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The Black Belt Challenge! Are You Ready?
by Mr. Thomas Marker, Buckeye Tang Soo Do

Imagine yourself as the center of attention at a Tang Soo Do function. Your instructor has called you up to the front of the room, and announces that you have been promoted to Black Belt.

Black Belt!

As your instructor ties your new belt, you may be thinking of all the steps along the way, the thousands of repeated techniques, the hours of hyung training, the clinics, tournaments, and testings along the way where you were determined to show everyone that you were brimming with Black Belt Excellence. And now, in front of your peers, senior students, instructors, and masters, you are reaping the fruits of your hard labor. You are part of a family, an elite group of students that have persevered to set a shining example for the World Tang Soo Do Association.

Now what?

Chances are, you will never be promoted again, and if you do, it almost certainly won't be past E Dan. That is, if you don't quit right now. What's that you say? You? A Master? Do you honestly expect me to believe you have another 10-15 years of performance left? I'll be surprised if I see you again at next year's tournament.

You're not getting any younger, you know? Already, some of your injuries are becoming more and more nagging. You see that 10 year old girl over there? She can break a board placed behind her shoulder with a front kick. You couldn't do that, and you certainly never will. You might even rupture a hamstring thinking about it! What's the point in working hard to do something that a 10 year old girl thinks is easy?

Besides, you worked out for months before your black belt test to get into the shape of your life. How could you ever get back to that level of fitness? I mean, we've all got jobs, families, and plenty of other things to take time out of our day. Just tell people that "rank doesn't matter to me" and they will think you are humble and all-knowing just like you secretly wish for them to.

It's not like you'd be missing out on anything. You've got a black belt; what difference will it make to others how many stripes you have? Heck, most people don't even know there ARE stripes. All your friends know you're "good at Karate" and some might even call you a "martial artist."

Are you?

Show me.

Respectfully Submitted,
Thomas Marker, Cho Dan #33735
Buckeye Tang Soo Do

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