Well, we just went through our bi-annual exams, which lead to bi-annual promotions (hopefully), which lead to the usual congratulations and to… a new level of incompetence. For us old guys (from the 1980’s), there was the Peter Principle, the idea that one would work hard, achieve, and get promoted to a higher level…step by step, one would go through this process, higher and higher, until one ultimately reached his or her level of incompetence. These days, the Peter Principal has fallen away as a leadership concept, and it was certainly never the last word on the phenomenon of promotions. There is some veracity to the idea, and if we look back, we probably all remember some old boss or manager who was excellent at what he/she did, until one too many a promotion happened, and the poor manager struggled and floundered at the new job, often for years, unable to repeat the successes that got him/her there. However, what I see more often than not, are folks who have never tried hard enough or believed enough in themselves to get promoted to the level they truly had the potential to reach. Which would you rather be? Personally, I’d rather be the first guy. No, I don’t want to be floundering or struggling for years, trying to do perform at a level that’s not really meant for me, but… how do you know unless you try? “A man’s got to know his limitations” was Dirty Harry’s second most famous saying… but you won’t know unless you try, and fail… and celebrate all of the successes between.

To me, exams are not really for the examiner… these are really for the examinee. It gives one the opportunity to examine oneself. Most of us who test, especially the lower grade examinations, will pass and know that we could have done better. For the talented, one can pass an exam while on “cruise control”. However, as the years go by,the exams get harder, the training becomes harder, and ultimately, each of us is challenged to do our very best. When an examiner watches a student putting 100% effort and spirit into his/her exam, it doesn’t matter if it’s for a blue belt or for a black belt…it is an inspiring sight. When students have completed a test, training session, or any endeavor, and know that they’ve placed all of their heart into it… only then, should the karateka be pleased with the effort. It is only through such successive small steps forward, that one’s true potential is ever attained.

I’ve often said that getting promoted to the next level doesn’t mean that we’ve “arrived”… it really just means that we’ve barely gotten a toe-hold to the next level of a towering cliff, and must struggle harder to pull ourselves onto the ledge and feel like we belong there. For those who are promoted to another rank, it is an opportunity to work harder and “earn” the rank your sensei believes you should be able to perform at. When you tie on a higher ranking belt, complete strangers who watch you in class will naturally expect more from you; certainly your sempais and kohais will expect more from you; but most importantly, you must expect more of yourself. It is through this way that one learns one’s limitations, but also… one discovers what one is truly capable of doing.