What Earning My Third-Degree Black Belt at 18 Taught me.
by Sueños on 04/13/17From the ages of 10-18 I studied martial arts intensively. I earned my first degree black belt when I was 14, my second degree when I was 16, and my third degree when I was 18-years-old. It was a moment I'll never forget. Each taught me something a little different. My first degree taught me what I was capable of when I set my mind on a goal. My second degree taught me that you always have more to give, even when you feel completely exhausted. The lesson of my third degree was best summarized by the Bruce Lee quote, that hung on the wall of our Dojo, "Success is the journey, not the destination."
It felt like I had been working for my third degree my whole life. Every brick I broke, every sparring session I won, each Kata I performed all culminated in the piece of black fabric with three beautifully embroidered lines, but it was the moment that I had my belt tied on me by my sensei, that I realized something much greater. I had learned so much more from every time I went home with sore hands from not breaking a single board. Each punch in the throat, and every kick in the head was a reminder to keep those hands up. Failure, in this case, was a much better teacher than success.
As I joined the dozen other black belts eager to welcome me among their ranks, I couldn't help but sit with this feeling of, "Well now what?" This was literally IT. This was everything I had spent the last eight years working for. I wasn't really too sure what to do with myself, so I dropped out. My final exam for my third degree black belt, was the last day I practiced martial arts.
What I learned from my experience was the journey, the grind, the exhaustion, was ultimately what made it fun. Having something to continually reach for is what inspired me to go to class four days a week. Now, as I resume my practice, the goals I set are arbitrary. They mean nothing more than the significance I've given them, yet they are the driving force of my practice.
So, if you find yourself having earned the thing you've always wanted, it's time to set new goals. It's time to define new heights. Because the reward is in the journey itself, not the things it brings you.
This is a guest post by one of our coaches Diego-Andreas. If you like this post, and want to read more like it, check out his blog at www.wonderingintomyself.com
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