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Read Master Pitcher's essay below. Read other "black belt essays" below that.
We look
forward to filling this page with the names of ALL our dedicated students!
What it Means to be a Master Duane Pitcher, 2005 “Master
of the Martial Arts”. The
question is “what does it mean to be a Master?”
Over the years I have met, learned from, and given my respect and
admiration to many men. To be given
respect is one thing. To earn
respect is quite another. A Master
should be someone that students can respect and look up to because it’s
deserved, not because of the number of years they’ve trained or the rank
attained. Throughout
my life, every person I have ever looked up to, thus far, has disappointed me;
Masters and Grand Masters alike. The
position of Master is critically important in that students try to be like their
Master instructors. So a Master has
to be a leader, and a person of goodness, in order to pass on those traits to
his students. I
do not want to be the type of Master that disappoints his students; that causes
them to lose faith in me or worse, in themselves.
In order to not be that type of Master Instructor, I can only
continuously work on what I want it to be; what I want myself to be; and what I
want myself to become. Of
course as “Master”, I begin with wanting myself to become stronger in all
aspects. Stronger in mind; stronger
in body; stronger in spirit. Attaining
the level of Master means not only a new level of Self Discipline, but a new
level of effort and commitment. Commitment
and effort in development of mind, body, and spirit.
Mind.
In my mind, I have only just begun to learn and have only a little
understanding of my art. To be a Master, I can not believe that I have all the
knowledge. I can never believe that
by reaching this level that I have learned all that’s necessary to pass on the
art to others. To think that I
graduated and can just teach what I know now would be a mistake.
I will learn all that I can in order to better myself as a person, as a
teacher, and as a student. I
owe it to my students to gather all the knowledge I can.
I owe it to the art of Tang Soo Do to maintain the highest level of
quality and tradition. I owe it to
my instructor to learn well, knowing that I will pass on all that is taught, and
more. Body.
I know that in physical character I have strengths that have not been
developed. My techniques are
ever-improving, and at a Master level they must always aspire to be exceptional.
Every motion and every technique must be executed properly each time,
with perfection although unattainable, as the ultimate goal.
As I get older, I may not be able to jump as high or kick as high, but
the execution of the technique will always be with the goal of seeking
perfection in mind. Spirit.
Body, mind and spirit are equally important and must intertwine to
achieve “Mastery”. Thus, to
strive to encompass body, mind and spirit at the highest level is what I see as
the greatest goal of achieving Master status.
Of the three, practicing and teaching the spirit of Tang Soo Do goodness
and brotherhood is arguably the most important.
A healthy body helps produce a healthy spirit. A healthy spirit (attitude) leads to achieving success. Developing a humble spirit and attitude leads one to understand that you must have an open, ever-learning mind and a healthy body in order to execute and perform techniques in the quest to achieving Mastery. Striving to achieve the best I can be may enable me to touch the lives of my students and inspire them to strive for the same. What a great achievement that would be! Master of the Martial Arts. Mastering goodness; mastering effort; mastering the spreading of Tang Soo Do spirit. Dedicating my life to achieving those goals, and helping my students achieve them too, is what becoming a Master means to me.
Tang Soo Do Essay...by T.J. Norton (9 years old)
I also like my instructor a lot - Kyo Sa Pitcher - because he’s half the reason I like karate a lot. Well three-fourths really. Another thing I like a lot is that my whole family is in it except my real Dad and his side of the family. And I especially get a big kick out of doing it with my Mom. In fact she’s the reason I stayed in karate at green belt when I was thinking of stopping. My advice to other kids is to stick with it too because in the long run you’ll end up loving it as much as I do. In the future I plan to open up my own karate school and ask my Mom to help me do the accounting for it. I think that karate is a great thing in life to do, and all kids, especially those with bad attitudes and bad behavior, should do it because it would make them turn over a new leaf.
BLACK BELT ESSAY...by Jim McGlinnen, Adult
There were a number of thoughts that crossed my mind when we completed
our Cho Dan test on September 11th. “Boy
am I hungry.” “I’m really excited.”
“Ow.” “I
wish I didn’t perspire so much.” “Ow.”
“That wasn’t so bad.”
I’m really glad that I stuck it out to complete the test.
