Black Belt
I was inspired to write a longer blog post about Black Belts in martial arts (specifically, Japanese-derived martial arts; other systems and places have different methods of ranking but the "black belt indicating some level of mastery" is so universal now it has just about co-opted all others). However, I couldn't come up with a whole lot of words to discuss my own receipt of a black belt in Tora Dojo Martial Arts earlier this evening that I felt it better to just put up some photos.
On 2010 June 7 at 1800, I, along with my co-student Moshe-Chaim Silverstein, were examined for the rank of 1st degree Black Belt in TDMA by our instructor, Arkady Dudko, and the head of the system, Prof. Harvey Sober. Only 209 "sho-dan" degrees have been given: I was #208.
In our system, exams are cumulative, beginning with the very basics:
onto self-defense "one-steps" or "make-ups" (yes, I really did contact my partner's head here):
and so on. I've left out quite a bit--a lot went by in a blur of memory and some of it could have used more polish (so I won't put up those videos/pictures). At the end, there is a symbolic presentation of new clothes, a new black belt is tied on by my instructor:
and a certificate
It is traditional in our system, since our founder was trained in a traditional Chinese fashion, for each new Black Belt to receive a new name in Chinese, representing his lineage. Mine is "强鑚心" (qiang zuan xin), the first part being a family name (qiang), for my teacher's teacher (it means "robust, vigorous"), the second two having the idiomatic meaning of "one who studies studiously to get to the heart of the matter" (study + heart).
I was also blessed to have my family able to attend;
my 3 older sons already participate:
and my youngest just can't wait to get started.
It is a misconception to think that Black Belt is somehow a terminal grading; there are grades above Black Belt (5-10 depending on the formation of the system), and a considerable body of knowledge to obtain in other martial arts. (In my system, one begins with a version of Shotokan karate and progresses on to the Chinese arts after black belt.) This is just a new beginning in training.