Awarding a Black Belt
Black belts and teacher certifications, oh my!
This week, I’d like to talk about a recent experience with awarding a black belt in my style. I think that all levels of martial artists will find this tale “amusing,” if not interesting and informative. Uh, although it is a little long … sorry about that.
First, a comment on the responses to last week’s issue: To those who wrote in saying that what I suggested is impossible, I say that not only is it very doable, but that many styles rely on these types of subtle movements.
And to those who claim that a large step is necessary in such a situation, I say … you have “a little more” development on the road to martial-arts efficiency. Enough said.
Let’s get to this week’s article,
Keith
PS If you like the following story, you can read my other thoughts on belts and promotions in “Secrets of Teaching Martial Arts More Effectively.”
The Black-Belt Wedding
by Keith Pascal
This past weekend, my family traveled to a wedding in California … and awarded a black belt.
Getting married was a first for my student, and awarding a black belt was a first for me.
“What? Keith, haven’t you been certified to award black-belt certification since 1985?”
Yes, that’s true. Still, this is my first. Let me explain:
When I was a kid, everyone focused on, and marveled over, the idea of being a “black belt.” The public oohed-and-ahed over the certification that meant someone was deadly with their hands and feet. Ooooh, Ahhhhhh.
The problem was that people were focused on the belt, rather than the work to attain the skill. “I want a black belt,” not “I want to learn the skills of someone with a black belt.”
When I joined Steve Golden’s class over three decades ago, there was no focus on belts. Almost everyone already had a black belt in some other style. We were in his garage to learn, not to get promoted.
But frankly, the little kid inside of me still wanted teacher certification from Steve.
Eventually, I earned my certification. And even though it meant the world to me, and still does, after that milestone, I could focus 100% on the learning without the nagging goal of certification.
How freeing.
Let’s fast-forward to me teaching martial arts:
I have taught “several filled garages” over the years; some students have stayed with me for a looooong time. So, why haven’t I awarded a teacher’s certificate until now?
Easy. Nobody asked me for one.
Huh?
It’s actually ironic … in Steve’s class, it was the reverse: There was a saying: “If you want certification from Steve and talk about it, you’ll never get it. If you don’t talk about it, then someday, you could earn one. And once you’ve earned it, you’ll realize that you didn’t need it in the first place.”
I was the exception to the rule. I wanted one, and I told Steve that since I was one of the only people who started his class without a black belt in another style, I had “my goal.”
I went against the counsel of my peers; I blabbed about my goal. 🙂
The saying proved to be a rumor … I talked about it, and I earned it.
I was now a martial arts teacher …
Ironically, my teaching style focused on practical application to the point that I achieved with everyone what Steve failed to achieve with me — nobody focused on becoming a black belt. They were with me to learn practical, high-level self defense. Period.
I’m not sure if my students even knew if I awarded such a high honor. (It didn’t matter; they really were there to “learn.”)
Whereas I was too focused on the belt, my students really did only focus on the learning.
Let’s jump ahead to 2012:
At the beginning of the summer, one of my students came to me to talk about black-belt certification. He had been with me for well over a decade.
So, I consulted with my wife, who has been doing “this stuff” for twenty-something years. I also had a long talk with Steve (my teacher) about my student.
The decision was made. Even though, in my mind, my student had earned his certification years ago, I decided that I’d award it to him, the very next time I saw him.
The next time I saw him was at his wedding weekend on top of a mountain in the Shasta mountain range (California).
Awarding a Black Belt
The day before his wedding, I took him out into the woods … okay, we went to my tent … and I had a private talk to him about what it meant and what I expected of him for the future of his martial progress.
Note: He admitted that he thought he had ruined his chance of advancement by mentioning it to me in June. How funny; it actually started the process.
With his permission, I mentioned his formal recognition to his soon-to-be father in-law, and then my wife and I said that we’d keep quiet until after the wedding ceremony.
Another Note: At the ceremony, I served as witness on both the formal marriage certificate and the state certificate. (Funny, this past weekend was my first participation as part of someone else’s wedding party, and the first time I awarded a black belt.)
For the rest of the weekend, I quietly checked to see how many people my student had told about his black belt. He hadn’t told his best man. No words to his groomsmen. And nothing mentioned to his parents.
What a humble guy.
Even though, after all of these years, he had a valid reason for the recognition, he did not need it to brag to anyone.
In fact, most people at the wedding didn’t even know that he was into martial arts … and had been for almost 15 years.
And this is why I haven’t mentioned him by name in this article, today.
If “you” have stuck it out, not in the martial arts, but through this entire rambling article, then I’d like to leave you with a thought:
While it’s fine and dandy to motivate your students extrinsically, with belts, certifications, and trophies, there is something special about those who are intrinsically motivated.
My students who still stay in contact with me are such gems. They aren’t doing martial arts for the belts. They want to learn … in order to acquire practical skills.
Sometimes, it can take a teacher over 14 years to recognize this … officially.
Have a great week,
Keith
Tags: black belt, humble martial artists, martial art certification, martial arts wedding
