Modesty—the freedom from ego or self-importance—is one of
the core values and principles of the Black Belt rank at Tristar. Often, when
someone has achieved something significant or has reached a higher position,
they will develop a big ego or believe they are better than others. This will
never happen with a Black Belt.
It is important to never talk about or brag about how good
you are at Martial Arts or any other aspect of your life. Because they practice
modesty, Black Belts will never brag to their classmates or coworkers that they
have a Black Belt.
As Martial Arts students at Tristar, we are constantly
playing with a double-edged sword. We are always working to strengthen and
build our self-esteem and confidence. We are also constantly expanding our
skills and conditioning to become a high-caliber Black Belt Champion.
While determination, drive, and confidence are important in
the Martial Arts, it is equally important to not have a big ego. Often, those
with an ego will look down on others or be rude and brag to them. It is
important to acknowledge your achievements and have self-confidence, but that
never means belittling those around you.
The other side of the sword is maintaining our humility and
controlling our ego. As Martial Artists, we must always avoid being
overconfident and overly proud of our accomplishments and ourselves. It is
important to recognize the difference between being confident and being cocky,
arrogant, or egotistical.
If someone asks about your Martial Arts training, it is okay
to tell them how long you have been practicing and the rank you currently hold.
This shows pride in what you do. The wrong answer would be to go on a long
tangent about everything you’ve achieved to reach your rank, how much more
skilled you are compared to others, or how you could beat the person up. This
is not only rude and egotistical, but it also shows a lack of maturity.
A Black Belt is mature and proud of what he or she does, and
recognizes the line between self-confidence and self-importance. Black Belts can
tell the difference between modestly celebrating their achievements and
bragging about them.
