Forums » Smalltalk » AMA: 1st Degree Black Belt

Hey, hi, hello! I'm Hades, and I'm a (former) martial artist with a 1st degree black belt.

While I stopped attending classes a couple years ago to get my adult life in order, I've got plenty of years of experience that I think would be fun to share. Ask me anything!

Hiii Hades I don't know why/how I've never asked this before but... have you ever needed to use martial arts to defend yourself for real?
Also, are you aware that you're very cool and also awesome, and this is one of the many contributing factors?

Hiiii, honeybun!

Fortunately, no! I've never had to defend myself out in the wild from an aggressor, and I'd like to keep it that way. ^.^

We've done self-defense-oriented classes where we'd simulate situations like that, however. Usually, the instructors would teach us a new technique (or we'd brush up an old one), and then we'd get in lineups and go against them one-on-one to practice.

So the instructors would attack us, and we'd have to fight back, escape their grip, and get to the back of the line. Then the next person steps up, and repeat!


Rest assured, bite me and I'm prepared to bite back. And for your sake, Starry, I'll be cool and awesome while doing it.

Heh. What was your favourite part about getting to black belt level? Were there times where you just wanted to quit part way through?

I've never felt like I was ready to drop martial arts at any given moment, but there were times where I got reeeeaaallly frustrated and thought "I can't do this." This was mostly when I was younger and was at lower belt levels. Once you get in deep enough (like about a year or so), you start feeling more confident!

My favourite part of my journey to black was definitely participating in tournaments!
The dojo I was trained at operates at 6 different locations in my part of the world. Twice a year, we'd all get together at a large gymnasium and compete against students from other dojos!

I was always hyped for the tournaments. Not only were they fun to participate in, but also amazing to watch! They remained my favourite even once I finally got to black belt. It was harder at that point, but still just as exciting!

As a 2nd Degree myself - Congrats!

What was your final belt test like (If your dojo did that sort of thing), and what impact did it have on you?

Oh, a 2nd Degree! Hi!

Ohhh, we certainly did a test, alright. If memory serves me right, the whole thing took about 5 hours to complete.

It was intense yet so, so fulfilling. We'd perform for and be graded by the owners of the dojos, with the occasional break to hydrate or eat lunch. We covered the entire curriculum. It was the most fun I'd ever had at belt testing. It was a while ago, so there's a lot of things I don't remember about it, but I do remember being praised for my performance with weaponry (particularly nunchaku, those are my favourite and it showed!).


The first thing I did upon receiving my belt was cry. I was so happy.

Hi Hades!

Do you study a particular martial art? What made you pick it up in the first place?

Hi Claine! Fantastic questions!
I don't think there was a particular area we focused on! My dojo was primarily focused on hybrid/mixed martial arts techniques and drew from both Western and Eatern philosophies.
If I had to sum it up however, I'd say the bulk of it was largely taekwondo, karate and judo.


Funny story, I actually got into it because my dojo offered After School Childcare! I began back in 2014 when I was in late elementary school; parents needed somewhere I could go until they got off work, and regular childcare was boring.
My parents offered to get me and my brother into martial arts because they had a childcare program, and the moment I checked out the dojo to see everyone training on the mats? I was hooked.

So every day after school, I, along with a bunch of other kids, would get picked up by one of the instructors and taken straight to the dojo, where we'd get to hang out and relax a little before classes would begin.

Honestly? Genius marketing on their part, I gotta say. Parents get to have their children looked after until they get off work, the facility gets paid for their hard work, and the kiddos are doing something healthy, productive, and are learning valuable life/self-defense skills.
I mean, if that's not a win-win, I don't know what is.

What was your funniest moment when you were actively participating in martial arts?

Oh, that's EASY.

It was during a coloured belt test. I think I was testing for my brown belt? It was a pretty high level, but not my point.
Point is, at the end of the test, we would all break a board (or two or three!) with a strike (either a punch or a kick) that was assigned to your belt level.

Mine was a low roundhouse kick, followed by a spinning-jumping roundhouse kick. So there I was, at the front of the room, close by the entrance.

First board was normal, but the second one broke into three pieces.
Said third piece flew right into the lobby and hit one of the instructor's trophies that was on display at the front desk.

It was big and heavy, so there was no damages! What was funny was how loud the impact was. Even if you didn't see it, you could hear the loud CLANG when the board bounced off it.

Everyone got a good laugh out of it, and I passed my test!

How long did it take to make black belt?

Do you think you'll ever go back?

Hey there, Kim!

I'd say roughly 5 years! Was pretty lucky to get all of that done pre-COVID, though I was able to resume training as a 1st degree once lockdown was starting to ease its restrictions. Working out in a mask was... nnnnnot great.

And yes! I'd absolutely love to go back someday! Unfortunately, things right now are a bit busy and I don't have the time for it currently.

One day, my friend! One day!