What Makes A Good Black Belt

by Doug Spencer
(South Burlington, VT)

At my academy my instructor instilled a value of coming to train with an "empty cup".

This means that every student, newest white belt to the most senior student, needs to show up with an open mind about the days training. Granted after every training session you should feel accomplished and that you have learned a lot, but you should go home, absorb some of that, and come back the next day ready to fill your cup again.

Through training it is easy to think that you know a lot or even in the worse cases, like you know everything, but there is always something else to learn. No one person knows it all, and even our instructors have to keep learning so they can stay on top of it and pay it forward to our students.

I have recently earned my first degree black belt and have started learning my 1st Dan forms, and I can attest to the fact that the skills I learned during my gup forms provided me with a solid learning base, but the challenges that await me looking ahead will require me to be open to learning many new things in these forms and techniques.

Deb's Reply

Hi Doug Thanks very much for your input and congratulations on getting to first Dan.

I agree totally with you. The 'empty cup' is a brilliant thing to aspire to. It allows you to have an open mind and absorb new information. As soon as the ego rises- watch out- that's when you are potentially dangerous.

Thanks again for a great contribution :-)

Deb