For Mount Laurel Martial Artist ONLY - This Morning I Am Doing What You Must Do, Too

This morning I am engaged in something you must do, can do, should do, every so often --if not every day...

And that is I am redefining what MY black belt test is about --what it's for --why and how I make my idea of it a reality ---and how I use the test, all of it, every single ingredient of it, to make change, to evolve, to improve, and to inspire.


By redefining my black belt test, don't I automatically redefine all the time that passes BEFORE the test itself? Yes, I must do that, as it's not the day of the test that creates a black belt, or can I say represents my very best work, but the PROCESS of how I get to that day.

Allow me to explain my black belt test, which is called The Ultimate Black Belt Test (UBBT).

My UBBT is a 1-year (or longer) trial by fire, a 1 year test involving daily activities, "tasks," that are, in part, designed by my instructor Master Michael Dinoto, my coach (and creator of the original UBBT) Tom Callos --and in part designed specifically by me.

My UBBT requires DAILY activity, daily practice, and no small amount of self-dicipline. To earn my new rank with the UBBT process, I must fulfill 80% to 100% of all pre-determined tasks.

By the time I finally "test" for my 5th Dan, I want to have used my experience, my understanding of the martial arts world, my energy, my influence, my education, and everything I am, currently, as a result of my journey, to bring something remarkable (and indicative of the rank) to the martial arts community in Mount Laurel NJ --and the world.

I want my "test" to serve as one fine example, if not the best example, of what a 5th dan test could and should be/do. I want my "test" to inspire other martial arts teachers / practitioners to raise the bar on their own testing requirements. I want my personal test to affect the lives of as many people as I am humanly capable of affecting.

My UBBT is my answer to "What did you do to earn your 5th dan?" And I want the answer to be, "I changed the perception of what it is to live and train for black belt mastery --and for the better."

So, This morning I am engaged in something you must do, can do, should do, every so often --if not every day...if you are a martial artist committed to black belt excellence and personal mastery.

I am redefining my mission, beginning anew, starting the process as if today were, again, the first day. You may see the work I am doing for my UBBT at http://www.peterliciaga.org/.

Action Plan Suggestions (for those of you interested in creating your own Ultimate Black Belt Test)

1. What is the test you're currently living? And how does it manifest itself in any sort of daily practice? Think about this, make notes, and start to DO something. Understand that at some level, this is the base "stock" of the soup that is your answer to the question, "What did you do to earn your black belt?" The better you understand and daily live your "test", the more value it brings to your black belt ---and YOU as a martial artist. The better you are, on all levels, the better your family, martial arts school/instructor and community will be.
2. Make "your test" a public spectacle. Why? If your test is hidden from view, how can it inspire and affect others? * (see note, below) A private test is a practice in narcissism and self-absorbtion. A public test is an opportunity to inspire and affect the world. A private test is a bit scary, but a public test, where people actually SEE what's going on, is VERY scary, as showing what's going on, genuinely, exposes the truth of what is --or is not --taking place.

* The "new" black belt test is NOT about "the tester." It is about everyone in the tester's "sphere of influence." Anyone can change themselves, but making that change a catalyst for change in the world? That is the mark of the kind of black belt I aspire to be (and create).

And, from a "telling a story" perspective, I ask you to appreciate and recognize the value of a training process that isn't focused on one person, but on everyone in that one person's "sphere." Show me a "black belt test" that transforms (for the better) a family, an organization, and a community, and you're showing me a black belt test of a genuine, authentic MASTER of something that might just transcend the label and idea of a "martial artist."

This blog is part of the Ultimate Black Belt Test Program (http://www.ultimateblackbelttest.com/), which is an undertaking of The 100. (http://www.the100.us/), and a part of the American Black Belt (http://www.americanblackbelts.com/) experience.