The Warrior's path

You are about to begin a journey that is as rewarding as it is frustrating, as satisfying as it is testing. It is really a path less travelled. It is BUSHIDO -The Warrior's Way. At the Budokan, we teach traditional Martial Arts, believing that the study of the art is a reward in itself. To be sure the are awards and belt ranks to be attained but these things are not the focus of our training. We try to remained focused on the pursuit of Martial Art, whether it be Karate, Judo, Iado etc etc. Everyone at the Budokan is considered a MARTIAL ARTIST, whether they are a beginning white belt, or an advanced Yudansha. We all are walking the same path.

There is a saying that," The journey of a thousand miles begins with but a single step." That single step for the Martial Artist is the tying on of the shirobi, the white belt. Tying on the white belt is taking that first tentative step upon the Path. White Belt knowledge is the foundation and the future of your Martial Arts journey. In a greater sense it is the future of all Martial Arts. If a Budoka is a holder of an advanced Black Belt , kurobi, but his/her white belt training lacked form and discipline then it all does. Our white belts are our future. and while it may seem that we are tough on them it is because they are our future that we demand thier best. If you are not ready to give your best - stay off the path!

shirobi whitebelt

SOME WHITE BELT KNOWLEDGE

At the Budokan the belt ranking system is very simple. There are ten mudansha (non-black belt ) grades called kyu. These grades are represented by three different color belts, white, green and brown. The first four Kyu 10 through four, in descending order are represented by white belts. 10th kyu is a plain white belt , this is a beginning student, just starting to learn Martial Arts Protocol. As the student's knowledge increases and heor she advances, a black tab is added to the white belt, then another, an another and still one more. When the student has reached 7th kyu his or her white belt will have three black tabs on the end of his or her white belt.

The next Kyu, the 6th, 5th and fourth are represented by the green belt.(midoriobi). The 6th Kyu is a plain green belt, while the 5th and 4th kyu have one and two black tabs respectively . It is at the Green belt level that students are allowed to spar under closely controlled conditions.

The 3rd 2nd and 1st Kyu grades are the Brown belt grades.(Chaobi) These are the prepratory grades for black belt .(Kurobi). 3rd Kyu is a plain Brown Belt. 2nd and 1st Kyu have one and two black tabs respectively. It is at the Bown Belt levels that the student is pushed hard to perfect as best they can all that they have learned to this point.

I will discuss yudansha (Black belt) rankings in depth at a different time. For now I will say this.... The awarding of the 1st degree Black Belt (Shodan) is NOT recognition that the belt holder is an expert in anything. What the Shodan belt is ,is simply the recognition of the instructor and the school that the Shodan is now officially a student of the school and instructor. It signifies he is ready and able to train with other Yudansha without falling on his / her face.

The reader will find a very enlightening article on The Black Belt and what it means at http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Flats/3722/THEBLACKBELT.html. The article was written by Grandmaster George Petrotta of the International Sungjado Association. Go to his website for more information.

At the white belt level the new Budoka is very much like a new born. In fact the white belt is a symbol of purity. The new student, like the new born is said to be pure, because he or she is completely ignorant of the requirements of the art. The new Budoka is utterly lacking in martial arts experience. The White Belt symbolizes the potential of the new Budoka to achieve othe grades and skills The new Budoka must make themselves like a sponge and soke up information that some times seem to be heaped unmercifully un them. This is a testing and seasoning period, In fact every grade up to Shodan (1st degree Black Belt) is a time tor testing and seasoning. But the White Belt level is usually where things are detemined.