Rank

When I stepped away from the physical aspects of karate-do almost nine years ago I held the rank of nidan or second degree black belt. The ryu or school I was a member of had ten dan levels, so I had completed the first and second step only. As my original Sensei put it, “getting your black belt is like getting a bachelor’s degree. Getting second degree black belt is equivalent to a masters. “

During the initial tour of the new dojo, and the mini-interview that went along with it, the dojo manager determined that I had formerly held nidan rank, and explained to me that this style of Shotokan only had five levels of black belt.

Going into my first workout I brought my black belt but wore a white belt on to the floor. Unless asked I wasn’t going to presume. This morning, in my second work out, after the senior instructor present observed my kihon and kata for a few minutes, he stopped me and said, “Wear your rank, you deserve it.” Needless to say this felt enormously good. I will have to learn the technical differences between what I knew before and Shotokan, and complete a nidan test in their system before I’ll hold rank in the Shotokan Karate of America association, but I will be granted stature within the school based on my former status.

Like falling off a bicycle, you never really forget how.