Nobody Cares About Your Little Black Belt

I’m going to throw all my cards on the table and level with you; I’m not a huge fan of the current westernized concept of the traditional martial arts ran It’s over-rated, inflated and misunderstood.

One of my favorite quotes comes from my old jujitsu teacher, a former police officer in New York City in the 60s. He spoke of the constant danger he faced despite having a badge, authority, a night stick, mace, a firearm and back-up. “Nobody cares about your little black belt” he told us one night after class. Quite a moment for 21-year-old me who desperately wanted to achieve one.

The belt system, kyu (grades below black), dan (black belt grades) was created by the Jigoro Kano, the founder of Judo. It replaced the old martial arts licensing system in Japan known as menkyo. Kano, an educator, thought it was important to separate novices from advanced students and to have a system of achievement as well as a curriculum for each level. Like I said, he was an educator.

Sounds simple enough, right? After all, most people need some kind of path to achieve long-term goals, like a college education, weight loss…or a black belt.

The first black belt rank is called, shodan. It means, “beginning,” the start of a long path toward mastery. Let’s put it this way: a black belt is to martial arts what a high school education is to most westernized cultures. And that’s all it is. You can’t be a brain surgeon with a high school diploma and you can’t take on any thug with black belt.

It means that you have a comprehensive understanding of the basics in a martial arts system. You’ve acquired the knowledge to actually start learning something. That’s why in Japan and Okinawa, for example, many young martial artists have black belts. They start training at an early age and typically achieve shodan in their teens.

But not all black belt tests are the same.

The most difficult exam for me happened in Kashima, Japan - my shodan test for aikido. It remains to be the hardest thing I’ve ever done, physically, mentally and spiritually. I tested for shodan under Issoyama Shihan, a well-known and somewhat controversial figure in Japanese aikido. Controversial because his aikido was pretty brutal and he was known for being militant. Of course, he had served in the military, so there’s that.

Issoyama Shihan was pretty direct when it came to martial arts values and etiquette. He didn’t have time for people who weren’t serious about their training…like, life and death serious. He wasn’t mean or harsh to non-serious students; only the serious ones. And my shodan experience was testament to that. I was brought to physical and emotional exhaustion long before my actual test began. I was berated and taunted every step of the way, and couldn’t seem to perform the simplest task. I was in such bad shape afterward, my immediate instructor, Yamamoto-san, wanted to take me to a hospital because I kept passing out.

Yamamoto-san actually took some video footage of my shodan test and we watched it at his home over beer and sake about month later. Good thing I had the alcohol to help me get through my cringe-worthy performance. Then he told me something that has stuck with me ever since and became the standard for any black belt I give out. You see, it wasn’t about how much I knew; it was more about the fact that I wasn’t going to give up. The “test” was about the willingness to push past all of my boundaries. You can’t do something like that unless you are completely prepared mentally, physically and spiritually.

Anybody can replicate a technique once they’ve practiced enough. But to demonstrate the same basic skills under extreme duress and exhaustion…not so easy. It took me many years to realize the gift I received from Issoyama Shihan.

One thing I notice about our culture is that once somebody achieves their goal, they move on to the next one. “Been there, done that, moving on.” “Yeah, I used to do martial arts. Got my black belt in xyz style, etc. But I don’t train any more…life got in the way…you know how it is.” Yeah, I know.

Shodan means much more than that. It’s supposed to the beginning of a life-long journey, not the end goal. And it really doesn’t matter what rank you go on to achieve. A shodan test should be an experience that you look back on whenever you face trials in your life and realize that you can achieve great things if you put your mind to it.

And after you achieve your black belt, you have the responsibility to be an example for others every time you step on the mat…for the rest of your life. That’s why I can’t stomach black belts who have too much stomach...and ego. "I've achieved my black belt. Made the grade, took the challenge. The goal is accomplished. Now I can rest easy." Maybe they forgot what shodan means. Maybe they never really knew.

It’s not about the rank, it’s about would it should take to get it. Ability, yes, skills for sure. But if it’s nothing more than an award for showing up a couple times a week, well that’s all it will ever be.

There’s enough of that going around already.

After I finish this post, I’m going to go train and maintain. What about you? Remember, it’s not what you get from the belt. It’s about what you get from the journey…for the rest of your life.

Dave Magliano

Tatsu Dojo

Jissenkan Budo

Dojo Cho