So many things have happened in the years
since I began my journey, but I always (eventually) came back to class.
I found that no matter what I had going
on outside of the Do Jang, “it is always a better day if I go to Karate Class.”
I put this last sentence in quotes
because I have repeated it so many times to people I meet.
When you are an adult student, there are
so many reasons you can come up with to excuse yourself from class, “work,
family, fatigue, injury, etc, etc”. But
I’ve found that no matter how busy I am, I am more productive, and think more
clearly if I have attended class. It also
puts pep in my step (though sometimes a limp as well).
As we talked about the camaraderie created during the test at the dinner
afterwards, I was struck by the genuine warmth I felt towards all the Cho Dans
in attendance. Perhaps I was just
exhausted and tired, but I felt a real affection towards those people who I had
shared the day with, some of whom I had only met a few hours earlier.
Others, like Master Watson, Ms. Rayburn,
and Mr. Posh I have worked with for years.
Finally, I would like to acknowledge a special debt to Master Pitcher.
I have had the great privilege to work
closely with Master Pitcher for a number of years (I am usually the only adult
male attending Tuesday and Thursday morning classes).
I am always struck by his
professionalism, enthusiasm and his sense of humor.
As I have repeated to many newer
students, “If Master Pitcher says to do it, you will eventually need it.”
I consider Master Pitcher my friend, as
well as my teacher, I don’t think I would have completed this first step on my
journey without his help and guidance.
BLACK BELT ESSAY... by Kenzie Jones, 11 year old girl
When I first started karate I was four.
I loved it so much and I always wanted to become a black belt, but I
never thought it would actually happen.
It took me a while to come this far and I wanted to quit in the middle
but I’m glad my parents, my aunt (Master Watson), my uncle (Master Pitcher), my
cousin (Master TJ Norton), and everyone else at the karate school made me stick
it out. At first I was mad because I really wanted to stop and no one would let
me. But now I realize that it’s a
huge honor, and privilege to say I got my black belt.
It feels like, not real that my friend Kaylee and I finally tested and
today are promoting. It seems like
just yesterday we were at the old dojang learning our white belt form.
Right before the testing I was nervous that I was going to be the first
person to fail, but at the same time I was excited.
Toward the middle I was getting even more nervous.
My sprit and heart lifted though when I saw TJ and Megan walk through the
door. From then on I was doing
great. At sparring I was freaking
out because I hate sparring. And
because I hate sparring I decided to go first so I could get it over with.
It wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it would be.
After sparring I noticed that the only reason why I was so scared was
because I made myself scared. At the
end it made me feel so great that I finished testing.
Being in karate has taught me so many important things.
Like taking responsibility for everything you do.
And, if you get in trouble, own up to it.
And, you can’t make everybody happy; sometimes the only person you really
need to make happy is yourself.
In karate I have made lifelong friends that when I’m old I’ll look back
and actually remember their names.
I’ve grown up in the karate school.
Honestly, I didn’t know how much I would get out of karate when I first started.
I feel like karate has done a lot for me.
Thank you so, so, much to everyone that pushed me and made me do things that I really didn’t want to do to make me stronger. And a special thanks to Mr. Posh for helping me with technique, to Ms. Rayburn for pushing me and one on one attention, and to Tyler Cooley, Nick Schulz, and TJ Norton for encouraging me to finish and for all the fun times. And a super thanks to Kaylee Mitchell who was with me through every step of the way.
Less Than 1%...by Kaylee Mitchell
Less than 1% of Tang Soo Do students become black belts.
Almost all of them say “I will get my
black belt”, but less than 1% of them do. For
me I’m very proud to say that I’m part of that 1%.
Karate started for me when I saw my
brother Kyle throwing punches and kicks, I said to myself “hey I would like to
do that.”
I got my white belt when I was seven years old. I
was enjoying karate and I was learning ow
to defend myself. Once I got my yellow
belt I was filled with joy that I could learn new moves and new combinations.
Then I was working so hard to get my
orange belt , next thing you know I’m at my orange belt testing.
After testing, I found out I had to
retest on some things. I was so mad I
thought I failed, Kyle told me not to give up, he said he had to retest on
things too. I kept going to orange strip
to green, green 1, green 2 then red belt.
