The end? No...just wait and see.

The other day I tried on my dobok from my TKD days (2001-02) and lo and behold, it didn't quite wrap around so well! As expected to be honest, especially what with the Xmas season with food everywhere. Without labouring the point that I am more and more Samo these days than ever before, (and no, I don't iron my shirt over a wok) I wanted to discuss with you what a coloured belt means.

In the past, I have echoed the notion that coloured belt systems build ego and nothing else. But in an article in the July/August 2009 issue of Scientific American Mind, pride can be a good thing (before it feeds your ego). Pride in fact pushes us to keep going harder and can make others like us more. A message like this would do well at many a martial arts class right at session opening, i.e. don't abuse your pride, its not for building ego.

People who get told that they have done well in a sincere way normally press on for bigger goals. My coloured belt achievement with certificate was me getting told I did well in my grading. The bigger goal was then the journey to the next grade. In fact, if you feel pleased with yourself, the upshot is a more confident posture and perhaps you will even smile more. Other people will see this and, appreciate you more.

It is important to note that pride should not slide into the annoying "know-it-all obnoxiousness or narcissism". That was the thing I noticed in the TKD class, with some of the other coloured belts, the kind of "I am a higher grade than you, therefore you are below me" attitude. Terrible. I always recall one guy who was a green belt blue stripe. He told me he loves freshers, because he can beat up on the beginners. NOT GOOD!!

In any case, I only got up to yellow belt, green stripe but whenever I look at that belt, I have to admit I am very pleased to have obtained it. A lot of training went into the grading for it. I remember the grading well, with Master Liversidge saying that we would all (potentially) become black belts.

Be proud of your coloured belt achievements. You earned it, but don't let this overwhelm you. KEEP HUMBLE! There's always someone you can learn more from and there's always going to be someone better than you. This holds true across the many paths that make up life.

2010 approaches us very very soon. I go into it knowing that I have finally (happily and proudly) reached fatherhood with a beautiful little girl. As the first decade of the 2000's reaches its ultimate year, I know that this in this decade I have met and trained with many many great people. Its been an extra special martial arts decade. Oh and a yellow belt, green stripe (that now doesn't fit so well).

Keep on training, and I wish all the best to you for 2010.

L.