01/10/2026
So what does this mean? It's just 2 bits of ribbon. You can buy a whole reel of this for just a few pence if you look hard enough. But you can say the same for the belts that we train for and the fabled black belt. Hey, If you really wanted to you can just buy any colour belt you want online. Want a black belt? Sure. Its easy if you go to the right shop or site. And some people don't think any karate belts are worth anything anyway as we're just dancing around in white pajamas anyhow (Ssshhhh. Don't tell them otherwise. 🤫).
In some parts of the world there are only ever 2 belts, white and then black. Apparently you would be training and then your Sensei would pull you aside hand you a black belt and you would just carry on with your training. No ceremony, no fanfare, no nothing just carry on with a new belt.
Not sure how true this story is but I like the thought of it anyway. The story goes like this. There is only one belt, a white one which you wear on your very first day of training. But, as you train and sweat, blood, tears and dirt make the belt more and more darker. So there never was a black belt...Just a more worn and grubby white belt, blacker than the pure white belts due to experience and training. I like the idea that its the hard work of the person wearing the belt than the belt itself. And I like the fact that hygiene now plays a big part in our lives...well to some of us anyway 🤣🤣.
So back to the ribbon. This might be nothing to a lot of people but to me and my fellow martial artist is shows hard work, dedication, perseverance, courage, commitment and skills obtained through training along with lots of other things that I won't list here as i will be here all day. Basically it's a step towards wherever you want to be. So if it is your first grade or even your last and it's 2 pieces of ribbon, a belt, a sash, a badge or a piece of paper be proud of what you have accomplished.
Hey, thinking about it Daniel San from the karate kid went straight to black belt thanks to a bit of thieving from his karate instuctor and he went on to win the tournament. 🤣🤣
