Zebra If we find the Black Belt training tough then the next level is something that no martial artist is ever prepared for. From my experience it is the toughest of all levels and the struggle to survive and swim is almost a struggle to stay alive and not sink. This level is commonly called the Zebra because the belts are black and white. There are 12 dans in this level and not many of us know of it till we have entered this level. Things start opening up more and we slowly begin to understand what really is the destiny of a martial artist. Nothing we have learnt till we reach this level is of any use at this level. It is a whole new world, with whole new meanings to the basics that we have learnt till the black belt level. Here we understand the true meaning of Blessings. Here we understand the real meaning of the intuition.here we understand that all the years spent in toiling and training to perfect our free hand combat skills and our instrument training skills is really of no use as against the kind of living intelligence that we have to encounter and deal with. It really is a struggle to clear this level and in my opinion it is the toughest of all the levels that a martial artist faces. There is nothing at this level except obstacles and bad news in every form. It is at this level that we understand what is the true blessings of a Teacher ,it is at this level that all the instructors and trainers that we kept cursing under our breath comes to mind and tears flow unashamedly because it is for this level that they prepare us. Their tough training, their ruthless methods, their cold hard voices echo in our minds over and over again…..over and over again when we realize that if we are alive today it is because of them.They never made things easy for us because at this level nothing is easy. When physical combat skills do not work and instruments are of no use ,it becomes a test of true faith and blind trust in our Teachers, Instructors and Trainers. How we deal with situations that are not normal that the ordinary people do not even dream about is what matters. The unseen and the unforeseen both have to be dealt with and defeated. The mind opens up more the haragei sharpens further and the eyes see the reality without seeing. It is at this level that enemies will hack the phone and keep asking whether you are seeing things or hearing voices and then very happily they will tell you that you are slowly going insane and they will spread this false rumour at lightening speed. At this level we see those that have been called faceless enemies by people and realize that they are not faceless. They will forcefully invade where you live while training at this level and a martial artist has to with equal deftness throw them out forcefully or by tactics. What we deal with at this level can only be dealt with the mind and the combat of no combat. They have to be dealt with the way they deal with you and one has to pay attention to the tactics which they use which are ruthless and brutal in every sense of the word. When we clear the 12 dans we come out as warriors and we cannot be compared with anyone as we are by far superior more capable, and definitely ready to face the destiny that we were born to live.
Posted on: Mon, 26 Aug 2013 07:08:00 +0000