One of my students was telling me of a conversation he had with a school friend today.

The student in question is a 13 year old who currently holds a brown belt after training with us since 2007. His friend at school had heard that he does karate and was curious to know some more about it. My student explained to his friend all about Zen-Shin Karate, where he trains and how often etc.

His friend then went on to say that his Sister also does karate and has achieved her Black belt. He then asked my student what colour belt he wears.

My student told his friend that he is currently at Brown belt. His friend then asked him how long had he been training.  “Since 2007” answered my student, to which his friend replied “you must be rubbish then, my Sister got her black belt in just two and a half years!”

Here at Zen-Shin we teach traditional Shotokan karate and we pride ourselves on what we refer to as ‘Black Belt Excellence’. Learning karate and becoming an expert is something that not only takes time but also dedication. Training with Zen-shin from white belt with no previous experience, you could in theory achieve a Black Belt in four and a half to five years. When I hear of students with other clubs being awarded their Black belts,  often for little more than just turning up for class once a week for a couple of years, I have to ask how can this be possible?

At Zen-Shin we ask our students to attend at least two training sessions a week. We put those considered ready, in for pre-grading and only allow those who achieve the required standard at pre-grading to go forward to the actual grading. Each belt has a minimum training period before you are allowed to take the next grading and with my younger students we have a system of half belt gradings to allow them to progress at a more gradual pace.

Martial Arts aren’t all about how fast you can get to a Black Belt. It’s so much more than that and I constantly tell my students that being awarded a Black Belt with Zen-Shin reflects directly on me and the Academy. Whilst I want all those training with Zen-Shin to eventually be awarded a Black Belt, I can’t allow this to happen by lowering the standards required. To do this is, unfair, unethical and above all dangerous.

Parents, I urge you to consider carefully the Martial Arts School you choose for your child to train with. The colour of a karate belt isn’t always a true indication of how well your child could defend themselves in a real situation!

As with most things in life, there are no short cuts and sometimes the only ones we are really fooling are ourselves.

“One life, live it well”

Kyoshi John Richards 7^th Dan Shotokan Karate