Ernest Cadorin
Moving Through the Ranks
2020/09/12Enjoying Every Step Along the Way
When I first started learning karate, my intention had been to train until I reached green belt. I knew from watching the green belts in my dojo that by that level, karate-ka are pretty good at executing basic blocks, strikes, and self-defence maneuvers. What I hadn't realized back then was that by the time I would reach green belt, I’d be enjoying my training so much that I wouldn’t dream of abandoning it.
Karate-do is more than just another recreational activity. It’s a life-altering journey along the path to self-improvement. As we move forward along this path, we pass through different stages of development. Each of these stages has its own unique set of challenges and rewards, and it’s the process of overcoming those challenges and enjoying the rewards that makes the journey worthwhile.
During the white and yellow belt stage, everything is completely new. There’s a lot to absorb, and even the most basic movements require a great deal of concentration. That novelty, however, is also a wonderful thing. At this stage you are the proverbial empty cup, eager to be filled with knowledge as you enter into the world of martial arts.
My yellow belt promotion test was done as a group test with ten other students. We were all in our early twenties, so after congratulating us on our achievement, Sensei cautioned us against letting it go to our heads. Good advice, I would say!
The green/blue/purple belt stage is the sweet spot in a karate-ka’s development. During this period, your skill and repertoire expand considerably as you learn a variety of intermediate-level techniques and concepts. You start to take on a few responsibilities within the dojo, but not quite as many as the brown and black belts do. It’s a nice place to be.
My purple belt test was also a group test, and it was by far the most strenuous of all the tests I had done or would do. There were three of us being promoted, and Sensei had us demonstrate kata and technique for fifteen minutes straight at full intensity. I thought it would never end!
The brown belt level is the largest step on the way to black belt – so large, in fact, that some schools subdivide it into three separate levels. This is when your training really gets intense. One of the nice things I remember about being a new brown belt is that I was training side-by-side with some truly excellent students (many of my fellow brown belts were on the verge of becoming black belts). I also remember a senior dojo member once mentioning to me that a brown belt is someone who can get into a proper front stance without having to think about it. I thought that was both flattering and humbling.
By the time you reach black belt, you have achieved a certain mastery of the basics. This forms the foundation for the next phase of your development, during which you continue to expand your repertoire and look for refinements that will improve your technique. As a black belt, you also do a lot of teaching, which gives you a great opportunity to share your knowledge and your love of the art. That, for me, is one of the greatest benefits of being at this level.
There is a common misconception that once you get your black belt, you’re done – like graduating from school and receiving a diploma. The reality, of course, is that it’s not the end, but rather a new beginning. In some sense, a black belt eventually becomes a white belt again because the more they learn, the more they realize how little they know.
A delightful example of life imitating art, this symbolic transformation back to white belt has a very literal manifestation: a karate-ka’s black belt will actually fade to white over time from extended use. This is especially noticeable in the areas of the belt that sit on the hips, where pulling hands continually rub and wear away at the fibers. In my case, some sections of my belt had gotten so thinned out that I eventually had to replace it.
No matter what stage you are at in your martial arts journey, I hope you are enjoying the unique challenges and rewards that it offers. Everything is transient, so relish every class, every drill, every punch!