To Quit or Not To Quit

Earning a Black Belt is as much about Perseverance as it is skill and ability

"We're taking our son out of karate classes; he wants to play basketball now."

"Our daughter doesn't want to come anymore."

As a teacher of martial arts for over 33 years, I’ve had the privilege of working with thousands of students in my dojo. Over time, they all move on — whether to other activities, different interests, or simply new stages of life. Out of all those students there's that small group that stick around long enough to earn the highest rank: the Black Belt.

Whatever level a student reaches, they have every right to be proud of what they’ve accomplished. Still, I can’t help but wonder, what if? What could that student have achieved if they’d hung in there just a bit longer? What would have happened if they’d made the decision to see it through and earn their Black Belt?

We just wrapped up our latest Black Belt Training Cycle, which finished with the final Black Belt Test — a four-hour event that pushes students both physically and mentally. In the lead-up to this test, each student has to write an essay on a topic of their choice that reflects part of their journey toward Black Belt.

I always look forward to reading these essays. They give me a window into parts of my students’ lives that I might not otherwise see. One theme pops up again and again: how close so many of them came to quitting. Some were on the edge of throwing in the towel but chose to carry on. Sometimes it was a reminder from their parents about the commitment they’d made. Other times, it was a few encouraging words from an instructor or a training partner that kept them going.

In every case, those students ended up deeply grateful they decided to stick with it. Standing there on test day in front of their family and friends, finally wearing that Black Belt, they knew it was all worth it.

So, when it comes to the question, “To quit or not to quit?” — we can all take a lesson from these students. Instead of getting caught up in the struggles of today, try to look ahead and imagine what’s possible down the road. That little glimpse of the future might be all the motivation you need to keep moving toward your goals, whether it’s earning a Black Belt or achieving something else that’s just as meaningful.

Scott Bullard began his martial arts education while studying to become a chemical engineer. A career change lead to realizing his dream of opening his own karate school. After 35 years of teaching in Vaughan, Scott has helped thousands of kids and adults enjoy the benefits of training in the martial arts. He is a 6th Degree Black Belt in Karate and Shihan/Master Instructor at Canada's Best Karate.