Once I got my red belt I told myself “I’m getting my black belt”.
As I got older I didn’t want to do karate
anymore. I wanted to quit so many times,
and I did quit for a while. But I knew I
invested too much time and effort into my training to give it up, so I came back
to finish what I started. I realized
that every time I said I wanted to quit I was pushing myself farther and farther
away from my goal.
One positive thing that came out of my stopping for awhile was my two friends
Kenzie and Karolina. They helped me when
I needed help, or when I was stuck on something.
And they always encouraged me to continue on with my goal.
I’m glad I got to test with them for
black belt.
The weeks before my black belt test were hard, and I trained more than I usually
did to make sure I knew everything.
I studied hard for the history test, and even though I was nervous, I felt like
I was ready for the big day. The
morning of my black belt test I felt scared, ready, and nervous - all at the
same time. Taking the history test
was easier than I thought it would be, and I was glad I had studied as hard as I
did. The black belt test was one of
the hardest things I have ever done.
It was a very long, hard day, and it felt like it was non-stop.
We got some breaks during the day, but it was challenging to go all day
long. I felt like I gave it my best
and tried my hardest. In the past I
have not always been very strong or loud in my training, but at my black belt
test I really gave it my all. I am
very proud of myself that I achieved my goal and feel like I will never let
anything stop me from achieving my goals now.
One of the best things about my karate experience was training with Master
Pitcher and Master Watson. They taught me
to respect people no matter who they are. They
also taught me how to tell myself never give up and to never quit.
They always pushed me to give 110% in everything I do, including school,
home life and in Tang Soo Do. I enjoyed
getting to know them and their family, and I appreciate being allowed to spend
time with them out side of the karate school.
I thank them so much for pushing me to achieve my goal of becoming a
black belt. TANG SOO!!!
What it means to be a 2nd Degree Black Belt...by Nick Stevers
To be a black belt can
mean many things to many people. For
example some see it as a person being trained in a way so that they can win
fights, others see it as a waste of time and that it will not help you.
To me, being a black
belt means that I am a unique person and only one of few who have made it this
far. My training has taught me great
things in the area of discipline and respect. Before
Tang Soo Do stepped into my life, I was a student in elementary school who had
grades equivalent to D’s and I had no control over my ADHD.
But now, I am a 4.0 student who is more
respectful and focused than most people in the classroom.
Also, my training has given me the drive
to succeed and the mindset to accomplish almost anything I try.
I still remember being
a lower gup and looking up at the developmental creed and seeing “Practice,
Practice, Practice leads to mastery.” That
is probably the phrase I remember most. My
training has also shown me very important lessons such as, even though nothing
is perfect, that the actions of a school should not be contradictory to its own
teachings. I know we always keep this on
the down low, but back in the PKSA, the schools were pit against each other,
always trying to out-do the other schools at testings, and team sparring at
competitions. One of the fundamental teachings of Tang Soo Do is that we teach
how to stop inner and outer conflict. But
here in the World Class Federation of Martial Arts, there is no conflict within
our Tang Soo Do family and we are all respectful and caring of each other.
Also, throughout my training, I had
experienced several situations in which there was always a higher-ranked gup
that would think they were better than you and boss you around.
That was in the old federations.
Here, in WCFMA, Master Pitcher has shown us that no student is greater
than another and all are equal. Through my training, I have had my eyes opened up to the limitless possibilities that Tang Soo Do has to offer if you give it your all. In my years of training I have learned that 100 percent isn’t enough. You can always give what you are doing more effort, and this has channeled throughout all parts of my life. One last thing is that I have learned that respect is a major part of how people react to you. If you are respectful to everyone you meet, you will have no enemies. Through my training I have overall become a better person in every field of my life.
The Ultimate Goal...by Diego Granados, 2nd degree black belt
“It is not a sport. Though it is not
essentially competitive, it has great combat applications.
It is a classical martial art, and its
purpose is to develop every aspect of self, in order to create a mature
personality who totally integrates his intellect, body, emotions, and spirit.
This total integration helps to create a
person who is free from inner conflict and who can deal with the outside world
in a mature, intelligent, forthright, and virtuous manner.”
