Tonight I spoke to the student who was promoted Monday night. I recommended that he (and other students) concentrate on skill and conditioning -- these are things that cannot be taken from you. I told the student, "Monday I promoted you, today I could demote you. Rank is an arbitrary thing."
If you are good at Karate you are good whether I say so or not. Certainly a person who might attack you won't care about your rank -- he probably won't even know that you study Karate.
If you are promoted -- good! Now keep training and help the other students. Keep going. Enjoy the moment and get back to work -- the work on yourself. Hey, almost none of the students even wear belts in our dojo. Most wear a gi bottom and T-shirt with no belt. So the belt itself mean nothing. It is the skill that counts. Keep working on skill.
Would you rather be a 1st degree black belt with a skill level of 3, or a 3rd degree black belt with a skill level of 1? It sounds like a ridiculous question but I am serious. Rank is so arbitrary, particularly when you look at many schools. Can you imagine being a 7th degree black belt with a skill level of 1?
If you are promoted -- good! Don't let it get in the way of your training.
If you are promoted -- good! You are on the right track. You've learned a lot and there is a great deal more to learn!
Respectfully,
Charles C. Goodin
