The Value of Achievement Over Certification
In the world of Karate, nearly every piece of advertising and promotion will promise a variety of certification-based rewards for registration for the next set of classes.
“BELT PROMOTION GUARANTEED!”
“A NEW COLOR EVERY SEMESTER!”
“GET BLACK BELT CERTIFIED QUICK!”
Yet, is the act of merely receiving a specifically colored band enough to mark an individual as a truly great karate connoisseur? While pop culture would lead you to believe that success in martial arts is found in the belt you have earned, there may be more to being seen as a true success than simply moving up the ranks and looking like the latest karate hero in the media. To discover true success in martial arts, you need to look toward those who have achieved their place through merit and strength.
Finding Greatness In Merit and Achievement
Think back on the martial arts greats who inspired many to get involved in the art of karate. Did you learn to love martial arts by watching the moves of Jean-Claude van Damme? Did Chuck Norris’s karate justice have you practicing the dispatching of gun-wielding criminals with a well-placed Keri Ashi?
Now ask yourself: What belt and rank do each of those greats hold?
If you think about it, the reason you remember the karate greats such as van Damme and Norris isn’t because of their rank but because of their achievements. The incredible work they have contributed to both the sport and popular culture came not simply because they had a belt in hand but because they earned the chance to showcase their skills through hard work and achievements on the mat.
The same is true for any student of karate today. While it may be tempting to simply showcase the highest belt color to impress the crowd, true greatness comes when you have put in the time to hone your skills and impress the true critic—yourself. In self-disciplined combat arts such as karate, there are no shortcuts to being truly great. You must earn your place through personal merits and achievement rather than jumping to perceived success through rank or color. Your achievement must be based on your abilities rather than your performance.
Bruce Lee said it best himself: “I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.” It is those individuals who have put in the time to master their art and, in so doing, their ability to use karate to overcome any combat situation they may find themselves in.
Start On The Path To True Success
It’s time to rewrite the rules of success in martial arts. Begin to build the skills necessary to master the art without the frills and mystery often added by popular culture and entertainment.
