“THE BLACK BELT, THE ULTIMATE ACHIEVEMENT OF MARTIAL ARTS SKILLS, SYMBOLIZES THE ‘DARKNESS BEYOND THE SUN,’ EXPLAINS THE WORLD MARTIAL ARTS CENTER. EVEN AS HE TEACHES OTHERS, THE BLACK BELT HOLDER CONTINUES TO BROADEN HIS OWN UNDERSTANDING, CONTINUALLY SEEKING KNOWLEDGE AND ENLIGHTENMENT. WITHIN THE BLACK BELT LEVEL, A SEPARATE RANKING SYSTEM BREAKS DOWN MASTERY INTO DEGREES, OR LEVELS OF ACHIEVEMENT.”
~GWEN BRUNO, LIVESTRONG.COM
The black belt cycle was similar to a four-month military boot camp. We attended our own classes, taught lower-belt classes, and ran several miles—all of them four to five times per week. It was total dedication. And through it all, the sense of utter, complete exhaustion after the Saturday-morning three-hour candidate class and run resulted in utter, complete self-satisfaction.
The high red belt and black belt cycles culminated in a three-day “power weekend,” during which candidates were tested on kata, kumite, and everything in between, finishing with a seven-mile “fun run.” If we passed power weekend, we achieved the rank of black belt.
The commitment and focus of the black belt cycle were unparalleled in my history; finishing power weekend was one of the proudest, sanest moments of my life. I developed a level of confidence and inner health that had until then eluded me. I tested myself, and I passed.