Coloring Up
Today I was tested in Judo, and promoted from White belt to Yellow belt, which is the second belt in the US Judo system. It was honestly an honor. Judo is a time honored an respected art and to be a part of it is a legacy that goes back three hundred years and has been practiced all over the globe.
To hang up my Yellow belt next to my BJJ Blue belt is cool as well. I’ve definitely put blood, sweat, and tears into both belts. They don’t mean that I’m a better fighter than anyone, or that I’ve mastered the craft, very far from it. But to me they mean that I’ve worked hard at these arts and my betters saw fit to recognize that.
One of our most difficult social dilemmas is that so often, even here in America, we allow our world to be dictated by luck and circumstance. Martial arts is not and will never be my life, but to have some aspect of my life where I work hard and get recognized is deeply meaningful to me.