“A Person Makes The Belt - The Belt Does Not Make The Person”

 The color white has always been used in regards to purity, innocence, free from any other color, thought, or action, a beginning. This is what a White Belt possesses. He or She is unknowing, and is pure to the Ways of Martial Arts training. It is the most important time in the learning process because we must basically learn how to walk, stand, practice, answer, and respond in ways we have never done before in our lives.

The first year is the most important time in our training! Because everything starts in the Dojo, and must be continued outside the Dojo, practice, practice, practice!

At this rank, we have, and must continue to keep - “A Beginners’ Mind”.

The color yellow is like a new sunrise. At this rank we begin to feel better, because we know some of the answers, the basics, words, and some forms. We also have more to learn about training, and continue to practice what has been taught to us, and begin, like a new day, to learn new things, in our study, and practice of Martial Arts.

“Perfect Practice, Makes Perfect”.

The color green is thought of as the growth within our world, leaves, grass, the summer of the year. At this rank we have been in the Dojo for sometime now, have learned the rules, what the reason is behind the moves of the forms we have learned, continue to train both in, as well as outside the Dojo, have went to a tournament, and been at various functions involving members of the Dojo. We have helped with many things to improve the Dojo, helping the higher ranks get things done, keeping the Dojo clean, and seeing what can be done to make the Dojo to grow, and prosper.

“A Dojo is Only as Strong as the Students in it”.

The colors of purple or blue is the color of new life, that flower, bud, or the eyes of a newborn baby. We have learned many things so far. Have asked many things, been at many functions, and practice what we have been taught, over an over. We have been taught a lot of the “how and why”, and our training is starting to grow into everything we do, inside as well as outside of the Dojo. We know what must be done to keep the Dojo strong, in working order, and strive to keep every-thing as it should be, or what is asked to be done by the higher ranks. Our growth continues, and we are beginning to unfold into a different Karate-Ka.

“It is Not where We stand in Life, but the Direction that We are Going”.

The color of brown is the autumn of the year. The leaves turning, the world getting ready for the winter that is soon to begin. It is a long season because everything must be ready, for whatever the winter may hold in store. At this rank, we too, must be ready for what may be in store, and be ready to do whatever is needed, in the Dojo, outside the Dojo, or what the Black Belts may need to have done.

This is a very special rank, for within Brown Belt, there are three different ranks, and each has a special place, because they are looked upon for the example for the other Kyu Ranks to follow, and watched by the Black belts, to see if they have what it takes to join the Black Belt Ranks. It takes time to learn at this rank, because so much needs to be done, learned, answered, as well as practiced. This is the time when you have been “doing the do”, have been at many, many, functions, inside as well as outside of the Dojo, competed in many tournaments, been in class on a very regular basis, taken care of what needs to be done, without being told, set the best example for the lower ranks. And have been preparing for what may lie ahead in your training!

At the rank of Ik-Kyu you are the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of the Dojo, and everyone both lower as well as higher ranks are looking, and listening to you! You are wrong if you do, and wrong if you don’t! Therefore you Must Be Positive, in words, acts and feelings! It is the autumn of your training, and you need to prepare for what the future may hold in store for you!

“Expect Nothing-But Be Ready-For Anything!”

The color of black is the unknowing, all the other colors combined, the night that must proceed a new day. It is a new beginning, when we truly begin to learn about Martial Arts, the world around us, but most of all, about ourselves. A Black Belt is the rank in which we begin to learn more about the “how and why”, do more than we ever thought possible, let nothing stop us from our goal, become a better Karate-Ka, a better human being.

There is always darkness before the light. We train to be the best we can be, helping all of the other ranks, above as well as below us. The rank of Black Belt is so very special in so many ways that mere words cannot begin to explain all of the feelings that come with putting that Black Obi around your waist for the first time! Or what one goes through to become a Black Belt! “ Every exit is an entry somewhere else”. It takes a special person-Man or Woman-to achieve this rank! Not just paying some money, or taking an hour or two test. But to really reach deep within one’s self and find the place that has never been known to us before, bringing out all of the “mind, body, and spirit” when each one is needed. Never to quit, let anything stand in our way, find answers to those questions that need to be answered, learn from everything and everyone, never give up, and strive to always set the best example that we can!

“To understand the un-understandable, to endure the un-endurable”.

No matter what rank we hold, always remember:

“Kindness is the oil, that takes the friction, out of life”.