What a black belt means to me.

Morgan Grace, Chelsea Hobday and Jess Roberts achieveing black belt on the weekend.

The definition of black belt is a symbol worn by someone well trained in a martial art. It is a rank which is worked for over time and attained through commitment, but what does it mean to be a black belt? Taekwondo trains people well in discipline. This is developed after years of instruction and listening to what is being told. Failure to follow these instructions could lead to injury or putting others in danger. A black belt is someone who is well disciplined and can listen to orders, especially ones made by someone higher ranked than them. Taekwondo teaches people to have self-control. This is important in order not to hurt someone, especially during sparring matches or one-step. A kick which is not controlled could easily cause a serious injury. A black belt is someone who has control over their actions. Taekwondo demonstrates consciousness of a person’s surroundings. A black belt means that you are aware of what is going on around you. Taekwondo develops a person’s reaction time. This is important in many aspects of life however in martial arts is especially important to ensure that you are not hit. Having the ability to avoid attacks is essential when sparring. A black belt has the ability to react quickly to punches or kicks and move out of the way or block. Reaction time also includes attacking another person. The time available to kick in a sparring round is limited and if the person cannot attack fast enough, their opponent will seize the opportunity. It also develops confidence and trust. Having a good amount of confidence in your decisions is important because in taekwondo you cannot doubt an attack once you have made it. Trust is developed in taekwondo because you must have trust in your opponent that they know what they are doing. Being a black belt means that both confidence in yourself and your trust in others is strong. Being a black belt in Taekwondo shows your ability to commit to a task and that you have the qualities listed above. Employers have told me that having a high level of achievement in something such as a black belt in Taekwondo, makes them consider that application more than others. It shows you can follow instruction, work hard, challenge yourself, be respectful, be tolerant of others and are aware of your surroundings. These are what being a black belt means to me. It means that after years of training these qualities have been developed to a high standard. It is also a title that cannot be taken away and you can carry for the rest of your life even if you no longer do taekwondo. The black belt also gives more responsibility. It means that lower belts will look to you for guidance or how they should act. Therefore a black belt has many meanings but overall shows you have developed important qualities and leadership.

Jess Roberts