Essays for Black Belt

**mmaman123** · Posted On: 5/21/2012 7:14am

Hi everyone

Quick question for all on here

When youve been put through for your black belts have you ever had to write an essay on why you want to be a black belt ?

Just wondering out of interest

Cheers dudes

**Fuzzy** · Posted On: 5/21/2012 9:33am

Its pretty common in the South African Shotokan scene, my cousin certainly had to write one for his Nidan.

That probably doesn't help you at all.

**Ming Loyalist** · Posted On: 5/21/2012 10:44am

my sensei requires a research paper for shodan in aikido, karate and jujutsu. he says that shodan in judo is hard enough without the paper, so it's not required for judo.

**omoplatypus** · Posted On: 5/21/2012 11:02am

I've seen/heard of this practice a lot in the deep south. I haven't seen or heard of it at the really mcdojoy places because 8 year olds can't write essays

**Permalost** · Posted On: 5/21/2012 11:07am

I've known others who have had to do this; the only style I can remember where this was a thing was in aikido. I never had to, though.

**Fuzzy** · Posted On: 5/21/2012 11:07am

I think its probably not a bad idea if its a research paper.

I'm concerned that the OP is suggesting its a "why I deserve to be a BB" thing.

**NeilG** · Posted On: 5/21/2012 11:51am

No essay but I had a written exam for judo - terminology mostly.

**BJMills** · Posted On: 5/21/2012 1:41pm

I didn't have to write an essay, but a poem...

Okay maybe more like a lymeric, about a man named John Magee whose *** hung down to his knee...

Or maybe not. Sorry. The only Japanese art I've spent any time with is Judo, where you could be completely illiterate if you knew your throws and could perform on the mat.