idea of trying to get fit. In the past I had done aerobic classes, dance, ballet and many different forms of exercise. Karate seemed to be a logical progression for me. I never, ever dreamt I would be go as far as I did, and never realized how rewarding it could be.
Discipline
Karate requires the discipline to practice, practice, practice. You can never, ever get to the state of perfection. It is a lot like life. The more you learn, the more there is to learn. The more you perfect, the more perfection you need.
Humility
Karate is a humbling experience. Every time I think “I got it”, I don’t always get it. Striving for black belt has taught me to be humble, and trying hard all of the time.
Pride
I am proud of my achievements. I strive to do better and better, and always improve myself, but I am proud of myself.
Concentration
Karate has taught me the art of concentration. Blocking out all other people, thoughts and stresses. When I enter the dojo, I am concentrating on first stretching out my body so I am in peak shape, and then remembering Japanese, Kata, Kumite and all of the pieces that put together a black belt.
Respect
I have learned respect for other people’s ability. Seeing the beauty of the art of Karate is awe-inspiring. Another great area of respect is for my sensei’s. It is powerful to have respect for those that teach you an art.
Confidence
I am much more confident about myself and my ability to handle dangerous situations, but along with this confidence comes humility also.
Adaptation
I am not 24. I am not even 44. My body, while in good shape, is older than some of the other black belts. I am learning to adapt. This is not easy for me. I think like I am still 20, and I do not want to give in to the fact that I am not in perfect working order. I have to adapt my kicks because my knees hurt, and if I do not stretch enough, my body lets me know for days.
Courage
I cannot believe that I stand in front of others and actually fight. I have the courage to go up against those that are better than me. This is a courageous feat that I am proud of.
Obedience
Obedience is the act of carryout commands. I love the rules of karate. I enjoy the rituals.
Knowledge
I love learning. I learned Japanese commands, I learned the steps to many Kata’s and I love the increased awareness that this knowledge has given me.
Personal Growth
One of the most fun parts of becoming a black belt is learning with my daughter Jill. We take lessons together, and it is a wonderful bonding experience. One that has made a great difference in our relationship.
Obsession
Karate has become an obsession. Before I go to sleep, my mind will repeat a kata. When I am in the shower, I see that I am doing kumite. Standing in line at a grocery store, I will start to go into different stances. It is an obsession, but a fun one.
Thirst for more
It does not end here. There is always room to improve a stance, to sink lower, to do it better, to learn a new kata. There is always more and that is fun.
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