On Earning Your Black Belt

On Earning Your Black Beltby Dave Thomas, 8th Dan

AKS Assistant Chief Instructor

I have always thought that anyone who steps onto a gym floor with their brand new gi and stiff-as-a-board white belt aspires to someday be a Black Belt. And during that first class they are not sure of the how they will climb the ranks, but that is their aspiration. And now it begins, proper belt tying, making a correct fist and learning left from right, the journey has commenced.

I can remember my first classes, standing in the corner of the gym in awe of the grace and power of the high ranks. They were fast, strong and precise in all that they did; I was hoping for divine intervention so as not to embarrass myself, when in their company. Then, when Mr. Lieb walked onto the floor order and discipline swept through the gym, students quickly lined up, and training began.

Through the years, I learned the AKS techniques and forms that mesmerized me in my early days. Mr. Lieb and the other Black Belts patiently taught me requirements, self-defense and katas, along with so much more. I freely admit that I was not always the most apt student; I had the desire, but struggled with some of the physical requirements. As I tell my students now, “I had to work twice as hard to be half as good.” And as I worked diligently to master my requirements, the realization began to inch in that someday I might be a Black Belt.

In June of 1974, Mr. Lieb told me I would be testing for First Dan in August. I was shocked. It had only been three years, and I didn’t see myself in the company of the AKS Black Belts that had gone before me. After several days of soul searching and personal martial arts inventory, I went to his home. I explained that I felt I was not ready to test, and I was no where near the proficiency of the esteemed Black Belts that had gone before me. He listened patiently, would nod when it seemed appropriate, and ended the discussion with:

“Your test is the 16th of August, it is up to you to be ready.”

At the time I had two choices, I could quit or I could do my best. Though I did consider it, I didn’t quit. I sought out some of the higher ranks to train me outside of class and worked diligently to do my best for my test. The most important change I made was to no longer worry about if I was good enough, just to train and do the best I could do.

It was during this time that I had an epiphany; my Black Belt test was not about comparing myself to others, but about commitment. After all, passing or failing would not be up to me, it would be up to Mr. Lieb and the Black Belts reviewing me. I realized much later that Mr. Lieb already knew this; and he also knew at some point I would learn the lesson too.

Achieving your Black Belt is a very personal accomplishment. The American Karate System has requirements and standards that all Black Belt candidates must meet, but each person is going to meet them to the best of their personal ability. Each person has natural gifts as well as hurdles; we all have different builds, different strengths and life experiences, these all factor into your demonstration of your martial arts skills. The latitude that allows a student to showcase their strengths and improve their limitations is a cornerstone of the American Karate System.

Almost every Black Belt I have known has some obstacle to overcome to achieve his rank. One of our Black Belts is legally blind; I know another student that tested after having two replacement knee operations and a replacement hip operation. Every Black Belt I know has a story to tell about some difficulty they had to surmount in order to achieve their Black Belt. While the difficulties are diverse, the common thread in achievement is commitment.

Commitment to the American Karate System, commitment to supporting the Instructors and students and commitment to self-improvement is the quality of our AKS Black Belts.