We recently had a black belt test here at the dojo, and like all of the ones before, it was one for the books. The young lady who tested this time around, has, like all those before her, been attending regularly for over five years or so. I have tried to pattern our black belt tests after the one that brought me to my knees in Japan almost 30 years ago. The test typically goes something like this: An hour and a half of "field activities," which is anything from wind sprints to combat crawls in the mud, relentless calesthentics, etc., all designed to wear everyone down, especially the belt candidate. Then comes a full Karate class with more conditioning, grappling and other arduous training. Then, when everyone is exhausted, we start the test.
The most difficult and truly gut-wrenching part is at the very end, when the person testing faces just about everybody in the dojo during randori, where the main goal is not to be taken to the mat by three or more attackers at a time. I don't care how brave or tough you think you are; by that point, you've been punched, kicked thrown, tapped out, choked out...and you've done your best to demonstrate how you can do the same to others. And there is nothing left in the tank. Those who have been through it remember it for the rest of their lives. It's scary and humbling and that's the whole point. I've seen some very impressive fighters and skilled martial artists. But nothing impresses me more than someone who is willing to put themselves through hell, not to get a black belt but to test themselves mentally, physically and spiritually. The hard way.
For the most part, we have become masters of finding the easy road. Why walk a couple of blocks when you can drive, why take the time to prepare a healthy meal when you can "Door Dash" and not have to leave the comfort of your bedroom? Why exercise when you can simply take a pill that burns the fat away? Why make things uncomfortable for yourself through physical and mental challenges, challenges to your ego? A place where nobody cares about your status, your wealth, your hair or your need for adulation? That place is called, dojo and it's rare find in today's world. Don't believe me? Hmmm. Ok, I'll give you the opportunity where money is no object. You want to get into better shape, so you can either go to a nice health club with a spa, fancy equipment, fresh carpet, T.V.s everywhere to take your mind off of the toil for working out and your choice of young, fit, beautiful trainers with all sorts of certifications. Or...you can go to some hole-in-the-wall gym with no air and weight training equipment that's probably been around since the 80s. A place where the air is thick with sweat and grunts from folks pushing themselves to their limit. A place with no (God help me) "Lunk Alarm." Let's be honest; where are you going to go?
Well, I'm not the guy who owns the spa. I'm the guy with the hole-in-the wall place, with no air conditioning and a little heat in the winter. When you walk in through the garage door, you will most likely have to swat some flies away (it's Summer), as you make your way to the tiny changing room we made this year. The mat space is small; most of my equipment is out-dated and well used; much of it is DIY. And I still use my Weider weight plates I bought in the 80s. No creature comforts and certainly nothing easy.
The first thing that everybody who walks through these doors realizes is how hard real martial arts training actually is. Learning how to roll or break fall is hard and painful. Learning how to punch and kick and more importantly, how to take a punch and kick, is hard and painful. Kata is difficult, frustrating and monotonous. You only learn to move your body out of the way of an attack by forgetting to move your body and getting hit...a lot. Knuckle and fingertip push-ups are hard...and painful. Grappling is a new experience in humility every time. Bone conditioning sucks until you develop the density and toughness to not only withstand it, but look forward to it.
I can make it much easier on you and me, by making it all...easy. I can go out of my way to thank you for showing up. I can avoid putting you in situations where you will be humbled, frustrated and embarrassed. I can tell you you're doing a great job when I know you could do better if you gave a little more effort. I could eliminate much of the danger you face in the type of sparring, grappling and throws we practice. I could make sure you get a nice, colored belt every few months so your ego is stroked. I could do all that stuff, sure. And you won't learn a damn thing.
Take the easy way most of the time and you learn nothing, absolutely nothing about life. Avoid discomfort and pain and you will have no tools to deal with it when it happens. And, it most certainly will happen. Good martial arts training doesn't just teach you how to defend yourself; it's really more about how to do life. Take the hard road, do the hard things and you can truly enjoy the moments of rest because you've earned them.
That's Leah Bartel to my left...up on one knee because she sprained her ankle halfway through the test. But didn't give up, or give in. She could have...but she chose the hard way.
And humbled all of us.
Dave Magliano
Tatsu Dojo
Jissenkan Budo
Dojo Cho
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