If you’ve never practiced a martial art, today is as good a day as any to try it. Everyone starts from the beginning. There are personal rewards along the way and great learning opportunities. All you need is your white belt, and to tie one on.

I’ve seen many students more excited about wearing a white belt than any other.  It is significant because it is the first step to martial art commitment.  To me, there is probably no belt more important than the white belt because without it you have no chance to earn a black belt.

The white belt starts the motivation to excel.  The student says, “If only I had a colored belt.” That thought pushes him along. The white belt is symbolic of  new beginnings. It is a stepping stone and a blank slate. Every nuance, each small step, develops you.  The white belt is the beginning, but, don’t allow that to sound insignificant.  Once you become wise in your art, you will realize that you are always a beginner, even after you earn the highest of ranks. Your first belt holds incredible importance, traditions, and opportunity, as if it were a jar containing excellence and potential, just waiting to be opened.

For those who are already martial artists, you have a colored belt or perhaps even a black belt. You wear faithfully wear it to every class. It is symbolic of your journey and your dedication. The color signifies the depth of your knowledge and it reflects your faithfulness to your martial art. Each color is a new chapter. Each new belt is an accomplishment. Tie one on.

Your instructor sees more deeply than the color of your belt, but you do not know that.  He sees the potential and he sees the essence of who you are.  Within each level there are infinite chances to become a better person, and that is what matters.

The colored belts are nice because they are a reflection of your upward learning.  They are the reward for the effort and everyone enjoys and deserves a reward for their effort.  I am always proud to hand a fresh new belt to students after a test. The crisp belt, creased from being folded, opens up from end to end in exactly the same manner their potential unravels.

When you receive a new belt, cherish it for a moment, then tie one on.

Once you tie one on, there is more to do.  What does it really mean, this belt?  When you tie one on, do you assume the role? Do you realize that its significance is more than a piece of colored cloth earned at some exam or test? When you tie one on, when you ready yourself for practice, you are a prepared warrior for life. You are the example to whom others will look. You are the voice of the martial artist. You exemplify the grace and understanding and diligence of your art.

Your responsibility, when you tie one on, is heavy. How you treat others, what you say, and how you react is the sweet nectar embedded in the fruit of your learning. You will not always agree with others. You may wish things were different. But if you focus on your own truth and your own mission, you will find that patience will strengthen you and that you will succeed. It does not matter what color the belt is; you are a martial artist.

If I had to pick my most memorable belt, other than my black belt, it would be the green one.  At that exam, in front of many, many people, I had to kick and break boards for the very first time.

I failed miserably.

It is a story I share frequently to remind others how important it is to keep trying. When I say I “failed,” what I actually mean is that I missed my first two attempts. With everyone watching, stillness in the air, I jumped and the boards were like rubber and my foot bounced off.  There was absolutely nothing wrong with the boards. They were wood, through and through. Looking back, I can see that fear of failure and fear of rejection lingered over me like a huge cloud, preventing me from succeeding.  It was not until I let everything go, when I finally told myself that it didn’t matter how I looked to anyone else, but that for me and only for me, I must do it.  I  broke them with ease on the third try.

I received a green belt that day and never looked back.  That pivotal moment shaped the rest of my martial art journey, not the fact that I broke the boards, but the fact that I learned the greatest lesson ever, and that was to believe in myself.

The martial artist makes mistakes, has fear, and loses sight of what is important on occasion.  Those moments pop open like a blister when you least expect them, and then it takes time to heal them up and toughen up again.  They are learning moments.  They are compelling moments.  They are when you grow the most and why it is so important to tie one on.

At the very least, a martial artist should strive to live with a personal code, to be the best he can be, uplift others, inspire, and motivate. This is the very basic level of martial artistry.  As he builds upon these core values, he offers his attention to others.  When he puts his gi on, and ties his belt, he is more than he was before.

Whatever belt you wear around your waist, or even if you are not a martial artist, there are many lessons revealed here.  If you have a dream, a mission, or a goal, you cannot afford to waste time.  You must work toward it diligently and efficiently, and enjoy the journey at the same time.  Life is short, yes; so make the most of it.  Believe in yourself, push yourself, make a difference.

Every human being on earth is essentially a white belt trying to find his way, seeking personal truth, and hoping for success.  Every person can wrap the white belt concept around his heart and carry it with him and every person can live with a black belt mindset.  As well, every person can recall a “green belt” moment of personal failure and realize why he must  break through the barrier.

Today, I ask you…actually, I implore you…to tie one on.

Andrea