What does it mean to be an E Dan?...by Olga Prushinskaya (17 yrs old) To me, right now it doesn’t feel like a big change from being a Cho Dan. It’s one more stripe on my belt that signifies I have to work that much harder, push myself that much further, and never give up. However, those are the mantras I have had to follow since I walked into the first dojang as a shy, wide-eyed eleven year old six years ago. I remember that day very well. I remember asking my parents if I could do karate because I thought it would be so cool. I remember my dad being really excited about it and my mom being sort of worried about it. I remember how excited I was when we pulled up to the dojang and how scared I was when we walked into the dojang. I remember Kyo Sa Watson asking me if I wanted to do a class right then and there. I was so scared I don’t even think I answered her, but simply shook my head in terror and my dad said that maybe we should come back to do a class later. I remember trying to put my belt on for the first time and getting all tangled up because earlier, when Kyo Sa Watson showed me how to tie it, I just sort of stood there, completely terrified, with a deer in the headlights look. And I remember my heart pounding in my throat when I first stepped out onto the floor. That has actually become a very familiar feeling over the years. I had that same feeling when I stepped onto the floor for testing two weeks ago. I guess the difference is that when I had that feeling as a white belt, it was because I didn’t know what to expect. When I had that feeling as a Cho Dan it was because I knew exactly what to expect. I guess to me, being an E Dan means putting what I have learned since that first day to good use in the best way I can. What does it mean to be an E Dan? I used to think that it means that everything I do would have to be perfect. Now, I know that that’s not true and the only thing that people expect from me is the same thing they have always expected from me. I also know that as long as I push myself and do the best I can, I can walk away with no regrets. What does it mean to be an E Dan? It means that if and when I stumble, I know there will be someone there to catch me. I know I owe my success in the past six years to people around me who have formed a safety net of sorts because I know that I will have someone to support me through the good times and the bad. Of course, there’s my parents. I want to thank my dad, who wouldn’t let me quit when I was a yellow belt, and who has trained and practiced with me since we first started karate. I want to thank my mom, who I know will come cheer me on even when she’s worried about me getting punched in the eye or something. There’s also the Kyo Sa's. I want to thank Master Pitcher for giving me the push I sometimes didn’t know I needed and also for teaching me front punch, because I had the hardest time with that when I was a white belt and after that everything came easy. I want to thank Kyo Sa Watson for being a good role model for me when I was a yellow belt and thought girls couldn’t be as strong as boys. I also want to thank all my fellow black belts because they have always supported me and cheered me on even when they were beating me up. Even during testing, when I accidentally kneed or kicked or took them down too hard, they always said “oh good job,” or “man, that was a good kick.” Last but not least, I want to thank TJ (editor's note: TJ is now16 as of this writing) for spending hours yelling, I mean training me for testing and helping me with things such as jump splits kick, and also pushing me when I didn’t want to be pushed during testing and getting me to do my best. I also want to thank him for being my partner for wrist grabs when I tested for orange belt and making it really hard for me. At the time, I thought he was just mean but now I know that that’s when I really learned that sometimes you have to be pushed in order to do your best. What does it mean to be an E Dan? Every 15 seconds, a woman in the United States becomes a victim of violence. Being an E Dan means that hopefully I can hold my own better then I could six years, two years, or even two weeks ago. To me, being an E Dan means that if push came to shove, I could do my best to stop myself from becoming a statistic. What does it mean to be an E Dan? It means being part of something bigger than myself. It means that I represent a small piece of the group that served as a role model to me in the years leading up to my black belt testing. And being an E Dan hopefully means that now, I can be a role model to some other wide-eyed eleven year old who comes in looking terrified and wants to learn karate.
