Older memories of Pink Belts

 

A very old memory just flashed into my mind.

 

That was about the use of the Pink Belt.

 

I am quite sure that most of you never heard of that.

 

On a trip home I visited Don's dojo in York Pa to give a clinic.  I have written about that day before.

 

However while waiting at his dojo office desk, I noticed a pink obi on his desk, a little later I asked him about it.

 

Don explained that the pink obi had a very specific use. If someone showed up for training and had no brought their obi with them, then they were given that pink obi to wear during that class. His idea was that wearing that pink obi during that class would make them remember to always have their correct obi with them. There were no exceptions to this, whether white or black belt there were no exceptions for this dojo rule.

 

It then stuck me as quite interesting dojo rule.

 

Time passes.

 

Years later I remembered that pink obi.

 

One of my students who had been with me since she was 8, now an adult who returned to our program to continue her studies. She was away during her college years then teaching far away, had moved back to our area. 

She always was a good student, very focused on her Isshinryu.  She also assisted me with our youth program.

 

She had reached the point in her training, to receive her Ik kyu, preparation for her black belt test. 

 

I thought of a way to make it more personal for her.  As the end of that nights youth class, just before rei'ing out I called her before the class.

 

Standing up there I announced that Devin was being promoted to Ik Kyu, a black belt candidate. Then I drew a pink obi from behind my back and gave it to her.  That was also April Fools Day that year.

 

The kids and the adult black belts who assisted me immediately broke out in a ruckus of applause for her, as I took off her 2nd kyu brown belt and tied that pink belt around her waist.

I believe I made that even more special a day for her.

 

Of course after that class she returned wearing her brown belt, the normal obi for an Ik Kyu.

 

There are those special occasions where your actions can make a special memory.