THE ULTIMATE BLACK BELT TEST

The following article was written by Tom Callos, a Martial Artist whom I have looked up to for many years. Tom is a 6th degree Black Belt and for the last year and a half or so, I have considered him my mentor. I speak with him frequently, not only about ideas for growing the school, but how to make the studio a more relevant, contributing presence in our community. 
Tom has a unique view on the Martial Arts -- one which I share. We both believe that Martial Arts is a singular vehicle for personal transformation.

Tom created the concept of the Ultimate Black Belt Test with, I believe, the intention of showing the widest possible potential for the Martial Arts to affect change, personally, professionally, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. To my knowledge, nothing of this breadth or scope has ever been attempted in the industry; it is a return to authenticity.

It is my goal to participate in an upcoming UBBT.  

I hope you enjoy his thoughts on the Ultimate Black Belt Test. 

Curriculum for The Ultimate Black Belt Test 2016

By Tom Callos

First, An Overview of What the UBBT Seeks to Accomplish

If I begin with the end in mind, one of Stephen Covey’s "7 Habits of Highly Effective People from the book of the same name, I can tell you almost exactly what I’m looking for from participants in The Ultimate Black Belt Test (UBBT):

I’m looking for a complete physical transformation from those members who come to the test with a need for that. I expect every participant to use the year (or longer) that they engage the UBBT to come out of it in the best shape of their life --or as close as they are able to come to it. To transform oneself physically, in a way that isn’t unhealthy or unwise, requires careful scrutiny of diet, exercise, rest, and training methods --and I want UBBT graduates to be able to show their students, their community, and the international martial arts community that they know, from experience, how to engage and facilitate physical transformation. The ultimate black belt would be / should be a living example of the physical benefits of their practice.

Members of the UBBT must have extraordinary and/or highly polished martial arts skills. I have no attachment to any style or method, so I don’t care if someone practices aikido, karate, jiu-jitsu, judo, taekwondo, or MMA, participants must come to the final exam with thousands of hours of practice under their belt. Regardless of the physical talent of any martial artist, every black belt can find what they love to do and do well and bring that game to their UBBT. Without extraordinary martial arts skills developed through the shedding of blood, sweat, and tears, there would be nothing “ultimate” about the Ultimate Black Belt Test.

The impact of the UBBT on a participant must, in part, be measured by the way the test affects the people in the tester’s sphere of influence. The ultimate test isn’t one that affects the tester alone, but that radiates out from the participant to have an impact on his or her family, friends, students, teachers, community, and ideally, to the international martial arts community. If you have an “amazing” test, one where you get in fantastic shape, where you set and meet many of your personal goals, and where you look the part of a serious and seriously trained martial artist, then you’ve achieved only a small fraction of what the UBBT is about. The ultimate test is measured by how what you put yourself through affects others.

The UBBT must engage the participant in new learning and/or the exploration of things presently unknown or unexplored. The ultimate test isn’t a rehashing of old skills or staying in the comfort zone of things without risk, the UBBT is to be used as a catalyst for new adventures and learning.

A participant in the UBBT must work in the realm of things important. I’m looking for accomplishment and/or program development involving environmental issues, sustainable living, health, diet, fitness training, social issues of importance, bully prevention, suicide prevention, art and design, architecture, and or any of the many subjects ignored, shunned, or otherwise absent from the martial arts community as it is today. I expect each UBBT member to champion one or more projects and/or subjects that enlighten, educate, cultivate, and expand the international martial arts community’s understanding of what the martial arts are --and how they can be used for good, out of the dojo and in the world.

Each UBBT member must make their test process public and as transparent as they are capable. Each tester must journal their progress or lack thereof, their victories and mistakes, and how their practice manifests itself in small daily actions. Without test transparency the members of the UBBT have little or no chance to use their own test process to affect the quality and/or practices of martial artists and others who live outside the realm of direct observation. In the end, the UBBT is a program designed to bring new ideas and practices to the international martial arts community, through the cultivation of transformation in the individuals engaged in the program.

A Review

Physical transformation + highly developed martial arts skills + impact on others + new learning and experiences + expanding the work to things important + transparent testing / journaling = a platform for the practices the tester engages in to create the ultimate test.