The Black Belt Mill or My Belt is Bigger Than Your Belt…

Has there ever been a martial arts school that did not look at all other schools as some how inferior?

A buddy of mine, nice guy, I study Tai Chi with him twice a week, have been for the past couple of years starts to take Karate on the side. Somebody cut him a deal and so he has been working out at one of the most well known studios in town.

He’s excited and has been asking me questions and what do I think about this and that. I have just encouraged him to take it a day at a time, explore and see what he thinks.

Tonight after our workout he mentions a mutual aquaintance, an accomplished black belt, one that I have studied with over the years – we will call him “Bob” … Well Bob, proceeds to tell my Tai Chi friend that the Karate school that he is going to is a “black belt mill”…

Ironically the school where Bob and I studied together for three years is no more, it folded. At the same time, the “black belt mill” is still doing fine and has been for many years. The Sensei that runs that school is internationally recognized…

I think one of the positive things that MMA has done for the marital arts community as a whole, has been to blend different arts and styles and recognize that all martial arts have there place and application in the overall scheme of things.

Put another way, in the words of Bruce Lee…”do what works best for you”.

Your practice is 80% mind…. follow Mr. Lee’s advice and move on…