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 When
the majority of students begin their journey in the Martial
Arts, a very common goal initially set is to achieve a Black
Belt. This goal, however, is not met by all students. The
drop-out rate between earning a white belt and earning a black
belt is well over 90%. Of the 10% of students that DO make
Black Belt, maintaining their rank is of the utmost importance.
What exactly is maintaining rank? It is quite
simply to continually train day after day, month after month,
and year after year - to consistently train, learn, study, and
teach. In any sport or educational endeavour, a participant
must stay up to date with his/her training and education.
Achieving the honour of Black Belt is no different, so why is
there a high rate of students that simply quit training after
they’ve achieved their ‘goal’, yet still consider themselves
black belts? If you stop practicing and training, you are no
longer a black belt.
This should be made very clear - if you stop
training and are asked if you are a Black Belt, your answer
should be: ‘Yes, I am a former Black Belt but not a
current Black Belt’. If you have stopped training, you are no
longer considered a Black Belt. In the today’s World of the
Martial Arts, the honourable rank of Black Belt has been
diluted. In many cases, no longer is the Black Belt about
discipline, sacrifice, and hard work - those qualities have been
erased by lower standards and the acceptance of poor
performance. So what is the solution, what steps can help
students continue their lifetime journey in the Martial Arts by
maintaining their rank?
Solution 1: Take
Responsibility. A lot of people have lost the significance
of being a Black Belt because in many cases their belt was
handed to them. When you do not have to work hard and push
yourself to your maximum potential, you will automatically place
less value in earning a Black Belt. Remember, nothing in life
is ever given to you. If you dedicate your time, make
sacrifices, and give a maximum effort, you will never disrespect
or devalue your rank as a martial artist.
Solution 2: Train Daily. To learn
is to be open-minded and to always look for ways to improve in
your training and your art. Do not make excuses about work, or
with regard to injuries - adjust your schedule and your workouts
to avoid burnout. Make training a way of everyday life.
Grandmaster Hee Il Cho has always taught that in sport
competition you are a champion for a day, but as a martial
artist you must continue to train, dedicate and discipline
yourself every day to be a martial artist for a lifetime. Tae
Kwon Do, being a vast and complete system of martial arts,
offers a wide variety of skills, such as hyungs, kicking,
punching, strikes, one-step sparring, self-defence, sparring,
competition sparring, competition fighting and physical
fitness. Making a workout part of your daily routine
distinguishes and separates a true black belt from the former
black belt who has stopped training.
Solution 3:
Study. Read, Read, Read, and then Read some more. Glean
information from a variety of subjects from Martial Arts
philosophy, Martial Arts culture, Martial Arts history, physical
fitness, motivation, and even personal interests. Do anything
to work the most important muscle of all – your mind. Tae Kwon
Do emphasizes developing the complete self – body, mind, and
character. With advancements of the Internet, with the easy
accessibility of vast information via books, videotapes,
audiotapes, etc., one should take every advantage of all these
learning vehicles. The true purpose of Tae Kwon Do’s training
is self development. There is no better investment than
investing in your mind and your body. By reading and studying
different philosophies and teachings, one can become successful,
not only in the do-jang, but in life itself, which is the true
goal of every Tae Kwon Do stylist.
Solution 4:
Teach. It is your responsibility as a Life Black Belt to
pass on the gift of Martial Arts. Remember, to teach is to
learn. They say the best way to learn is by example, which is
why it is imperative that a true Black Belt maintains all the
disciplines and Code of Conduct that Tae Kwon Do emphasizes.
Tae Kwon Do’s positive effect on society must continue to be
enhanced by dedicated Tae Kwon Do instructors.
Every Tae Kwon Do practitioner who has achieved
the honourable rank of Black Belt must never forget the core
discipline on which our art was founded. Tae Kwon Do is not a
part-time activity, nor is it a seasonal sport. It is a
lifetime devotion towards the pursuit of excellence.
Printed with permission of
GrandMaster Phillip Ameris – A.I.M.A.A Technical Director
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