ahsanmustafa
22-Jul-2010, 02:14 PM
You know, from all the thousands of people who start training in martial arts on a daily basis, only a handful make it to their first grading. And, the percentage who progress through the ranks gets smaller and smaller, the higher you grade.
So you can imagine, only a tiny percentage ever attain the prestigious black belt.
I consider myself very lucky to have made it. Sure, it took a lot out of my social life, dedicating three evenings a week to study taekwondo. Plus, all the supplementary training outside of class. It took a lot of bruises, welts and frustration in learning new patterns. Mastering a new kick. Punching the wall till my knuckles were raw red and bleeding, and the skin had grazed.
Other people drinked, smoked and took drugs when they were down. I studied taekwondo. Studied, not just trained. If I wasn't training, I was reading about it.
You see. I didn’t want to be just an ‘average’ black belt. I wanted to look and feel like one.
Theoretically, it is possible to gain the black belt putting in part-time hours and part-time effort. But the end result will be, you will look like a part-time black belt. And, I’ve seen plenty of those.
No disrespect to anyone. Everyone trains for different reasons, most people take it as a hobby, which is fine.
However, I turned it into a passion. A reason for living.
You may think that is fanatical, but training became a religion for me. My first love was taekwondo, and you never forget your first love.
According to the official definition, a black belt signifies maturity in taekwondo. The opposite of white belt. It indicates imperviousness to darkness and fear.
On a more personal level, it means so much more to me. And then again, it means absolutely nothing.
What is more important is a black belt mentality.
The other day, some of my senior kids were not paying attention and generally misbehaving. So, I told them to take off their belts and go to the back row. Behind the junior grades.
Then, during the course of the class, I instructed ‘white belts do this technique, red belts do this technique’. One of the demoted red belts said to me ‘what are we supposed to do?’ (since I temporarily had taken their red belts away from them).
Obviously these kids had a lot to learn. It was lecture time again.
Regardless of what colour of belt you are wearing around your waist, do not let it define you. If your ‘red’ belt is taken away from you, does that mean you lose your abilities? Does that mean you forget your red belt techniques?
Whenever I am walking down any street, in any country of the world, I know that I am a black belt. I know I have a responsibility not only to myself and those close to me, but to the reputation of taekwondo and martial arts. I do not need to wear a black belt around my waist to know that. I have a black belt mentality.
I know many non-martial artists in my day to day life who also have a black belt mentality.
Being a black belt is a state of mind. The responsibility which comes with being a black belt is a responsibility to the betterment of your local community, society and the world.
Respect, integrity, and an indomitable spirit, with which you can conquer any obstacle.
Helen Keller had a black belt mentality. Anne Frank had a black belt mentality. Mother Teresa had a black belt mentality. Nelson Mandela has a black belt mentality.
Overcoming adversity, regardless of your personal limitations or disabilities. To have the inner strength to deal with whatever cards life has dealt you. That is having a black belt attitude towards life.
So, regardless of whether you are a martial artist or not, let me ask you, do you have a black belt mentality?
Ahsan Mustafa
So you can imagine, only a tiny percentage ever attain the prestigious black belt.
I consider myself very lucky to have made it. Sure, it took a lot out of my social life, dedicating three evenings a week to study taekwondo. Plus, all the supplementary training outside of class. It took a lot of bruises, welts and frustration in learning new patterns. Mastering a new kick. Punching the wall till my knuckles were raw red and bleeding, and the skin had grazed.
Other people drinked, smoked and took drugs when they were down. I studied taekwondo. Studied, not just trained. If I wasn't training, I was reading about it.
You see. I didn’t want to be just an ‘average’ black belt. I wanted to look and feel like one.
Theoretically, it is possible to gain the black belt putting in part-time hours and part-time effort. But the end result will be, you will look like a part-time black belt. And, I’ve seen plenty of those.
No disrespect to anyone. Everyone trains for different reasons, most people take it as a hobby, which is fine.
However, I turned it into a passion. A reason for living.
You may think that is fanatical, but training became a religion for me. My first love was taekwondo, and you never forget your first love.
According to the official definition, a black belt signifies maturity in taekwondo. The opposite of white belt. It indicates imperviousness to darkness and fear.
On a more personal level, it means so much more to me. And then again, it means absolutely nothing.
What is more important is a black belt mentality.
The other day, some of my senior kids were not paying attention and generally misbehaving. So, I told them to take off their belts and go to the back row. Behind the junior grades.
Then, during the course of the class, I instructed ‘white belts do this technique, red belts do this technique’. One of the demoted red belts said to me ‘what are we supposed to do?’ (since I temporarily had taken their red belts away from them).
Obviously these kids had a lot to learn. It was lecture time again.
Regardless of what colour of belt you are wearing around your waist, do not let it define you. If your ‘red’ belt is taken away from you, does that mean you lose your abilities? Does that mean you forget your red belt techniques?
Whenever I am walking down any street, in any country of the world, I know that I am a black belt. I know I have a responsibility not only to myself and those close to me, but to the reputation of taekwondo and martial arts. I do not need to wear a black belt around my waist to know that. I have a black belt mentality.
I know many non-martial artists in my day to day life who also have a black belt mentality.
Being a black belt is a state of mind. The responsibility which comes with being a black belt is a responsibility to the betterment of your local community, society and the world.
Respect, integrity, and an indomitable spirit, with which you can conquer any obstacle.
Helen Keller had a black belt mentality. Anne Frank had a black belt mentality. Mother Teresa had a black belt mentality. Nelson Mandela has a black belt mentality.
Overcoming adversity, regardless of your personal limitations or disabilities. To have the inner strength to deal with whatever cards life has dealt you. That is having a black belt attitude towards life.
So, regardless of whether you are a martial artist or not, let me ask you, do you have a black belt mentality?
Ahsan Mustafa