The Black Belt Book of Life - Topic #11 - True Power Flows, Not Shows
From dusk to dawn the world goes
circling sun with highs and lows;
within this journey Greatness knows True Power Flows Not Shows.
Learn this from the waters: in mountain clefts and chasms loud gush the streamlets, but great rivers run silently.
Things that are empty make a noise; the full is always quiet.
This is a very simple truth which needs no great explanation. If we are truly powerful, our power will flow from us as
easily as water down a mountain. It will not be forced. It need not be announced. It will just flow and it will flow
silently as great rivers flow silently.
The Black Belt Book of Life - Topic #10 - A Black Belt Without Humility is Like a Well Without Water
Humility is the highest form of strength;
Arrogance the highest form of weakness.
As a silo sits vacant of fodder, A Black Belt Without Humility Is Like A Well Without Water.
We come nearest to the great when we are great in humility.
To become truly great, one has to stand with people, not above them.
If I have seen further, it is only by standing on the shoulders of Giants.
The Black Belt Book of Life - Topic #9 - Character Must Precede Prowess
In the wisdom of time
with its messages ageless,
the pinnacle of all is that Character Must Precede Prowess.
The first essential step to a spiritual life is character. One may deceive one’s friends, relatives and even oneself,
but the Power within is not deceived.
For he who is honest is noble, whatever his fortunes or birth.
Try not to become a man of success but rather to become a man of value.
The Black Belt Book of Life - Topic #8 - Character Is More Important Than Victory
In a phenomenal world
with its contents illusory,
of all the triumphs Character Is More Important Than Victory.
The gem cannot be polished without friction.
Only a man’s character is the real criterion of worth. Do what you feel in your heart to be right - for you’ll be
criticized anyway. You’ll be damned if you do, and damned if you don’t.
Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be
strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.
The Black Belt Book of Life - Topic #7 - You Must Win the Cross
In cleansing the soul
and losing its dross,
it’s axiomatic – You Must Win The Cross.
Without recognizing the ordinances of Heaven, it is impossible to be a superior man.
Another way of expressing the phrase, To become everything you must first become nothing, is this corroborating maxim,
You Must Win the Cross. The symbol of the cross is ancient, far antedating its use by Christianity. It also has
application to martial arts.
Aidan "Smasher" Ligtvoet Rises to 1ˢᵗ Dan Brown Belt
How fun is this? Cute kid. Remember when Aidan was just beginning his martial arts journey?
Well, he’s all grown up at age 17 and is a force to deal with. No kidding. Aidan is now a Freshman in college.
A happy warrior? Or one to be feared? Who, in their right mind, would want to be flat on their back looking up at this
dangerous dude? Answer: only an idiot. Smasher keeps climbing up the Kiado-Ryu ladder…with serious intent. He could
easily become the 66ᵗʰ Black Belt of the Karate Institute of America.
