Earning your Black Sash in Kung Fu is a big deal! It takes time, hard work, and a lot of heart. But what’s it actually like? In this post, we’ll talk about the experience of being a young Black Sash student; what you learn, how you grow, and what it means to reach this level in your training.
What do you remember about your first lesson and the start of your journey?:
“I remember walking into the hall not really knowing what to expect. But from the moment I walked in, I knew it was a friendly environment for sure. All of the instructors were very welcoming and took great care making sure I was doing alright throughout my first lesson. But I knew from the first lesson, I want to keep these lessons going.” – Harry (age 17)
“I remember the first lesson doing the cheese wedge, bouncing my hands back to the middle when pushed away. All the lessons are fun.” – Milly (age 9)
Every student starts the same way, with the basics; for without the basics how can we master the advanced? Of course everyone has different levels of confidence and physical ability, but don’t worry that’s our job!
Think about it:
What do you remember about your first class?
What was your biggest challenge with training, and when did you feel most proud of yourself?:
“My biggest challenge is moving up after each sash/grading as it gets a bit harder each time. I am most proud when I pass my grading!” – Milly
No journey worth doing is without its challenges. For us a challenge is a part of the process of learning, and the satisfaction of pushing through is one of the best feelings!
Think about it:
What moment made you feel really proud of yourself?
What does achieving your black sash mean to you?:
“For me it symbolises the last 3 odd years of work, coming to training, and learning. It’s also a great personal achievement too, when I was working my way up through the grades, I remember thinking to myself “My goodness, how hard is black going to be??” And turns out the answer is, it will be. But, the instructors put the fun in functional, and with their help, I feel ready for anything the black sash throws at me.” – Harry
Achieving your black sash is a massive milestone! Joining the black sash masterclass means you start working on more intense grades such as weapons awareness, advanced groundwork, and multiple assailants! This also starts your transition from student to martial artist, building on your understanding of the system.
Think about it:
Why are/were you excited to achieve your black sash?
What advice would you give to less experienced students?:
“Make sure if you see a gap that you can hit, hit it!” – Milly
“No matter how hard training gets, do not give up. And if something does go wrong, bounce right back and give it another crack. One of the most important things about learning is learning through your own mistakes. So don’t take mistakes as a failure, take a mistake as an opportunity to improve on yourself.” – Harry
As a black sash student, less experienced members of the school will look up to you as their senior. This is super important as they could look to you for a training partner that can push them!
Think about it:
What can you do to improve your training?
How has Kung Fu affected other parts of your life?:
“Oh so much. I’m a lot fitter thanks to training and can run for so much longer now. My social life has definitely improved as well, the people I train with and work with are all wonderful people and I’m grateful to work and train with them all. My confidence has also risen too, thanks to my constant journey of improvement. I would say as well, body confidence has definitely risen.” – Harry
Getting your Black Sash isn’t the end, it’s a new beginning. It shows that you’ve grown stronger, more focused, and more confident. And now, your journey continues with even more to learn and explore.
Think about it:
How has Kung Fu helped you in other parts of your life such as school, sports, or friendships?
Being a Black Sash is about more than cool moves. It’s about becoming your best self. Whether you’re just starting out or almost there, remember: every class, every effort, every mistake is part of the adventure.
