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From: Dana T. Jefferies
Date: 18 Sep 2007
Time: 03:14:58 -0400
Remote Name: 72.154.7.196
I think that Rank by itself means nothing. With one exception and that is when you are choosing a Sensei. I have had the opportunity to train with some very good ones, Sensei Larry Issac, Sensei Osofone and of Course my current Sensei, Steven Bevil. These guys are the real deal; they are not just wearing a belt. Even if they wore no belt at all they would be recognized as leaders and teachers. Wearing a black belt just makes it easier to identify them when you step into the Dojo! Ha, Ha! They have not only karate skills and knowledge but a professional maturity that comes not just from learning and teaching martial arts but from an internal calmness that has been achieved by gaining that knowledge of self. To be honest I don't know exactly what it is or how to achieve it but I know it when I see it! The very good teachers seem to make you want to be like them. This is the type of person that I want teaching me and my son. When this kind of Sensei promotes you, you can be sure that you have earned it and your belt represents the mastery of a body of karate knowledge as well as a certain increase in your knowledge of self. These types of teachers however are not that plentiful, there are a great many teachers that measure your success by how much money they make off of you and not how you have progressed as a person and as a Martial Artist