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Ryan Danks
Ryan Danks's picture
Training Goals After Black Belt

When I was a young'un, I wanted to become a martial arts instructor like my senseis and sifus. First goal: earn the black belt and teaching cert for the styles I wanted to teach. Lots of years later, I did that...but I had helped my instructor run the school for a few years at that point, and that was no longer something I wanted to do. Since deciding that I didn't want to run my own instruction business, I've had a difficult time motivating myself to train. I know that many black belts quit once they get their belt (because they believe they're done now). I don't want that to happen, but I don't have anymore goals in the martial arts. What are some goals you set (or have seen others set) after achieving black belt?

Wastelander
Wastelander's picture

Black-Belt-itis is absolutely a thing. I've seen it happen several times, even in my short time in the martial arts. Heck, the first day I met my instructor, he had just promoted three people to Shodan, and I never saw them again until they came to a seminar a couple years later, and I haven't seen them since then. In my last dojo, there were at least two Shodans who never trained again after being promoted, but they did come to every black belt test and tournament to be judges. People do odd things in their minds when they get to black belt, it would seem :P.

Now, some people dive into learning "black belt kata" that is part of their curriculum, but we don't have that. All of our kata must be learned by Shodan. After that, we do have some partner drills to work, but that's it for standard curriculum. The black belt ranks, for us, are all about exploring our art, fine-tuning our technique, and developing our personal approach to karate. My instructor asks me for my opinions on possible kata applications, despite being a Godan who has been training since I was 1 year old. Sometimes, I even come up with things he hasn't thought of. That helps keep both of us going. He, of course, has a school, and that's his passion as much as improving himself. I love to teach, and regularly do, but I also enjoy doing other things to help the dojo, and promote karate. That's part of why I do so much with making videos and doing social media for the dojo.

Les Bubka
Les Bubka's picture

The magic of black belt, we all been there when joining the club. Thanks to my Sensei I don't look at belts I look at people. Now days belts don't give representation of skills. Karate for me become a addiction, work and a hobby. My goal is to learn as much as I can from anyone who is willing to teach me, always being a student of the art, on the other hand my goal is to help people and karate become a tool to do that.

Being around the dojo's I notice that people treat black belt like driving licence, going for a course do what They need pass exam, got certificate. Now They are the master, can hang certificate on the wall so friends can admire. 

Kind regards 

Les

karate10
karate10's picture

Theres no end in Karate...Once you earn shodan ,e.t.c....The real adventure begins.....

Dash3
Dash3's picture

I have two: first, as part of a small group of the middle-level black belts, we are working on developing the practical self-defense aspect of the practice at our dojo (strong history of 3K style). Second, as an individual I am constantly working on integrating the styles I have studied and how they work for me (what I call "My-kido"). As my understanding and physical abilities are constantly changing, this is a never ending task.

Neil Babbage
Neil Babbage's picture

Well I am in that position having just passed my Shodan and having the club I attended close down shortly afterwards. We suffered the black belt attrition problem which I thought was mainly to do with the lack of targets in the syllabus beyond "do what you already know but much better."  I think this is difficult for people used to having a detailed syllabus,  rather like the transition from school to university where the expectation is to own your own learning rather than be taught.  I am forced to do what I planned to do anyway: find a new style to augment what I've learned.  I chose Krav Maga but people often choose BJJ or judo to advance their throwing or grappling skills. I'm committing more time to the academic study of fitness and I'm planning on taking a Self Defence Instructor course. So I found my new goals as building on a subset of interests within karate. I'll still be doing karate too of course. 

Marc
Marc's picture

Ryan Danks wrote:
I don't have anymore goals in the martial arts. What are some goals you set (or have seen others set) after achieving black belt?

Hi Ryan, who has set your goals for you up to now? Was it yourself, was it your instructors, was it ranking requirements?

What were those goals and which ones have you reached so far?

At the moment I really cannot imagine running out of goals in karate. Be it refinement of technique, improvement of skill, broadening my skillset, understanding more and deeper, learning new aspects of the art and all that comes with it.  

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

I think it’s important to have goals in order to measure progress and define direction. Personally, I set aims for the next 6 months for my training i.e. skills I want to improve, new things I want to learn, fitness goals, etc. However, they don’t really provide my motivation. And it seems it is the motivation you are lacking. The bottom line is that we need to enjoy our training.

From your post it seems like you are no longer enjoying training, and that maybe because you feel you’ve no more progress to make? Hence the need for a new goal? If that is the case, you need to put yourself in a position where you have instructors who can challenge and direct you. Every time I train with my teachers I have things to take away and work on. If you’re not getting that, you may need to seek out additional instructors? Your teacher’s teacher? Failing that, you could try joining another class to supplement your training? If you’re primarily a striker, then maybe another form of striking? Maybe a pure grappling system so your core skills are taken away and you’re forced to develop your support methods? Judo, wrestling or BJJ? That may give you the feeling of “progress to me made” that is central to your enjoyment of marital arts.

