November 9th, 2006
Sah Bum Nim Klacko,
Recently, I read the posting on the class website entitled, “The Road to Hana.” I am about to begin practicing a new style of martial arts for the sixth time. These styles include Kenpo, Kyokushinkai, American kickboxing, Shotokan, Tang Soo Do, and now, Shito-Ryu karate to compete for my university. That is six times I have returned to the beginning to wear the white belt; I daresay I’ve become quite familiar with the process.
When I was a kid, I must admit I was very much absorbed in the glamour of promotions and the attainment of a new colored belt. The ranking hierarchy feeds the ego. The whole “I’m a second degree (insert your favorite color here)” provides the student with a way to gauge ability amongst other students, and even an opportunity to brag amongst peers. It’s pretty obvious that many contemporary martial arts ranking systems are now structured to cater to many students’ needs for constant reinforcement and gratification with a new belt. I would argue that the true reward, improvement in self-discipline, technique, speed, timing, and accuracy, are often lost on the student who strives primarily for that next stripe – one step closer to the “be all, end all Black Belt,” as it were. It’s an unfortunate mentality, but one I have admittedly endorsed in the past.
It has been a long struggle and a hard lesson to learn over the past 16 years I’ve practiced martial arts: the white belt never comes off. No matter how many styles I learn or how many colored belts I’ve earned, at heart, the student must be patient and humble enough to return to the beginning. That front stance can always be lower, the reverse punch faster, the sidekick higher, the hyung more fluid, in martial arts there is an endless pursuit. Indeed, as you describe the road to Hana, the true lesson is in the journey and not the belt itself. Thank you for the posting on the website, it has given me much encouragement as I start to practice Shito-Ryu.
Tang Soo!
Garrett