Black Belt is just the beginning…

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The rank of Black Belt is recognised internationally within the martial arts and has a status commanding respect within the wider community. As such the wearer must hold themself to the highest of standards. You must understand that with this rank comes a number of responsibilities, not only to yourself but to your teacher, to your school, your fellow students and to the integrity of martial arts. 

Our primary consideration, even before any testing begins is that we must be confident that the student understands the importance of the Black Belt and that they do not see the belt as simply a ‘trophy’ to be won, but instead that they understand that it is an honorary rank which they must earn and then maintain through their ongoing commitment to martial arts excellence. 
 

We must be sure that the candidate is fully committed to maintain their training to the highest standard and to act as an ambassador for the martial arts on top of being an inspiration to their peers and lower graded students. If we believe that they are not committed to this as a long-term goal we cannot consider their promotion to a black belt.

To achieve the rank of black belt is a major goal for any student, but you must always remember, it is not the end of your training - it is simply a new beginning. It is the recognition that your apprenticeship is over and that you are now ready to move on to the next stage of your training, the real learning where you put many years of academic study into context and make that knowledge work for you. 

The goal of black belt is the start, a first step, only once you have reached that elite at primary level can you begin to really study and understand martial arts.