Sam was sitting on the side of the Dojo looking dejected…..
“What’s up Sam? - You’ve got a face like a smacked bum” Sensei sat down beside him.
“I just don’t seem to be getting anywhere….”
“That’s because you’re sitting still…”
Sam’s face managed a wan smile. “No… in my training. I work hard and don’t seem to be getting anywhere. I’m awkward, clumsy, can never remember techniques and everyone else seems to be getting on so much faster than me….”
“Aaaaaahhhhh…. So you’re making THAT mistake…..” said Sensei.
“And what mistake might that be then?”
“The mistake of judging yourself…” Sensei had a twinkle in his eye that even Sam couldn’t help warming a bit to.
“And that’s a mistake?”
“Yes, because you’re the last person to judge how you’re doing - because it’s subjective.”
“Yeah but…. Let’s face it Sensei, everyone’s going up through their grades faster than me, I’m just a thick klutz…. Even you’d have to admit that”
“If I’d taken a video of you 3 months ago Sam, and then another today you’d have seen a significant improvement. The problem is, that for you it’s like watching the hands of a clock, you just don’t see them move.”
“I can only take your word for that Sensei, and if that’s the case, how come I haven’t graded?”
“Because the hands of each persons clock move at different speeds.”
“What on earth does that mean?” Sam looked a bit more interested now.
“Say an awkward clumsy person starts on the same day as a naturally talented person, (if there ever was such a thing) and they both attend the same amount of classes and do the same amount of training, in 3 yrs time the naturally talented person is a Black Belt and the awkward clumsy person a Green Belt….. Who’s done best?”
“The Black Belt obviously!” said Sam.
“So they both die and get to the gates of heaven to be judged, who’s done best now?”
Sam looked thoughtful. “Mmmm…… the awkward , clumsy guy would have found it more difficult and therefore would have needed more determination and effort for smaller reward…… I think I’m beginning to see what you’re trying to get at….”
“And….. Who would have benefited more? The Black Belt or the Green Belt?”
“I guess by Heaven’s standards – it’s got to be the Green Belt….”
“Exactly” Sensei smiled.
“So what you’re saying is, I’m that Green Belt and that I am improving, though relatively speaking, not as fast as the others but my improvement is more beneficial for me..”
“That’s right. You only get depressed because you’re judging yourself by the progression of others. Martial Arts are a very personal thing and only studied for our own self-improvement. In our School we make a point of giving you all personal feedback and never compare you to others.”
“So why have belts and tags then?”
“Because that tells the Instructors what class you should be in and what exactly to expect from you.”
“So gradings are only for the Instructors benefit?”
Sensei smiled. “That’s right. That’s why we give the belts and reports out quietly at the end of a session and students are assessed and given feedback all of the time. We make no fuss about belts and grades.”
“So why do other clubs make a big thing of gradings and belts with a lot of pomp and ceremony?”
“Many clubs like to use them as a “testing and achievement” process for the students – this is a very western view and in our estimation can lead to more trouble and ego problems than it eliminates. Some even hire theatres and such like to make presentations. We simply make a more personal, quiet and traditional approach - and in our conversational terms, we use Heavens standards rather than Earths…
A belt is just a piece of cloth around your waist. A certificate is just a piece of paper….. it’s what’s in your heart that counts most”
Sam had visibly brightened. “Thank you Sensei – now I understand much better.”