The Never-Ending Goal...by Larry Raden (Adult) I have to admit, when I decided to "take up" Martial Arts at the Farmington dojang with my son, the idea of sticking around long enough to achieve the distinct honor of black belt never crossed my mind. The only goal I really had was to find an activity that would allow my son and I to spend some time together. Something that we would always have in common. Unfortunately, after a few months, my son decided that the martial arts were not for him and he went back to playing traditional sports. Although disappointed, I respected his decision and chose to continue training on my own. (The first hint that Tang Soo Do was starting to seep into my blood). As the only adult male in a class full of children and mothers, I questioned myself more than once as to why a 36-year old man would want to pursue such a youth-oriented activity. The answer came after my second belt testing. The overwhelming satisfaction of completing that test was enough to convince me that "black belt" would be my ultimate goal and that I would do my best to achieve it. Well here I am, almost four years later, taking the test of a lifetime. It was time to see if all the blood, sweat, and tears had paid off. This test would tell me if I had what it took to become a black belt. I had participated in my first triathlon several years back and didn't think I would ever again experience the level of satisfaction I felt as I crossed the finish line. While hunched over, grabbing for as much air as my lungs could handle, the level of satisfaction I had just achieved at the end of my black belt testing far exceeded my experience at the finish line. There is a question on the written test, the answer of which reminds me each and every day of what my goal needs to be not only in martial arts, but in life. The question asks us to describe in five words or less "why we study martial arts". The much-abbreviated answer to this question is "Develop every aspect of self". The training I have received over the past four years has helped me realize just how important this is in life. The one aspect of "self" that I feel is most important and is displayed most prominently by all of the instructors I've had the chance to train with is "selflessness". No instructor has shown more selflessness, in my eyes, than my instructor Kyo Sa Duane Pitcher. If not for his genuine desire to teach others the art of Tang Soo Do, I surely would not be writing this paper. I was told that an essay describing "what becoming a black belt means to me", would be required prior to promoting. I have thought long and hard about this question and although all of the "stock" answers are available, I do not think that I am capable of answering that question. There is a great sense of personal satisfaction that I have not felt in a long time, but there is still so much more to prove to myself and others. My main goal as a black belt is not only to improve myself, but those around me. I feel it is my responsibility to show my "juniors" how to reach this level of satisfaction while displaying the selflessness shown to me. Tang Soo!
BLACK BELT ESSAY...by Tomasz Nielsen (12 years old) For over 4 years I have been training at the Farmington (now Livonia) dojang and constantly admiring Kyo Sa Pitcher's black belt. Now you can just imagine the look on my face when I first saw Master Collins' belt with the red stripe running through the center, it was so cool! I simply loved the idea of finally having a black belt, though even just a green belt seemed impossible to achieve. I was sure I was going to quit. Most of the white belts I started out with had dropped out by orange belt. By green belt, things didn't turn out any better either. People just kept dropping out. By the time I tested for Black Belt, only two people I knew were still at my rank and didn't drop out. I have to say that really the only things that kept me in karate were my great friends (especially the best friend I still have to this day, T.J.). Also, having two great instructors, Kyo Sa Duane Pitcher and his wife, E Dan Valerie Watson, who always helped me out until I finally learned that one new thing, and never gave up on me, helped a lot too. I always looked at the black belts as the supreme leaders. They could defend so many attacks, do all these nifty forms, and boss you around. So keeping that in mind, I was a little scared when T.J. got his black belt. I thought that he would become really bossy and never be the same. Well, things went on as normal and I totally changed my mind about black belts. Sure they could defend themselves, as well as perform mind-boggling forms, but could also be kind and teach you how to learn something in a fun and creative sort of way. It was just then I realized something about a black belt. It is merely a symbol of an individual's hard work and dedication to Tang Soo Do. it doesn't change the good heart of the person wearing it. I know that a black belt is not even close to ending in martial arts. There is always one more step, one more thing to learn or do. That's why in this style you earn a midnight blue belt, not a black belt. Also, you earn stripes on your black belt to keep reaching for perfection. A black belt is something you work for, not something you just get. If you don't know how to defend yourself or can't teach others, you can't become a black belt. You can't bribe anyone (in Tang Soo Do at least) to just give you a black belt. You can't get it as a gift for doing something nice. You have to put your heart into it and do your best every day, even if it's just practicing at home to memorize something new. So basically to sum this report up, what a black belt truly means to me is an individual that can defend him or herself anywhere they go, but yet still have a sweet and caring side as well.
