Essays by Patrick Auge Sensei Shihan - Black Belt Essays - Other Essays
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Black Belt Responsibilities
Norman Dimock's essay for the obtention of his second dan
Our basic responsibilities are respect, care, and service to others. For a black belt, those responsibilities are heightened because his teachers have signified that he has made certain progress on the path they have prescribed. Others who are seeking to follow the path expect to observe in him something of what is required of them. In his behavior they may be unable to distinguish the proper from the improper, so he must always practice his best. He must trust his teachers and other black belts to do the same, and strive to harmonize his practice with theirs. The goal is mutual welfare and prosperity, not limited to a particular art, dojo, or individual.
To have integrity means to behave consistently, whether inside the dojo, outside it, with others, or alone, regardless of circumstances. Yoseikan aikido teaches the value of budo, the way of stopping conflict. A black belt is expected use that knowledge as an anchor in life, to achieve integrity. With integrity, he can trust himself, and be respected. Respect will enable him to encourage, coach, inspire, and lead himself and others through greater challenges, to develop their vision, work toward it, realize it, and go beyond it to the extent of their potential - to strive for excellence.
Having learned the meaning of budo from his teachers, a black belt is obliged to share his knowledge, so more can benefit. He can do this through leadership in any area, and most directly by teaching his art. Wherever he teaches, it is very important that he credit the source of his training - his teachers and their teachers. He should preserve and enhance respect for those who made the path. To that end, he should strive to preserve the quality of his art. If the art spreads, but loses its integrity, it becomes diluted and weak, and it loses respect.
To keep his art strong, a black belt must continuously question all of its aspects. Practice has to be more than preservation of a tradition. It must review habits, and promote evolution, to improve both the art and the artist. A black belt should always encourage and take steps to change for the better. Production becomes Craft when each piece is unique and stamped with its maker's signature. Craft becomes Art when the worker improves with his work. Art becomes Way when the emphasis shifts from personal improvement to mutual good. A way is true when it recognizes the universal need for unconditional love, given and received.
A black belt's special responsibility is to keep to the path of growth with his art.
Norman Dimock, September 2000
