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What is it to be White?


It has been a while since I was a total beginner in a system of a martial art wearing a white belt. There are some things that white belt symbolizes to me:

A white belt symbolizes an openness to learning, as a white belt has no knowledge prior to the fundamentals of the art. It can be considered a "blank state" where, everything can be poured down into it later.

Even though I had previously received various martial arts training, being a white belt means completely forgetting all of them (which is quite hard) while being in the dojo, being in a state where you know nothing is as exciting and difficult at the same time. And for the first time in my life, I feel the responsibilty of being a white belt.

It also symbolizes a bond of trust to the instructor to guide myself to my path. Being trustful doesn't mean being blind to everything around the dojo, one must be critical enough to think and compare, then ask what one does not comprehend to the instructor.
Being a white belt also means giving hope, as a total beginner, it is a gift - if not a burden - to completely submerge my self in the comprehension of kihon, or basics. It is the only opportunity to train the fundamentals of an art. A white belt is a speck of hope of someday he/she will continue and further develop the art.

It is a suppression of ego, I begin knowing that I am not expected to know anything but as I progress, that expectation changes. Maybe when as a black belt, I may feel superior to a brown belt, and being better in everything. Being a white belt made me realize, that I also am a beginner, and will continue to develop as anyone else.

And it made me realize that rank is not that important in an art, it is the development that matters. One may be a blackbelt, but if one has the ego of a 5th kyu, then it is pointless.

--Self Introspection--
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