Sensei Mutton checks the form of Black-belt Mark Madden
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The instructor:
Sensei Howard Mutton
Rank: 6th Dan
Age: 52
Year Black-belt achieved: 1975
Years training in karate: 35+
What does your Black-belt grading involve and who grades the participants?
Typically, in WSKF, our 1st Dan Black-belt grading involves about 10 multidirectional combinations of three-to-five moves. The karate in WSKF tends to involve very dynamic spinning techniques and some of these are incorporated into our Dan gradings. Following this, the examinee performs two kata: one of his choosing and one chosen by the examiner. Finally, the examinee will participate in jyu kumite (free fighting) for a number of rounds.
A 1st Dan examination would last 30-to-40 minutes on average.
Only Godan (5th Dan Black-belts) and above are permitted to conduct a Black-belt examination.
In the grading, are you looking mainly for an indication of effective self-defence skills or proof of the spiritual and disciplinary outcomes of the students’ training?
In a grading lasting less than an hour, we aren’t going to get much opportunity to ‘look into the soul’ of the student. I’d like to think his or her instructor has got to know their personality having trained them for many years. In a grading, primarily we’re analysing their technical ability as well as their attitude — attitude, meaning that they can perform beautiful kihon [basic technique] and kata but if when fighting they show cowardice or reluctance to participate, then we would seriously doubt whether they have ‘the right stuff’ to be a Black-belt.
Are injuries common in the grading?
Apart from suffering from a nervous disposition, not really! Sure, people might get a little excited during the fighting time, particularly young men, but this is normal and no real harm occurs. In fact, it shows a determined spirit. Good preparation and good examination procedures ensure that rarely do we have any major injuries at our Dan gradings.
How do you think your Black-belt level and grading compares to other schools’?
I’ve never really done any comparisons with other schools and to be honest, I don’t know if it’s a valid thing to do, as situations can very between organisations and countries. However, from my experience in mainstream Shotokan karate, I think we’re all fairly similar in the quantity of what we do — maybe a couple of kata, a number of pre-determined kihon (basics) and then some free fighting. I don’t think one particular system is any better than another, as we all emphasise different things. Within WSKF we perhaps differ slightly in that our system includes a number of spinning/turning techniques not common in other Shotokan systems and we include some of these in our Dan gradings, however, that’s not to say that our gradings are superior or inferior. With respect to other groups, I think we’re all singing the same song, with perhaps slight variations in the beat.
Does instructor-student contact and further learning slow down thereafter?
The analogy to this is a bit like children who have lived at home with their parents all their lives and they grow up and move out of home to a place of their own. They suddenly have to become more independent and self-sufficient, and less reliant on their parents. So it is with the student–teacher relationship in karate where, for many years, the student is dependant on his sensei for his learning. Eventually that student becomes a teacher in his own right and so the cycle continues. However, while concentrated teaching/learning between teacher and student diminishes, in our organisation we try not to let it disappear altogether. We encourage our Black-belts to train at other WSKF clubs in our group and Black-belts will regularly get together for training. Geographically we have huge distances to cover but, as part of my role in Australia, I also make a point of visiting all our eastern States’ dojos at least once or twice a year to run training seminars. So student–instructor contact can and does diminish if that student wishes to open his or her own club. Does learning diminish? I hope not!
Can your students become instructors after achieving the Black-belt or can they instruct before reaching Black-belt?
I don’t think being awarded a Black-belt miraculously makes someone an instructor. There are many Black-belts out there who don’t have the right attributes to be effective instructors. Conversely, I’ve had good Kyu-grade students who can instruct with high quality and convey, very well, the correct message. Generally speaking, we prefer our instructors to be at least Shodan (1st Dan) and ideally Sandan (3rd Dan), although some circumstances (for example, remote locations) do not always allow this.
How many other ranks must be earned before reaching Black-belt and how many more can be earned afterward?
Within the WSKF in Australia, we have nine Kyu grades or ‘steps’ prior to 1st Dan Black-belt. This is in our adult stream. With our junior students, they have around twice as many grades to work through leading up to Black-belt. In Western society, we are ‘programmed’ for achievement/reward and this junior syllabus provides continual encouragement to younger students who otherwise may be left languishing on a particular Kyu grade for months or years, as we generally wouldn’t allow anyone younger than the age of 16 to attempt a Black-belt examination.
