Black Belt Blog

How I Became A Reluctant Black Belt

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

What's your image of a black belt? Young, male, fit? Yep - I had that same thought. I don't fit that image... Nearly fourty, female and a whimp. Here's my story - the story of the Reluctant Black Belt.

When I started with Dynamic Self Defense, it was to be involved in an activity with my husband. He had always wanted to get into a martial arts and liked the idea of earning a black belt. Me, not so much... I was somewhat reluctant. I wanted to be with my husband and learning self defense was just a bonus.

Over the first few months I got to know all the adults and to my surprise there were women there! Most of us adults were not the young and fit type either. I found a place that I could be comfortable, work up a sweat and have fun. As I progressed, I found a sense of confidence about the skills I was learning and I really impressed myself with these new abilities.

This doesn't mean there were times that I wanted to quit and be done with it - because there were many. Sometimes an injury would make me frustrated and achy or I would feel totally overwhelmed with the rest of my life and feel that I needed a break. But, I had the support of my classmates - all of them having similar issues and many of whom are now black belts too!

There was a point when I realized that I wanted that black belt. I determined that I was worth the struggle and I was going to push through and earn it.

Now, with a black belt around my waist, I look back at the 3 years of training and I am so proud of myself. I accomplished something I didn't set out to do but turned it into something worth doing for myself.

Mr. Mulhollen guess what happened to me today?

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

7 year old Nicholas came in to the school with a skip in his step as he called out to me. " Mr. Mulhollen? MR. MULHOLLEN? Guess what happened to me today?" His father looked on with smiles as he helped Nicholas take off his coat. " Hello Nick!" I said "What happened?" Nick motioned for me to lower down so he can whisper it in my ear. As I bent down on one knee, Nicholas clasped his hands up to my ear and said "I had to defend myself against a bully today.
Can I share it with the class?" I smiled and assured him before class was dismissed that he would be able to tell his tale. After an intense instructional training session, it was time for Nicholas to share his story. I motioned for Nicholas to come up front so everyone could see him and with a clearing sound of the throat, Nick began to speak. "Today in gym class a bully came up to me and grabbed my shirt, before he was able to do anything else, I stepped into him and while grabbing him around the waist, I knee'd him in the groin and pushed him away. I ran to get a teacher while the bully was on the ground." Faces showed signs of approval as I peered over his fellow classmates as they all clapped for Nicholas doing the right thing.

It wasn't some fancy move or difficult maneuver that helped Nicholas but rather a few practical and effective techniques that Dynamic Self Defense students train on everyday. Practical, effective, and realistic: These words are the backbone of how we train. Stop by and see for yourself what Dynamic Self Defense can do for you!

On The Road To Black Belt

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

On the road to Black Belt you'll have plenty on opportunities to quit.

There will be that class that pushed your buttons at the wrong time. That time when your back gave out from going at it too hard on the ground. The broken bone from a technique gone awry.

There will be the heat, the aches, the bruises and of course that board that didn't break and instead almost broke you.

Focus on these things and the road to Black Belt will lead you somewhere else.

Focus instead on the laughs, the comradery, the shared triumphs.

The technique that wouldn't click and the encouragement and support of your fellow classmates in helping you get it down... in a way that works for you not just "by the book."

Focus on the new found confidence, your new physical skill, your inner peace knowing fully that fear and pain will not stop you.

Focus on increased physical fitness, pounds lost, legs that lift higher than they did before! Look back and see how far you have come.

And don't quit...

The road to Black Belt isn't traveled in a week, a month or even a year.

Black Belt isn't just a term to be used lightly or to make things sound cool. It's a state of mind and the result of a won't quit attitude.

I earned my Black Belt in Dynamic Self-Defense, not because I'm the worlds best fighter, the stereotypical athlete or even the best student in the class. I earned my Black Belt because I didn't accept the excuses to quit.