This weekend’s STORM retreat was a great opportunity for our instructors to get renewed and refreshed. It was an opportunity to recharge the martial arts teaching batteries! There were multiple sessions with plenty of group interaction regarding how we can teach martial arts more effectively and how we can share our passion for martial arts.
We also reviewed the Black Belt oath:
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“I, ____________, accept with honor and privilege the Black Belt in martial arts and do hereby swear to uphold he standards of honesty, integrity, courtesy, high moral code and indomitable spirit.”
“I sincerely pledge to honor my instructor and school, with loyalty and support, and to value and carry on the martial arts tradition with respect and dignity.”
“I further pledge, with humility and gratitude, to continue my mental, physical and spiritual growth to the highest level, to lead by example, and to share what I have learned with others.”
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All of our STORM and SWAT team reviewed the oath and discussed it. We discussed how we can execute this oath in our teaching and in our lives now (even before receiving a black belt).
For me the oath is an important part of my martial arts journey. I believe that having a black belt in martial arts must stand for something more than learning about how to potentially injure another person. Instead, it’s about avoiding harm to anyone. But we must be willing and able to defend our loved ones, those that cannot defend themselves, and ourselves.
We train in martial arts, but the black belt principles and our integrity prevent us from being a bully or being quick to raise our hands in anger. We can instead use our martial arts to avoid a conflict, or to diffuse a situation. We keep our egos in check and instead look for the good in others and look for ways around serious situations. But if we have to go into a situation, we must be prepared for anything; and we must do our utmost to survive.
The oath also reminds me about the instructors that have passed their knowledge and understanding of the martial arts on to me. I have a responsibility to protect the knowledge and share it with others. I should also preserve the integrity of how the knowledge is passed and remember that knowledge earned is knowledge learned. I also have a duty to protect my instructors and to respect them and remember them always.
Whenever I visit with my instructor I make sure I greet him and spend time with him. I try to contact him regularly to check in and see if there is anything I can do for him. I try to spend time asking him questions or just listening to what advice he might have for me to improve my students and myself. I enjoy having access to a wealth of knowledge and experience at my finger tips.
One of my favorite times was at Lim pool party and Shizu Abad and Grandmaster Lim were just hanging out talking about a recent trip that Shizu had made to Maui to visit Sijo. What a great opportunity to spend time just hanging out and having conversation! We are spoiled to have GM Lim, and Professor Lim come and visit us and spend time at our school.
Last year I visited the PIT and then also got a chance to hang with the Pit Master at the Martial Arts Supershow. The Pit Master might look gruff, but in reality he is a caring and kind person that is constantly working to improve himself and his martial arts. He will always answer a question to the best of his ability and will tell you what he thinks in order to help you become better.
In February I visited my BJJ Coach Luigi Mondelli at American Top Team in Danbury, CT. It was quality time with a great group of people. I was able to not only develop physical skills but my spirit was re-energized too. It was great to test why we do at Kaju AZ and know it is working. I love how our BJJ program is growing. I am excited that Professor Luigi is coming to our school May 10th. Mark your calendars for this awesome opportunity!
Of course, having the knowledge that I have earned over the years of my training would be useless if it wasn’t passed on and shared. That’s one of the many reasons we have the yin yang on our patch: we learn, then we share what we learn, and through that we learn even more.
I didn’t know how much I truly loved martial arts until I began teaching it. I am grateful and honored to have met the people I have met over the years that have shared their thoughts and understandings with me. I am more blessed by the students and the parents of my students that entrust their time and loved ones to my care.
Thank you for trusting Kaju AZ to always do our best to: protect our students, teach them real techniques that actually work, build their minds and bodies through hard work, and teach them to never let anyone take their lunch money.
Train Strong!
- Sigung Kelly
