I recall the moment after I received my first-degree black belt, I asked myself this question over and over “Where to from here?”. I was wondering what my next journey would be like, apart from being able to wear a black garment around my waist, the hakama, to hide my dodgy footwork. I realised later that being promoted to a black belt was like being thrown back to the beginning of my coloured belt cycle. However, this time around I was less confused and hazy. I knew exactly what I needed to work on, and it was pretty much everything.
So what was there after the black belt? In my case, I sensed that the black baggy trousers we wear carry an intangible quality that we are expected to meet rather than just appearance. Over the course of time, I felt a personal calling to pursue excellence in my own training while simultaneously helping others to progress through their journey.
How do we progress ourselves? Some may think that by the time we reach black belt there is a little more training to do or that it is time to slow down. However, I like to compare learning Aikido with learning to drive, meaning that to become a confidence we have to actually sit behind the steering wheel and learn to drive. Likewise with Aikido, I believe it is essential that we continue to train regularly, as much as our physical condition and life situations permit, to maintain the knowledge and skills that we have gained so far, as otherwise they could deteriorate over time. I am reluctant to accept a notion that we can be proficient at Aikido by watching instructional videos or reading books, but not practicing. There is more reason for us to train progressively since the Aikido syllabus becomes complex as we move up through the ranks. We can discover what works and what doesn’t simply by engaging with our fellow practitioners during regular classes, workshops, and seminars. In my view, reaching a black belt does not mark the end of our journey. There is always room for us to improve. The underlying point is to keep ourselves motivated and driven towards progress to the next level. I believe the moment we stop training is the moment we stop the flow of Aikido within our system.
How can a black belt help others to learn? From my experience, this particular calling needs to be approached thoughtfully, as the outcome could either be positive or negative for both parties. We may assume that the only way to help others is to become a formal instructor or teacher and do nothing else. The question is how can we become a knowledgeable instructor if we are reluctant to train ourselves? Some may push the boundary by shadow teaching other practitioners during class, undermining the main instructor. When I was a coloured belt I always found shadow teaching to be counter-productive. I found it more frustrating when the person kept stopping me from practicing and showing a different way than what the instructor was demonstrating. Over the course of my training, I came across an alternative way to help others to learn. I discovered that we could achieve this simply by being a respectful and cooperative training partner to whoever we are training with, regardless of their skill level or experience. We could lead our counterparts through the techniques by using our own body movements and footwork during practise. This interaction would allow them to feel for our moves and energy, which subsequently opens up an opportunity for them to self discover how the technique works with minimum interruption. I found this process of exchanging information via physical connection is mutual as I could use the same opportunity to learn from my partners too. I believe we should keep intrusive chatter to a minimum during practice, especially when we are not the instructor of the class.
In summary, there is an old spiritual quote “It is better to conquer ourselves than to win a thousand battles” (Dhammapada, v.104-105). From many training scenarios I have been going through, I dare to say it is ironic that Aikido black belt practitioners are susceptible to situations where we could become egotistical towards each other due to the non competitive nature of the art. It is a negative state of mind that adversely affects our attitude and training progress on the mat. One example would be when a practitioner intentionally resists receiving techniques performed by other black belts during practice just to show dominance. Another is when a practitioner deliberately refuses to follow what the class instructor is demonstrating as an act of defiance or a false sense of confidence. I believe in order to grow we must first become humble and willing to admit that we are not as skilful as we would like to think. I believe it is crucial that we are always honest with our shortcomings and continue to improve ourselves before we begin to make any claim that we know it all. I found this to be true, in a way that blending and neutralising our own ego is probably the most difficult technique to master in the black belt syllabus. Perhaps we should embroider an “L” plate on the back of our black trousers or hakama as a constant reminder that we are a learner nonetheless.
I would like to extend gratitude to Sensei Henry Lynch for encouraging us to always pursue excellence in our Aikido development by training as a whole system, not just focusing on specific elements. I understand that by training in such a way, it would enable us to remain truthful to ourselves and identify what other areas that we still need to work on, regardless of how complex or simple the techniques we are practising.
My gratitude also extends to Sensei Danny McIntyre for encouraging us to always apply our Aikido principles beyond the four corners of the dojo walls. We train rigorously not only to improve our techniques, but also to improve the way we blend and deal with real life challenges and people outside Aikido.
Thank you to my Dojo Cho: Sensei Conrad Edwards, my teachers: Sensei Matt Tebbs, Sensei Lyn Meachen, and Sensei Andrew Watson for the ongoing guidance, support, and inspiration that they have given me throughout my training journey.
Last but not least, many thanks to all my fellow practitioners for their support and genuine friendship. I will not be here today without all of you.
Domo Arigatou Gozaimasu
Victor Sugijarta
Roban for sandan, April 2022