Maturity

I remember reading somewhere that the measure of one's character could be determined in the execution of a punch or kick. That sounds like a bit of a stretch, although early Chinese thought implies a correlation between chi and morality. At any rate, a certain amount of wisdom is expected to be developed alongside of one's advancement in their art. Dan denotes a black belt rank, but another definition suggests a coming of age, not only chronologically, but in maturation. Children hold black belts, but they are not yudansha nor should they be regarded as such. Most schools will actually retest young black belts for shodan when they arrive at a certain age, usually 16.

In his book Nature and the Human Soul, Bill Plotkin describes a social ill that he calls patho-adolescence: adults - especially those in a position of authority and power - who possess the mental and emotional acuity of teenagers. Think of certain political figures that have headlined the news recently. Are there any sensei or black belts that you've come across that could be labeled as immature? The consummate martial artist should have a developed sense of responsibilty and self-control. One instructor I knew told me that he doesn't spar with his students out of fear of killing someone. I suggested a career in Special Forces. He didn't get it.

When I speak of maturity in the martial arts, it's not stoical indifference to joy or grief - believe me, there's plenty of both to be found in the dojo - but rather integrating wholeness within the range of human emotions. Some high ranking instructors that I've met mix a good deal of humor into their lessons. "Sometimes you have to entertain your students" a colleague of mine once said. It's good to lighten up once in a while. Being childlike is not the same as being childish.