Chapter 87: The Critical Stage of Karate

“The period immediately following a karate practitioner’s promotion into the ranks of the yudansha, or ‘black-belt holders,’ is a critical one.” - Dave Lowry, The Black Belt Initiation

The reason I call attention to the rank of sho-dan is because every one promoted to that rank fall prey to misconceptions as to the meaning of such an important achievement. First, it is a significant transition from the kyu, lower ranks, to the dan-i, higher ranks. If proper conditions and teachings are not accomplished from the first moment on the dojo floor and throughout that most precious period of development those who don the black belt for the first time may suffer from cockiness, arrogance and a feeling of superiority. 

It also has a convoluted psychological effect other than what has been mentioned so far. They may mistakenly look upon that cotton 1.5” wide piece of cloth as symbolic of mastery and it can become a talisman that the wearer thinks gives them some special power or mystic like powers along with the perceived vast knowledge and experience often not true or ever relevant to the sho-dan rank. It becomes symbolic to certain perceptions more often than not propagated by instructors who suffer from the same maladies along with how they were influenced by television, movies and books, etc. 

It can also lead to the feelings of inadequacy especially when they first encounter certain experiences out in the martial arts and karate communities due to the variances that span galaxies of empty space between what one assumes it means to others who have separate, different and distinct beliefs as to its measure. 

It must be instilled in bits and pieces along with other requirements such as understanding fundamental principles and so on. It is not advised to let such teachings, trainings and practices to be provided after sho-dan, it is too late because like bad habits, bad perceptions and bad distinctions permeate the mind-set, mind-state and both emotional and psychological maturity of the practitioner. It is well known that once a habit is formed, lived and conditioned into the mind it takes great effort and discipline to kill it or change it. 

Last, not least, is to take some form of initiation after sho-dan where the new black belts in a private gathering of all black belts of all ranks and of all levels of experience, knowledge and understanding where they provide reminder that achieving sho-dan, that first black belt, is not a signal of mastery but rather of proper attitude and personal intestinal fortitude to accept it as a sign of leaving a world of novice like ignorance and becoming a fledgling student with a long, hard and exciting path toward more. It is likened to, “Receiving your wings as a bird; welcome to the sky while being gently, sometimes more aggressively, pushed out of the next of novice-hood.”