Bricks of Character

A Black Belt is More than Something You Wear

A Black Belt is More than Something You Earn

A Black Belt is Something You Become

Something you wear, is on the outside, and though it may be a reflection of your mood, it can be changed as easily as your mood can change. Something you earned may be valuable, and worthy of respect and admiration, but it can be used unwisely, and be lost easily. You can have it today, and it can be gone tomorrow. Something you become is what you now are. Your thoughts, feelings and actions are ruled by what you have become.

The Martial Arts classroom is an environment of self-discipline, self-control, courtesy, respect and positive thinking, where only a student's best behavior, attitude and effort is allowed and accepted. Every second a student spends sitting up straight, every moment spent standing at attention or rest position, every "YES SIR", every bow of respect, every act of physical control, mental discipline and emotional strength, is another brick in building a true Black Belt. After years and hundreds of hours, brick after brick, a true Black Belt is something you become. It is on the inside, ingrained in every part of your being, not something easily changed or lost. A true Black Belt is built, brick after brick, on a solid foundation of courtesy, integrity and self-control. A true Black Belt is a champion of freedom and justice, one who works to build a more peaceful world through strength of sound body, mind, and spirit.

This is what every student Martial Arts can become. No one starts with the idea of just getting to Orange Belt or Purple Belt or Red Belt. True Black Belt is the goal every student has, and can achieve, with perseverance and indomitable spirit. True Black Belts are only for those with the most mental sharpness and emotional toughness, for those with the most commitment dedication, and determination. With these bricks of character, a true Black Belt is built, and a true Black Belt is something you become.