Above all, life is short. We need a life of enjoyment and growth. If martial arts remain fun and beneficial then keep doing them. If you can find a way to make them fun and beneficial again, then you should do that. If the martial arts end up being something that are no longer fun and beneficial, then end that chapter of your life with no regrets and move on to something new that you are enthused about.

All the best,

Iain

dhogsette
dhogsette's picture

As others have said, setting goals and staying motivated is key. In the system I follow, goal-setting is fairly simple, because we still have kata to learn after shodan. So, one way I stay motivated is learning the new kata. The other main motivator for me is exploring practical bunkai. I'm relatively new to practical bunkai (about three years in), and this approach has opened up my karate training to intellectually and physically exciting new dimensions. It has also invigorated my teaching (I run a small club at a local YMCA, mainly for kicks...sorry...but also as a community service, though I do charge a small fee, and as a way to explore and test bunkai more effectively). Practical bunkai has also provided an avenue for digging deeper into the art, contributing to the system, and helping spread Okinawan karate. With all the kata in my system (18-19) and then other kata one could pick up by exploring other systems, there's more than a lifetime of things to explore, and plenty of motivation and goals!!

But you gotta love it. Lifelong karate is not for everyone. My wife and many of my friends just don't get my obsession with karate--they appreciate my passion and tolerate it, but it's not something they share. It's something I really love, and I enjoy training and exploring. It has always clicked with me. Indeed, there are times I get burned out or don't feel like training. Then, I take a short break, or I spend some time researching and reading, and that usually relights the fire. Or, I see where my training is becoming stale, and I develop other training exercises to vary it up a bit. But overall, you gotta really love it.

It also helps to be surrounded by other karate knuckleheads who love it as much as you do. I miss that where I am right now, and I feel very much like a Ronin. That's where attending seminars, browsing forums, watching videos, and researching really helps out. Seek out other engaging karate knuckleheads to help you stay motivated. Nothing like time with members of the tribe. 

Best,

David 

Mr P
Mr P's picture

Keeping yourself motivated beyond shodan is important and I guess lots of people go about it in different ways. I got my shodan back in 2007. Since then I have continued to train. My goals have shifted through the years.  At first I concentrated on improving technique and learning some of the many black belt katas in shotokan just for myself, that led to my Nidan and hopefully will lead to Sandan some time soon. I have also dabbled in judging and refereeing and even entered a competition for fun once myself, managing to get third place im male veterans kata. Over three years ago I opened up my own club independant from the association I normally train with as a new challenge, I wanted to move away from the pure sport style approach of teaching karate and start teaching some of the practical stuff I have picked up from Iain's teachings on this site, books, DVD's and the seminars I have attended. Meeting like minded karateka at seminars is always a buzz and spurs you on and I would recommend it to all. Running my own club has helped keep me focused and allowed me to practice an approach that would not be accepted in my usual place of training. It's great when I see my students developing and willing to contribute to the club.

Alan

Alex Morris
Alex Morris's picture

I know I'm just repeating what others have said but I agree that the most important thing when training is that you enjoy it. I've gone to other clubs and organisations when I felt I was starting to lose the will to train, mainly to get another perspective and find different ways to train but also to mix things up a bit. Over the years I've also seen a lot of people give up on training at brown belt or shodan and it seems such a shame.

I recall listening to one of Iain' podcasts and, if I recall correctly, he said that if you start to lose your motivation for training it can be worth taking a week off and spend the time watching martial arts movies, read martial arts books, watch martial arts videos on youtube, etc and just remember why you started training in the first place. Sound advice I think and maybe it's all that's needed to kick start your motivation again.

Hope this helps

Alex

marlon
marlon's picture

I have been there and my adivce is to Teach. Not as a business but to share something you love. Once you have others that you share you passion with depending on you for answers, the rest will fall into place. You will want to keep up your practice; you will want to learn in order to keep ahead; you will want to train; you will want to spend time with others at your rank and above. Teach and share your passion is my advice for motivation. With motivation, goals will come.

Cheers,

AllyWhytock
AllyWhytock's picture

I think I'm an average Karate Ka so here's my experience of self motivation over the last few years:

At 48 I'm thinking (vaguely, not in an obsessive way) of learning to train aged adjusted.  So I know that I'm slowing down, getting weaker and less flexibile; so I have to start thinking smarter. This opens up a lot of avenues of interest.

