Now That I Have My Black Belt, Should I Still Continue My Training?
Absolutely!
I don't mean for this to sound pejorative, but getting your black belt is a lot like graduating from kindergarten(1). While achieving it is an amazing accomplishment (and one that should be lauded thoroughly), it's really just a foundation for what's to come. Now the real learning can begin!
Peace to you, friends...
Notes:
For some dojos and training programs, one cannot obtain a black belt until one has trained for at least eight to ten years. For such training protocols as these, I'd equate obtaining one's black belt with graduating from elementary school (as opposed to just kindergarten). Again, this is not to belittle one's earning a black belt (or something similar). On the contrary, l consider it an outstanding accomplishment. The point in all this is, now that you've earned your black belt, you can now begin to explore intimately the nuances of your art (as well as other arts), and begin to tailor things to you rather than the other way around.
My new book, Experiments in Prayer: Monastic Practice in Ordinary Life, is now available in paperback from Amazon.
Click here to access my Amazon book page.
100% of all author royalties are, most gratefully, donated in equal parts to Christ the King Church and Zoweh Ministries.
A Note to All My Blog and Social Media Friends and Followers:
I've made it a point, over the last decade, to accept friend and follower requests from any who ask. I think I've "defriended" only three or four people in the last ten years and did so only because they posted inappropriate material to one of my walls or timelines. Thankfully, it's been several years since anyone committed such a breech of etiquette.
I write all this to indicate I have many "friends" and "followers," whom I do not know personally (yet!). Lately, I've been getting countless (sometimes more than 200 a day) messages from people I don't know. Please know this: I speak a brief word of blessing over each person who sends me a message, but I can respond directly to only a few each day. If I did not discipline my activities in this way, I could, conceivably, spend my entire day every day responding to such messages.
By disciplining myself to the above social media activity-limitation plan, I in no way want to belittle or disrespect anyone or hurt anyone's feelings. My hope and prayer is that, even if I don’t respond to your message directly, you will know I cherish you and pray you'll experience God's love and grace personally and deeply. Experiencing God is the highest Good anyone could ever experience. May each of you experience such Good through your pursuits of Divine Union with Jesus Christ, the Eternal Living God.
As always, may the Lord bless you and keep you…
IKIGAI Weekly Blog Schedule (per The Training Trinity):
Mondays: Meditative Prayer
Wednesdays: Holistic Discipline
Fridays: Martial Arts Practice
www.TempleMartialArtsTraining.com