Post 1st Dan Black-belt, there are actually nine more Dan grades. Whereas the time between Kyu-grade examinations are measured in months, time between Dan grades is always measured in years and the time between each grade is elongated as one becomes higher ranked. Although these higher Dan rankings exist, they are not awarded very often and very few achieve them. In WSKF internationally, our president, Sensei Takeaki Kamiyanagi, is the only 9th Dan and he was a direct student of Sensei Funakoshi Gichin. Our international chief instructor, Sensei Hitoshi Kasuya, is 8th Dan and only three or four others possess this rank in our organisation. We have 84 member countries in WSKF so you can see these higher ranks aren’t issued indiscriminately.
Where does the syllabus come from and who designed it?
The syllabus we use for Black-belt examinations is designed by Sensei Kasuya and is used internationally in our organisation. I believe most mainstream Shotokan groups follow a similar path with their Dan gradings, with some minor differences in their content, while still maintaining a standard mix of kihon, kata and kumite.
Are you looking to refine or add to your Black-belt syllabus or training?
No. Because we’re obliged to follow the Japanese Dan-grading syllabus, alterations are out of the question. Training, of course, is a different matter and is determined by both the needs of the students and the particular abilities and desires of the instructor. The beauty of this system is always highlighted when we attend our International Seminar in Japan every second year. At this time, WSKF members from many countries train together as well as attempt Dan examinations. It’s really impressive to see that what I’ve been teaching to someone in preparation for 1st, 2nd, 3rd Dan or beyond, is exactly the same as being performed by a person from Iran, Russia, Canada or any of our other member countries.
Is your school’s Black-belt grading as difficult or punishing as your own was, or less so?
Hindsight can tend to make one a bit amnesic with respect to past negative experiences and hence we tend to say people have it easy now compared to how it used to be. However, compared to my own 1st Dan exam, yes, our current examination is, in quantity, very much reduced. Everybody’s circumstances are different and my early grading back in the 1970s was extremely gruelling, with a typical 1st Dan grading lasting between two-and-a-half and three hours, non stop. However, I would have to say that sometimes less is more, and with our gradings today, our emphasis is on much greater perfection of Shotokan technique, much more attention to fine detail, whereas with my past it was more a case of whether one could still stand at the end of it! Personally, I liked the old way as it’s something you remember the rest of your life with a deal of pride and satisfaction. One could argue that in today’s world, in the age of litigation, duty of care etc, this style of grading just wouldn’t be suitable. However, from a personal development perspective, I think it would definitely have its place.
What is the success rate among students who attempt the Black-belt grading, and how many do you promote to Black-belt each year?
Generally, only a few would grade for 1st Dan Black-belt each year. This would be done either by Kasuya Sensei or myself.
The success rate is quite high. This might seem odd, but the truth is that unless an instructor is convinced that his or her student is totally prepared, has put in the hard work and is at the required standard, that student simply won’t be recommended for a Dan grading. Now, it’s not to say examinees don’t fail sometimes, of course, they do, but we expect students attempting a Black-belt examination to be totally committed and prepared to attempt that exam and being that rank.
How many students (of those who join) make it to Black-belt, and how long does it generally take them?
I would guess that maybe of 100 people that start karate training as a beginner, only one or two would get to Black-belt level. In WSKF, progression from beginner to 1st Dan Black-belt would typically take a minimum of three years, training continuously two or three times per week.
What do you think a Black-belt grading should aim to achieve and instil in the student, and what should it mean to them personally?
One of my early instructors said two things to me after I was awarded my 1st Dan Black-belt: firstly, he said not to get cocky about being a Black-belt. Importantly, he also said that getting a Black-belt is like having the door to learning open up to you and that all the work I’d done leading up to that point, was just basic preparation — now I could really start to learn. So with that in mind, I would suggest that firstly, the new Black-belt should have had inculcated in him a sense of humility. This sounds a little clichéd but it does ring true and as a purist, I believe it’s one of the early edicts upon which our art was formed.
Secondly, they should have a sense of pride in what they’ve done. This may seem to conflict with the previous comment, however, we all need to have a sense of self-worth. Over the years I’ve seen instances where someone who was perhaps not in a very good place mentally has achieved his or her Black-belt and it’s been a positive, life-changing experience. As well, this pride would extend towards other members of the Black-belt ‘brotherhood’ and awareness that they too have made this great achievement.
The Black-belt must also be prepared to pass on that knowledge to other students. In other words, they should not focus on themselves, but be willing to help others learn the art that they have learnt.
The Black-belt should have an awareness of what came before them. A tradition when we enter any dojo is that we bow when we enter and we bow towards shomen (the front) at the beginning and end of class. This is martial arts etiquette and shows humility and respect for our forefathers in the martial arts. Understanding this and other historical aspects of our art is something a Black-belt must never forsake, as it’s part of our heritage.
Humility should be part of a Black-belt’s makeup; respect for other Black-belts and respect for lower ranks. In our organisation, a Black-belt that does not have this quality would get very short shrift indeed!
