Black Belt Habit
As dedicated students of martial arts, you will know that being a black belt is about more than having a black belt. Of course, it’s not just a belt! It is a symbol of the hard work and discipline it took to become a master of martial arts. When you see someone with a black belt, you can be sure that you know a few things about them before you even speak to them.
This does not mean they are all the same type of person, or even that they have the same personalities. It simply means that people with black belts often have special qualities called black belt habits. This is what helped them earn their black belt, which gives you an idea about their character and work ethic.
Being a Black Belt
So, what do people who have black belts have in common? Well, aside from martial arts, they are usually very determined and have a strong work ethic. These are qualities that they can use outside of martial arts, like in other sports, their careers, and in their community work. Think of it as a certificate or diploma, it shows others that they were able to study hard and earn a special qualification.
As you already know, it takes a lot of effort to earn a black belt and not many people achieve that rank. Does this mean that only a few special people can become black belts? No, everyone is able to earn it, but few people have the black belt habits needed to become a true black belt.
What Are Black Belt Habits
There are two main qualities that sets black belts apart from their peers. The first is a strong work ethic. Although many people might attend a martial arts school, few have the discipline of a strong work ethic to help them become masters. This means that they practice very hard and often. They stick to a task until they can do it perfectly.
The second quality is patience and perseverance. Studying martial arts is difficult. It could take years, if not decades, to become a real black belt. Sometimes, you may study for a very long time and not move up in rank. This is where perseverance comes in, without it, no one would ever become a black belt.
There are of course other qualities needed to become a black belt, like strength, respect, and good communication, to name a few. But work ethic and perseverance play the most important roles in starting your journey towards becoming a black belt.
Developing Black Belt Habits
Few people have black belt habits naturally. Instead, these are habits masters instill in themselves through repetition. This means they make the decision to have these habits, and then use them over and over again until they become part of their routine. If you want to have these black belt habits, you don’t need to be a black belt. Simply make the choice every day to use black belt habits, even outside of martial arts!
