Many Are The Mysteries Of The Martial Arts Uniforms
Many Are The Mysteries Of The Martial Arts Uniforms
When a student puts on their martial arts uniform they are ready to assume the role of the martial arts student. Wait, that didn't make any sense. Martial arts uniforms are symbols of discipline and power to those that wear them and symbols of fear and compliance to those that see those that wear them. That makes a little more sense I think. The symbol of the martial arts uniform is as universally known as the stop sign or the symbol for the ladies' room in any classy restaurant. When people see someone walking around in a martial arts uniform they know that is either Halloween or that the person wearing the martial arts uniform is a very serious student of the discipline of the martial arts.
Great respect is usually shown to someone that travels in a martial arts uniform mostly because people are not sure if he is a deadly black belt, a crazy person, or both. One thing is for certain, regardless of your opinion of people in a martial arts uniform, it is generally accepted that they possess great skills and that they are people to be respected if nothing else. As a general rule people will move out of the way of someone that travels the streets wearing a martial arts uniform and that is done partly out of respect and partly out of fear. Respect and fear are the two keys to any successful martial arts student.
So What's With The Belt?
Martial arts students spend their entire lives in pursuit of different colored belts and they maintain that pursuit until they attain the coveted black belt. Beyond the black belt is the different degrees of black up to the highest degree of black belt which is the 10th degree. Once you reach the 10th degree of black belt you are pretty much qualified to beat up anybody you want provided that person is within range of your arms and legs and that person is not carrying a gun. As long as they are close to you and not packing heat then you are good to go.
In all seriousness the importance of martial arts is not just in the ability to defend yourself but it is also in the extreme discipline you learn as you rise to the rank of black belt. A black belt signifies that you are truly a wise person that possess both the skill, and the patience, to deal with any situation that may arise. Martial arts is just as much about the mind as it is the body because martial arts understands that you cannot kick your way out of every situation.