On growth, weaknesses, and sticking your neck out

Some big changes in the dojo lately: New students, new flooring (OUCH! — $$$), a revised curriculum, and — hot button — a new ranking system.

In the process of "professionalizing" the dojo, I've expanded our ranking system to include one additional kyu rank at the intermediate stage. The Green Belt stage has traditionally been a marathon stage, where a lot of material is taught, and a lot of time elapses between belt tests. It's a gut-check. But I decided to add a new belt rank to break down the intermediate Green Belt stage into more digestible chunks so that the material will be more thoroughly practiced, mastered, and retained.

At the same time, I'm trying something new: I've modified the belt colors we use in the dojo over the last four years. I've done this for a number of reasons, but especially to give clearer indications of student progress as the dojo grows. I believe that making the change in the belt colors is the right thing to do for where the dojo is headed in terms of organization and professionalism, and I believe the change will help with student retention. The amount of time, effort, and technical knowledge that's required to earn a Black Belt in our dojo remains the same, but even so, the change in belt colors brought out a fair amount of confusion and resistance in my students.

Aha! ATTACHMENT has reared its ugly head — what an opportunity for GROWTH! In the middle of all of this, I asked myself, how attached am I to MY belt color? How can I reinforce in my students that all of our training is not about the BELT at all? Our training is about LIFE, the curve balls that life will throw you, and what we do with them. It's about trying new things. It's about gaining the confidence to run screaming away from the "comfortable" and the "familiar." Live to dare and to take risks — and to accept (with grace, gratitude, and humility) both the "awards" and "lumps" that come from risking.

Communicating this — LIVING THIS — is where my "karate" training lies. In part, anyway. I'm still learning I guess.

Striving to be free of what I wear around my waist, my "black" belt test is today.

And tomorrow.

I did one other thing, too — I'm still not sure if it was foolish or inspired. But at the end of class I asked my students what MY weaknesses were. Man, if you really want to grow, you should try this some time!

I'm still reeling from the punches.