Black belt story (written a year ago, oh my).
Hey, let's post something else which I wrote a year ago!
This is interesting. It was written as my black belt thesis, when I was testing for my black belt. It's true (and rather awful) that I deliberately refused to angst about every word as I normally do, because I wasn't turning it in to writing professors, but the head of the school. Not that they don't know good writing from bad, but the story mattered much more than the writing of it.
Therefore, re-reading it now, I see a bunch of flaws, simple and large - overall, it's not very subtle. ...But I do like the overall story; I think the ending's cute and it is, as a whole, a Heart-Warming Tale. It fulfills its purpose of demonstrating my understanding of being a black belt and shows a new black belt working her way out of multiple difficult, challenging situations. My karate masters liked it too. It is supposed to be quite similar to my own karate school and how it works, though all the characters are completely fictional. Though Lisa does have a lot of similarities to me with her insecurities, the way she works and things - that's intentional too.
Not Just Another Color
Lisa nervously straightened her black belt - stiff as could be - around her waist. It was her first class as head instructor; and sure, she had a couple of brown belts at her disposal to do the practical work of leading the class and teaching, but she was the one ultimately in charge, the one who had to answer to Master Su for anything that might go wrong. She was responsible too for handling any visitors that might come in, giving them the spiel about White Dragon Martial Arts School and why it was so much better than the shiny, commercial American Tae Kwon Do gym two blocks down.
Another three white belts - siblings - shuffled into the school. Only one did a belated, awkward sort of hunch toward the school’s logo at the front. Lisa winced.
Daniel, one of the brown belts, came up beside her. “Want me to go talk to them for another quick lesson on bowing?”
“Please, Daniel, thanks,” said Lisa, relieved, and turned to appraise the students already present and how they should spend the class.
Maria, the other brown belt, gave her an inquiring look a couple of minutes later, and Lisa nodded her assent to start class.
“Class line UP,” Maria called, cuing the traditional uncertain shuffle of the lower-ranking belts behind the first row. It rather resembled a slow version of musical chairs.
Class progressed as smoothly as Lisa had always known it. She knew not to put Timothy and Robert together, that Jerry was capable of teaching the white belts, and Amanda needed to work solely on her forms. The class was nearly half over before she noticed the newcomer standing quietly near the entrance.
Berating herself for not noticing when he first came in, Lisa hurried toward him. “Hi, I’m Lisa Stewart, how may I help you?”
The boy - well, he might be in his late teens, early twenties - was very bony, with close-cropped hair and a long face. He was about Lisa’s height, although he was slouching. He took her hand slowly, with an indefinite grip. “Jordan Gulton,” he said, looking at the room beyond Lisa instead of her. “Are you, uh - do you own the school?”
“No, the head of the school is Master Huo Su - he’ll be here tomorrow night. I’m the head instructor for tonight’s class. If you have any questions…”
Hands thrust in his pockets, eyes everywhere but on her, he asked the usual information about prices, class times and sizes, how open they were to non-experienced students. Lisa answered patiently, but she got the feeling that none of these questions were what would make up his mind, or perhaps his mind was already made up one way or another. Finally, she invited him to watch the rest of class, and he took a seat on the bleachers.
Lisa kept him in mind for the rest of the class and approached him again afterwards, but he only said he would come back the next night to talk with the master.
Lisa did that herself as the last of the children was finally picked up by his apologetic mother and she went about locking up the school, her cell phone pressed to her ear and cushioned by her belt hanging around her neck.
“Hey Lisa, what’s up?”
“Hi Master Su - just wanted to let you know the school’s still standing and you still have all your students. And you may get one extra tomorrow night.”
“Oh really?”
“Yeah - his name’s Jordan and he’s maybe twenty, kinda quiet. Looks a little interested, he said he’d come back tomorrow night to meet you.”
“All right then. Was Eduardo there tonight?”
“No, but his mother called and said he had too much homework and hopefully next week he’ll be back. Derek nearly had a tantrum, but I talked to him about being a martial artist and had him sit out until he was quieter. Jessica learned Palgue Two -“
“Good, good. I trust you, Lisa, or I wouldn’t have given you that belt. Now I’ll see you Thursday night.”
“Yessir. Goodnight.”
Wednesday was Lisa’s off-night from the school, and Thursday was the night nearly all the black belts came in if they were able, for it was Master Su’s class. Lisa arrived to spot Jordan standing awkwardly out of the way in his new uniform; she smiled and nodded at him, though they had no opportunity to talk further as class was about to begin.