What Being A Black Belt Means to Me...By Keith Kubiak (Adult) I have always had a spark of interest in learning karate. Yet the opportunity never seemed to present itself until I became thirty-four. I have always been involved in sports and physical fitness. From football to basketball to baseball to aerobics, I have always craved physical activity. However, none of these activities offered me opportunities for personal growth, physically, mentally, or emotionally, like karate has. When my oldest son was five, he started karate in the out school program with Kyo Sa Pitcher. I took him to class. Parents were asked to participate by helping their children perform self-defense moves. I was very impressed with the out school program. For Father’s Day in June of 2000, my wife surprised me by signing me up for karate classes with my son. When I got to the Do Jang, I did not know what to expect yet I began training. Within the first month, my son decided to not continue karate. I was a little disappointed. I respected his decision, thinking maybe in a couple of years he would want to train in karate again. I decided to continue training without my son. At that point, I did not know how far I could or wanted to go. I almost quit training when I was a green belt due to the obstacles life presents. I had three small children, a wife working evenings, and a commitment to coaching my sons’ soccer, baseball, and basketball teams. The commitment to attend karate classes twice a week became more difficult. Despite the challenges, I continued to strive toward my ultimate goal of attaining my black belt. After reaching red belt, I felt my goal of black belt was in reach. I brought my three boys to evening classes with me at least once a week to watch, gain interest, and absorb the values taught in Tang Soo Do. Kyo Sa Pitcher was very understanding of my boys being present, and I have appreciated the value of family that was reinforced at his Do Jang. Whether my boys ever decide to participate in karate or not, I know that they have all gained much through observing the respect and discipline constantly present at the Do Jang. In February, 2004, during promotions, Kyo Sa Pitcher announced that I would be testing for Cho Dan on August 28th, 2004. A chill of fear and excitement went through my body. I will always remember a couple of Cho Dans at the Livonia school congratulating me and wishing me good luck in the upcoming test. One comment that stuck with me was “You better start running on the treadmill.” I took that recommendation to heart, knowing I had to do more to achieve my goal. For the six months prior to the black belt test, I began running four to five times a week and weight lifting, while increasing my time at the Do Jang. Throughout the process of training and studying Tang Soo Do and testing for my black belt, I have come to develop a stronger sense of respect, respect for others, respect for my self, and respect for attaining goals. Training in Tang Soo Do has strengthened my self-discipline, not just in karate, but all aspects of my life. And, maybe most importantly, Tang Soo Do has provided me the opportunity to be a role model for my boys in teaching them the values of respect, self-discipline, and achievement. I would like to thank my family for their love and encouragement. I would also like to thank Kyo Sa Pitcher, his family, and other Tang Soo Do members for teaching and inspiring me. I could not have achieved my goal of black belt alone.
WHAT IT MEANS TO GET A BLACK BELT...by Esha Joshi (11 year old girl) Honor. Respect. Pride. Confidence. These are the main aspects of what I have learned in my four years of karate. Karate has made a huge impact on my ways of thinking. In these four years, I have learned that karate is not about fighting but rather never giving up and I can see that I have never given up on myself. I started Tang Soo Do at the age of 7. I was just a white belt simply going to every class learning the moves. But as I progressed from white belt to red belt I realized that karate is more than self defense. It makes you understand the importance of hard work and effort that you have to use in the real world. That effort and hard work was necessary for me to get to black belt. But I couldn't have done it without my instructors who have helped me along the way. Before our lunch break, I thought that this test was a piece of cake, that I could do it no doubt, but boy was I wrong! Before the one mile run, I thought it was going to be easy. After I came back from the run, I was tired and happy that the test was over. But then I heard Kyo Sa Watson tell us it was time to do the Physical Fitness. As I look back on all the times when I didn't want to go to karate, I remember one thing very well: the support of my parents. Without their hopes of me becoming a black belt, I would be a simple red belt done with karate. Of course it took a lot of hard work, but it paid off. When I really got their support was when I was on my 25th push up during physical fitness. I heard my family cheering me on saying "Come on Esha, you can do it, you're halfway there"! That's when I felt that I could make it to black belt. Overall, I think that this test was worth me getting a black belt. A few hours later I called one of my friends over and when I was talking to him on the phone, I said "Hey, I just got back from my black belt test and guess what, I passed"! I really couldn't believe it myself but I achieved my goal.
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When
I was five years old I started training because I thought karate was cool and it
was something I wanted to do more than anything else in the world.
One of
the things that I like most about karate is being able to see my friends every
day and wrestle with them, even though sometimes we get too carried away and
have to stop for a bit.