When studying your chosen discipline and work hard to the point that you become the master of your art, you will be handed the black belt, ancient symbol of adepthood and all-round badassery. This is known.
Known it may be. True it is not. The black belt is an indication that youve graduated as a practitioner of certain martial arts, not that youre an appalling instrument of civilised violence, a master of the martial arts and eligible for your little finger to be legally registered as a lethal weapon. That means that youve demonstrated competence in your chosen disciplines basic techniques, not that youve acquired mystical ninja superhero abilities. Ahhh, competence, that ringing backhanded endorsement.
Have you seen that film yet? Yeah, man, its well competent. You should see my new motor, mate. Its seriously competent. I mean, it gets me to work and back without exploding, know what Im saying?
Anyway. Although ranks and belts dont really compare between arts and styles of fighting, a common thread is the basic understanding that attaining a black belt is the first step on the road to advanced learning: like learning to walk, in order that you can then learn to run. So the next time someone bigs up their black belt in whatever, feel free to picture them as a toddler.
Professional writer, punk werewolf and nesting place for starfish. Obsessed with squid, spirals and story. I publish short weird fiction online at desincarne.com, and tweet nonsense under the name Jack The Bodiless. You can follow me all you like, just don't touch my stuff.
