Black Belt Test Accountability: This is The UBBT and Our Dojo

To Members of the UBBT, Past, Present, and Future:

Your black belt test is your life, period. You are always “testing” –as “testing” is about your own spiritual improvement.

You began your test the first day you walked into a martial arts class.

The “test” is not about you, no matter how hard you work on yourself. The “test” is about your ability to lift and inspire people around you.

Whatever your current rank is, your current activity and your growing portfolio of work are a part of your 7^th, 8^th, or 9^th dan test; you’re in training now, for something you’re moving towards in the future.

What is hard for you, what you find to be difficult (or even “impossible”), IS YOUR TEST. If you don’t understand that, go back to Square 1.

The UBBT is about revealing what you do to train yourself –not to brag or impress, but to show the next generation where they might begin their own journey. When you scrutinize (look deeply at) your diet and reveal to others what you consume, you may feel a sense of accountability. This is good. When you scrutinize what you read and who you learn from –and reveal this to others, you may feel a sense of accountability. This too is good. When you scrutinize what you do –or do not do –for others, for your community, and for the world, and you reveal this to others, you may feel a sense of accountability for your actions (or inaction). This accountability makes you a teacher –and an extraordinary human being. This is good.

Everything above –is what makes your martial arts school something valuable. If you use these ideas as the foundation of your schools worth, if you show your students and community how to use these ideas to become more grounded and centered, you become a martial arts Master Teacher of the highest order.