Yesterday I assessed at a Black Belt grading.
Although it is now possible to gain a black belt in some martial arts in less than 6 months or even 'buy' one via an affiliation, a Black Belt still means something to me.
A Black Belt in Shaolin Freestyle takes time, dedication, skill and determination as the most basic of qualities. Everything on top is the bonus of training in an art and with
instructors who still value what it is to be a Black Belt.
My aim with my students is that they become 'Black Belts', as in they are Black Belts in their daily lives and it isn't just a different colour to keep their trousers up in class.
They have a 'Black Belt Mentality', an attitude that anything is possible if they really want to achieve it.
That they are good enough and worthy enough to be the person they want to
be.
That they strive to be the best version of themselves and be happy with who they are.
They will always be a Black Belt and the lessons they learn during their training and in particular their grading will be with them a lifetime.
I teach martial arts because they changed the direction of my life and I hope I can have a positive influence on the direction of my students lives.
Our Black
Belt candidates are required to write an essay on the history of Kung Fu and their journey.
Everyone's journey is different but the resounding factor that each student wrote about was how martial arts had become a part of them and they knew themselves better as a result.
Each student, both adults and children, mentioned improved confidence and how Kung Fu had helped them in their daily lives. Not by beating people up at
school or at work but by being able to control the emotions and know when to walk away, while being confident that they don't have to.
To be a Black Belt means something. Even if it only means something to yourself or a small group of like-minded friends.
Martial arts friendships are different. I'm quite happy to have a full battle with my best friends, I've received and given a broken nose, ribs, black eyes, busted lips and many more
injuries, aches and pains in little 'knock arounds'.
There are never any hard feelings as the other persons skill was greater that day and lessons were being learned. A mutual respect exists that I've never experienced outside of martial arts.
They are people I know I can rely on for the rest of my life, if we don't see each other for months or years it doesn't matter. A tap of gloves or a bow means time is erased and
everything is cool.
I'm extremely proud of my students who were awarded their Black Belts and so happy that I could be part of their journey in to discovering more about themselves. They shone through the fears they had of the day and proved they were worthy of their achievement.
One of the students included a quote from a TV series in his essay and it sums up perfectly what they achieved.
"Kung Fu
means supreme skill from hard work, practice, preparation, endless repetition until your mind is weary and your bones ache, until you are too tired to sweat, too wasted to breath, that is they way, the only way one acquires Kung Fu"
They certain proved that they had acquired Kung Fu.
Sifu Darren
Checkley
Our next Achieve Bootcamp starts on Monday 25th May, you can apply to join here - www.achievebootcamp.co.uk/application