YOU’VE GOT YOUR BLACK BELT! GREAT…….
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Now what?
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You see, the day after you get your black belt, when all the partying and celebrations have stopped, you undoubtedly came to a pretty disturbing realization:
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Nothing changes…. Let me repeat that…. Nothing changes.
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You may have a few more bruises. Maybe even a black eye, or a sore rib or two. And your wallet is probably a bit slimmer. NO, a LOT SLIMMER. From that hefty grading fee you had to pay.
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But you are still exactly the same.
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You still forget some of the details in kata. You still don’t know the bunkai to many of the kata. You still make stupid mistakes in kihon. You still get your ass kicked in kumite. You’re still overweight and covered in acne…… No. You’re not special after all.
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We should understand that rank has as much of little significance as we put into it. On the one hand, earning a new belt is an achievement worth being proud of. It signifies the amount of time, hard work, and practice that you’ve invested into your training (for some). It’s also an acknowledgement of that hard work and growth from your Sensei……
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On the other hand, it’s just a belt. Belt rank can be a good indicator of a student or instructors skill – but unfortunately, it doesn’t guarantee it.
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Earning a black belt should be an incredibly meaningful and profound experience, and many who’ve practiced karate for decades still remember their black belt test as a pivotal moment in their training. By contrast, simply having a black belt and paying the fee to move forward, is fairly meaningless. After all, anyone can simply order a black belt off the internet and save themselves years of hard work, sweat, frustration, and the occasional injury. They’ll have a black belt, but they won’t be a black belt.
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A BLACK BELT IS NOTHING MORE THAN A BELT THAT GOES AROUND YOUR WAIST. IT’S WHAT YOU DO WITH IT THAT DETERMINES ITS STRENGTH AND POWER. (unknown)
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Therein lies the value of belt rank. 
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Photo Credit: Fumio Demura 9th dan Shito Ryu
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