red BELT

Red corresponds to the Mass, or Obstruction Quality. It is the colour of the Mooladhara Chakra, the coccygeal spinal centre whose element is Earth, the grossest of the elements. After a few months of serious training, the new student's belt will have become somewhat soiled and hence a slightly darker shade. At this point, one prepares to grade for red belt. One leaves the white of non-colour for the first serious step on the path of development.

In many parts of the world the red belt is not used, in accord with Tokyo Honbu, where students go directly from white to blue belt. If this applies to your country, the information in this chapter should be regarded as a continuation of the white belt requirements. Remember that the colour of the belt is only symbolic; more important is a steady, logical progression through the ranks.

For the student aiming for red belt, the element Earth means that the training at this level should concentrate on stability. As one approaches the red belt grading, the major concern is the understanding of the physical base. This understanding comes through concentrated practice of the stability stances — zenkutsu dachi, sanchin dachi, and kiba dachi — and control of the body through correct movement across the floor in these stances. Sosai Oyama often reminds his students, tachi san-nen or 'three years for the stance.' The karate-ka begins his serious journey by learning to feel the
proper stance. With improved stability comes an elementary awareness of dynamic balance.

Fundamental control of balance in karate comes through learning to feel your weight centred in yourself. This promotes good posture, which Mas Oyama explains is the centre of our martial art. Correct posture allows you to see your opponent clearly and focus fully on his intentions as well as your own.

Through such training, a basic but practical sensitivity in the feet and legs is developed — one feels when the stance is correct. Fudo! Power and progress are built upon a solid foundation.

This foundation is not only within yourself. It exists also in your training environment, the dojo. For progression to come steadily, the student preparing for red belt should be thoroughly conversant with the etiquette and procedures of the dojo, upon which training and the life of a karate-ka are based.

The white belt preparing for red belt is mostly conscious of karate in gross terms and his karate reflects this. The awareness is of the body's solid muscle tissue and bone, and training concentrates on these in gross movement terms. It is not unusual to hear senior students referring to white and red belts as being 'all bone', 'all knees and elbows' in sparring. That is where the beginner's consciousness is centred.

Techniques are learnt first by simply knowing where thedifferent body parts should be, and when they should be there. Matters of generating maximum power in the technique come only after a basic awareness of body positioning and co- ordination between all the body parts.

In this way, one lays the foundation for a strong and direct path. In all things a strong foundation is vital if one wishes to attain lofty heights. Miyamoto Musashi compares the way of a life in the martial arts to the life of a carpenter, who must have good tools that are constantly honed to their sharpest if he is to produce fine work.

I saw that the aims must be as large and as high as
possible. And I realized that perseverance and step-by-step
progress are the only way to reach a goal along a chosen
path.
Sosai Masutatsu Oyama

By the time the red belt grading arrives, foundation habits of physical fitness are established. One adopts a new lifestyle of ambition, gratitude, persistence and vitality. One must establish a commitment to attending classes. Overcome self- defeating stubbornness that resists the desire to better oneself by trying to keep one away from the dojo at the slightest, trifling excuse. The red belt should try to be enthusiastic in training, and treasures dreams of greater things to come.