  1.  Pad/Bag work - Kihon Waza - mixing it up using HIIT Tabata. 
  2.  Pad/Bag work - Renraku Waza - combinations kihon - what may feel right against the air may be different against something harder and more awkward. Experiment on the bag.
  3.  Supplement - elastic rope for resistance & bag training - weights intermixed with bag work - running - cycling - hill walking. You'll be amazed at what goes through your mind during a long run/walk/cycle.
  4.  Kata - this is a given considering what forum we are on - Iain opened a door into a wider hall of study - with many other doors to open.
  5.  Syllabus - even if you don't have a class or want to run a class, create a syllabus for yourself starting at beginner to a high dan grade. Thinking and writing it down really does focus you and may even spring forth some new ideas.
  6.  More supplement - grappling & throwing - it makes you think about kata in a different light.
  7.  History - read Patrick McCarthy Hanshi. His translations of Motobu and The Bubishi.
  8.  Engage with other like minded people - Iain's seminars are ideal for meeting new folks. This includes Facebook. It sounds crass or cliched but there's a lot of people out there. You'll see that other folks have different ideas and different approaches to training. You can pick something up, run with it and keep it or drop it.
  9.  My broad goal from last year was grappling and in particular arm bars. I created an arm bar drill. Obviously you need a partner at times. If you don't have one then goto (8) and find someone locally you can train with in a garage or a fitness room etc. 
  10.  Write - put your thoughts down on paper and read them back. Refine and/or expand. Your writings don't need to go to anyone else; they are a mechanism for you to focus on or invoke other avenues of study.

Cheers,

Ally

chrishanson68
chrishanson68's picture

Goals are important, otherwise, it's a journey into oblivion.

For me it's broad: 1. revisit all kata, ensure I know the form

2. play with bunkai of kata, test, and connect concepts

3. cross train with other instructors and people

4. get my yearly seminar development in there

5. Read, study, take notes, write ideas

6. help others selflessly, no money, just all heart

7. give my knowledge all way to people....when I die, i want people to know I was generous and I helped them

OSU! Happy New Year.

Les Bubka
Les Bubka's picture

In times of lacking in motivation, taking a break was always refreshing. When I was living in Poland, every year we shut our dojo for 2 months in summer. Everyone returning in September was refreshed and hungry for training. In life we need a break and recovery time, it give us new perspective.

Kind regards

Les

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

This is an awesome thread! So much good stuff here which will be useful to all who read it! Thanks everyone for the great contributions!

All the best,

Iain

Wallace Smedley
Wallace Smedley's picture

Starting in a Chinese system with no rank structure to speak of, my goals were more focused on skills and understanding. When I began TKD the goals set before me were based on belts, but I still had the habit of focusing on particular skills that I wanted (for example; kicking to the head, defeating the dominant point fighter, etc). Keeping the focus on things other than rank helps with motivation. At least it has for me.

Ryan Danks
Ryan Danks's picture

Hey all, thanks for the amazing responses. I've been going through some self-reflection over the New Year, and decided to take up a new style. The suggestion that martial arts were no longer fun for me was correct. All my training, except for weekend training in Wado Ryu, has been in the so called "combative arts" (JKD, Muay Thai, SPEAR, etc.). I had the most fun learning trapping in JKD and in my karate training. So I'm going to try a style I've always wanted to learn, and that just came to my area: Kyokushinkai. Since they incorporate a lot of the same kata from Wado, maybe I can convince someone at the dojo to have some fun practicing applications of "grappling with strikes." Thanks again for the responses. So much good stuff in this thread.

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

Ryan Danks wrote:
Hey all, thanks for the amazing responses. I've been going through some self-reflection over the New Year, and decided to take up a new style. The suggestion that martial arts were no longer fun for me was correct. All my training, except for weekend training in Wado Ryu, has been in the so called "combative arts" (JKD, Muay Thai, SPEAR, etc.). I had the most fun learning trapping in JKD and in my karate training. So I'm going to try a style I've always wanted to learn, and that just came to my area: Kyokushinkai. Since they incorporate a lot of the same kata from Wado, maybe I can convince someone at the dojo to have some fun practicing applications of "grappling with strikes." Thanks again for the responses. So much good stuff in this thread.

Thank you for starting his thread as it is one I think many people will find useful. Your way forward also sounds good to me! Let us know how it goes.

All the best,

Iain

Les Bubka
Les Bubka's picture

Ryan I'm sure you will have no problems finding people from Kyokushin to practice bunkai. All the best and enjoy Kind regards Les

Alex Morris
Alex Morris's picture

Sounds like you have made a good choice Ryan. I have trained in kyokushin before and the challenge was great, I really enjoyed the kata and bunkai they practice (some I had never done before) and the knockdown type sparing was always good fun. Keep going and enjoy.

All the best

Alex