Organization: Penn State University
Date: Thursday, 9 Apr 1992 22:51:31 EDT
From: Jennie <JXT109@psuvm.psu.edu>
Newsgroups: rec.martial-arts
Subject: Re: Just what is a BLACK BELT? (good question)
 <1992Apr9.194323.3244@craycos.com>

I said:
>>So, what does a black belt mean?  When my instructor hands me my black belt, e
>he
>>will be telling me and anyone I care to train with that he is certain that I
>>am capable of going out on my own to teach Isshinryu to other students.

Steve replied:                            ?????
>
>Hmmmmmm...that's an awful lot to expect from a shodan IMHO. On Okinawa, they
>usually don't let anyone <4th dan lead a class, much less open a dojo.
>6th dan is about the minimum for that, at least from what I've seen.

Wow, either there are *extremely* few Isshinryu schools in Okinawa, or 6th dans
are much easier to come by than I've been led to believe.  It is already
understood that there are different standards for different belt ranks...  We
don't get a black belt until we are deemed ready to teach a class.  A sixth
degree says you have made some significant contribution to the style, like
getting your doctorate.  I would never just run out with a brand-new black
belt and start a school; I would get a couple of students and train them,
and bring them back to my instructor periodically for workouts and evaluation.
Most of our black belts stay with the school itself for several years after
attaining black belt anyway, and maintain close contact with the instructor and
members when they leave.

Think about this... there are between 750-850 Isshinryu schools in the U.S.  I
*really* doubt there are 750-850 sixth degree black belts out there, especially
who teach white belts as well as black. [Okay, I'm shooting completely in the
dark on this one... and donning flame-proof fuschia Meikdo-gi with purple
dragons airbrushed on the back and a patch that covers my entire front :-)]


>What your instructor probably *will* be telling you is that you've got
>enough of a handle on the basics that you're ready to learn *Karate*.  That's
>actually quite an accomplishment.

We agree in the above.  A black belt is a beginning, not an ending or any kind
of final goal.  This is why I will still come train with my 6th degree
instructor, and he still trains with his instructor...  Didn't Joe Hyams say
something like, "Even the masters have masters" in his book _Zen_in_the_
Martial_Arts_?

>>Weapons, advanced
>>techniques and applications, etc. are only taught after you have earned your
>>black belt.  In addition to this, you still refine what you already know.
>
>And, in my experience, actually start to *learn* what you thought you already
>knew ;-).
>
Again, I always took the above as a given.  Some people in my school have
been razzing me some, because I have gone back and spent quite a lot of time
on our first kata... they think I'm just trying to boost my ego or show up the
white belts or something.  In fact, it was a real ego-blower when I looked at
it more critically.  I can only hope that one day they will understand what I
now see.  That's one of the things I believe you have to learn on your own,
while Sensei sits in the corner ripping out all his hair trying to point you in
the right direction... :-)

>Steve

--Jennie
Newsgroups: rec.martial-arts