Is Black-belt as important a milestone as it is generally seen to be?
Definitely. Is it held in the same regard as it was 20 or 30 years ago? Sadly, I think not. Reaching this level is not easy; if it was, every man woman and child who walks in a dojo would be wearing a Black-belt. It takes a lot of blood, sweat and tears and is a very great personal achievement.
However, I believe that there has been a dilution and perhaps a devaluation of how Black-belts are now regarded. When I was a young coloured-belt going through the ranks, we would look at Black-belts in total awe. We thought they could walk on water! We read and heard about their training regime and other exploits and it was something we strived for and tried to emulate. A Black-belt was something that took a long time to reach and because of all this, very few attained it.
I think over time, due perhaps to commercial demands, far too many Black-belts have been given out indiscriminately in various organisations. They’ve been given out to non-deserving individuals as simply a way to make money and as a purist, this saddens me and I’m sure would have our karate forefathers turning in their graves. I’ve seen instances where very young children are promoted to Black-belt, and others where students have awarded their Sensei another rank. I’ve even heard of 22-year-old 4th or 5th Dan Black-belts and all these things sadden me somewhat and detract from what should be a very elite position in our martial arts.
In Shotokan and other mainstream Japanese karate, I’d like to think that generally, these sorts of things don’t occur. Other groups may have different philosophies on this matter and to some, this may be an old fashioned and naîve opinion, but I just feel a Black-belt stands for something and the rank shouldn’t be handed out willy-nilly.
The student:
Mark Madden
Rank: 2nd Dan Black-belt
Age: 46
Year Black-belt achieved: 2004
Years training: 8
What do you think a Black-belt assessment should look for in the student?
I feel that when grading for a Black-belt, a student must be assessed on their understanding and demonstration of individual techniques, their attitude and concentration (zanshin) while performing those techniques and, more importantly, their total commitment to performing each move as if they were in a life-threatening situation. This was what I was required to do when I undertook my Black-belt examination.
How long (and often) had you been training before you got your Black-belt?
I was training Shotokan karate for nearly four years before I achieved my Black-belt. After obtaining my Brown-belt, which is the precursor to the Black-belt, I was training three or four nights per week.
How do you think your Black-belt rates against those of other schools in terms of the skills required, its level of difficulty, etc.?
I’m not aware of other schools’ skill level or difficulty factor relating to their students obtaining a Black-belt. However, the preparation necessary for me to undertake the examination for my Black-belt was fairly intense. I trained regularly at our local dojo together with extra one-on-one training sessions with my sensei. I also undertook an extensive fitness training program at my local gym to attain the fitness and stamina necessary to undertake the examination. I know that it was a very difficult examination for me and it required absolute commitment and determination to achieve the Black-belt.
Is Black-belt as important a milestone as it is generally seen to be?
Yes, to me it was a very important milestone. It basically was the start of a journey that made me really appreciate what Shotokan karate is about. I now realise that karate-do is a way of life and every training session that I attend, I learn more and more about myself. Many people who have not reached Black-belt level don’t realise that a Black-belt is only the beginning of a learning cycle and the battle is within yourself to continue training and constantly improve your technique and understanding of this ancient martial art.
Did earning your black-belt change you?
Earning my Black-belt has definitely changed me as a person. I have become a much calmer person and It has provided me with more confidence and made me realise that I can achieve anything that I put my mind to. When I started my karate journey as a White-belt, I could not imagine the feeling of achieving a Black-belt, but now that I’ve achieved this honour, it feels like a dream come true.
How does the process of getting the belt rate among the hardest things you’ve ever done?
I would rate it as one of the hardest things I have done in my life. It required me to demonstrate a high level of skill together with the right attitude and stamina. In our organisation, students are only selected by our sensei to undertake a Black-belt grading after many years of training. It’s dishonourable for a student to approach the sensei and ask if they can grade for Black-belt.
I feel that the process of achieving a Black-belt should be difficult, to really test the character of a student.
In your opinion, could the Black-belt syllabus or the method by which the belt is achieved be improved?
No, I feel that the syllabus currently used by WSKF is a good test to see if a student has the right mix of skill, attitude and understanding of the concepts of Shotokan. It should be noted that the syllabus used for my grading is the same method used in approximately 84 WSKF member countries around the world.
What, essentially, does the Black-belt represent to you?
My Black-belt represents the amount of hard work that I put into achieving this honour. It also represents the ability to achieve something significant in life when you put in the required effort. More importantly, it has made me realise that achieving a Black-belt is not the end but the beginning of a road to continuously learning and improving my karate.
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