In conclusion to my last few posts, the belt system has a an important role in a karateka's early training in terms of providing structure and systematicness for that vast amount of learning that needs to be done before black belt. As a black belt, it is signinficantly less of a presence because the aim is to use those skills learnt as a kyu grade to shape one's own karate. Without those skills, karateka would simply not have the ability to make it as black belts. Therefore, it can be an incredibly positive impact on training.
The belt system (seemingly) gets in the way of training when individuals start to see it as something it is not. It's very easy for a karateka not to take full responsibility as the center of their training and let the belt system take that place instead if it's the only thing they rely on for motivation. The belt system does not have this function,it's not its role. Others might see the belt system as something it isn't in the sense that they think their belt defines them as a martial artist more than themselves. This isn't the role of the belt system ether. Because, in a grading, examiners are only able to asses a small amount of the examinee's training: technical accuracy under pressure. Assesment of personality dosen't come in to it. So how can someone's belt define them as a martial artist more than themselves?
When the belt system gets in the way, it's not to blame; it dosen't do that in itself, the karateka uses it for something it is not designed to do. When this dosen't happen, it has a positive impact. As karateka, we need to realise that we are the center of our training and face the responsibililty of being that and accept that the belt system is designed to be a part of training, an important one, but nothing more than that.
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