BLUE BELT

After a period of consolidating the red belt level of understanding, one prepares for eighth Kyu, or blue belt. In Japan, this level is known as mizu-iro obi, 'water color grade', or light blue belt. This color is a symbol of the element Water which is situated at the Swadhisthana Chakra, the sacral spinal centre. Although this centre's color is orange (thus the orange belt at this level in some other martial art systems), the light blue belt reminds the karate-ka of the fluidity of the element Water.

The karate-ka training for blue belt develops a basic ability to adapt and react fluidly, according to certain stimuli, just as water adapts to the shape of the vessel that contains it. This adaptability grows through Kumite, first Yakusoku Kumite — pre-arranged three and one step sparring and then Jiyu Kumite, or freestyle.

Receive a blow like flowing water; attack decisively with
the attitude of one punch, certain death.

Independence begins to establish itself and the blue belt- to-be starts to consider how to adapt karate to best suit his physical strengths and weaknesses. The blue belt concentrates on hand skills, especially the feeling of the correct grip, so important yet often overlooked. Nigiri sannen, tachi sannen, tsukt san-nen. 'Three years the grip, three years the stance, three years the strike.' At red belt level, the student spent a lot of time developing the feeling of solidarity in the base. For the next two or three years, the karate-ka will strive daily to build on that by trying to develop the feeling of the proper grip. Coordinating this with the correct stance, he will then try to cultivate the feeling of the proper strike in karate.

The training involved will develop a strong body, especially in the torso and arms. He contributes further to this with any kind of upper body conditioning he likes, but gives special attention to push-ups on the forefists and finger tips. At the same time, the Earth (red belt) element is not neglected, and more stances, movement concepts and footwork patterns are developed to support the growing body of knowledge.

One of the blue belt's strong points should be flexibility (physical and mental), so he works hard to establish habits of improving suppleness through stretching. He also learns to adapt, by overcoming the weakness of constantly adopting a rigid mental approach to anything and everything.

This flexibility allows progress to the next level's grading requirements. It is combined with the fitness and knowledge of the red belt level to develop co-ordination, learning to control balance and technique at all times. This in turn allows you to see all the weapons in your arsenal not as separate entities but as the many facets of a single unit.

Above all, the blue belt learns to overcome the nagging desire to 'take it easy' and let up on training, without becoming discouraged. This is important. These dry periods as they are known, where enthusiasm wanes sometimes to the point of despair, can call on the karate-ka at any time during his life. They are part and parcel of training and no one is immune to their indiscrimination. Being able to recognize and deal successfully with them is essential.

Jinsei nana korobi, ya oki.
Such is life — seven times down, eight times up!

Japanese saying

Training tor the blue belt grading is energetic. The student really begins to feel karate's health benefits through improved circulation and muscle tone, increased cardiovascular fitness, decreased body fat, improved overall body strength, and a general sense of well-being. The student becomes more assured in his relationship with karate-do. He strives to overcome the Water element's negative traits of ignorance (he should further study karate's history, terminology, etiquette and so on) and pride — Know your limitations and realize that there is so much to leam. The blue belt level is a stage of consolidation of red belt material and study and adoption of yellow belt requirements.

In the world there is nothing more submissive and weak
than water. Yet for attacking that which is hard and
strong nothing can surpass it. This is because there is
nothing that can take its place.
Tao Te Ching (LXXVUI, 186)

Water goes about all of its activities essentially unchanged. Whether the calm and soothing trickle of a brook, the power of a massive waterfall, or the fury of a tidal wave, the element is still the same, water. In life too, the karate-ka must learn to adapt, conducting all activities in the same undisturbed spirit. Calm and at rest or in the midst of a raging battle, the spirit and mind of the true karate-ka remains unshaken.