Master Su’s Thursday night class was known to be strenuous, meant to challenge the black belts as there was little other opportunity to do so. Master Su was crisp and inexorable; incentives were offered to not repeat mistakes. It was Lisa’s first Thursday night class as a black belt, and as she expected, Master Su paid particular attention and corrections to her. She had only a brief occasion, midway through class when they had their first break, to think of Jordan and how he was doing in it; but surely Master Su had warned him how tonight would be.
Finally, class was finished and after the regular, quick meeting of black belts, Lisa made her way to Jordan, who was tying on his shoes.
“Hey,” she said. “Glad to see you joined - how’d it go for you tonight?”
Jordan stood up. He wasn’t slouching now, and Lisa had to angle her head up slightly to keep eye contact. There was a bit of a funny smile at his thin lips. “I can’t say it was particularly helpful to someone who just started yesterday.”
Lisa flushed a little. “Well, yes, Thursday nights are mostly focused on teaching the higher ranks, since nearly every other night we help the other students. Master Su explained that to you, didn’t he -“
“I guess so,” Jordan said, shrugging. “So - what did you do to be in the doghouse tonight?”
It was asked in a friendly way, as though to make conversation, but Lisa blinked in confusion. It took her a moment to realize what he meant. “Oh - no, I wasn’t in trouble, it’s just that I only got my black belt about a week ago, so he’s trying to bring me up to the black belt level.”
“Oh.” Jordan glanced at her belt again in surprise. “I guess that’s what he meant, then, about you being too used to red.”
“Heh, yeah.”
“But,” Jordan said slowly, “it doesn’t seem fair to expect you to be as good as the others if you only just got your belt.”
Lisa shrugged lightly. “He doesn’t, he was just encouraging me.”
“That was rather harsh encouragement. In my opinion. I mean,” he went on, as Lisa opened her mouth to respond, “I always thought being too harsh cancels out any benefit when you’re trying to teach.”
“That’s true in some cases, but I’ve been a student here and known Master Su for over four years. He knows I won’t take it too hard, that he’s just trying to help me and set a standard for the other students as well.”
“I wouldn’t want to be yelled at like that,” Jordan said flatly. “I got enough of that from my parents.”
Unconsciously twisting her hands in nervousness, Lisa took a deep breath before answering, choosing her words carefully. “Well, of course, no one wants to be yelled at by a complete stranger, and that’s pretty much what he is to you right now. But if you talk to him and make it clear you really don’t like that and it isn’t helping you learn martial arts, he’ll listen. He’s actually really nice, you know.”
Jordan shrugged again. “Yeah, I guess he did seem so last night. I don’t know. I’m not quitting, don’t worry,” he added, seeing her expression, then added rather challengingly, “Would you get in trouble for losing a student?”
“No,” she said, almost laughing. “They wouldn’t blame me, it doesn’t work like that. They know it’s all up to you, whether you like it here or not.”
“Hm, all right.” He finally seemed to have relaxed a little. “I’ll see you later then.”
“Okay, goodnight.”
She mentioned the gist of the exchange to Master Su as they were leaving. He listened attentively, then said, “I don’t know, Lisa, maybe he’s had a bad experience with a martial arts school before, or maybe it was just his parents. You’re doing fine, just make the rules clear to him. There’s no reason for him to be so aggressive, and he can’t keep challenging you. He can come to me if he has problems with the school.”
Though Lisa dutifully agreed on the spot, she wished she could keep dealing with Jordan herself. After all, she was the first one in the school he had met and he seemed to be restricting his complaints to her, which was certainly a good thing. He might have quit immediately had he gotten the reactions of some of the other black belts. But Master Su was right; White Dragon was what it was, and it wasn’t going to change to suit Jordan Gulton. Either it would suit him or it wouldn’t, and if it didn’t, it wouldn’t do
anyone any favors to try to gloss the school over and keep him here longer than necessary. Lisa knew she was just particularly interested in him because he was the first new student she had met as a black belt.
Next week, Jordan showed up again for Lisa’s Tuesday class. The school was packed that night, including another brand-new couple and she wasn’t able to pay him any more attention than the others. As she did her rounds watching and assisting the different sets of students, she was pleased to see Jordan putting good effort into learning from twelve-year-old purple-belt David the basic kicks and punches with the other white belts.
Fifteen minutes before the end of class, there was a sudden crisis between Justin and Devin. Justin was a heavy ten-year-old orange belt who had always shown signs of barely-contained hostility and aggressiveness; Devin was a quiet, serious boy a few years older who had gotten his purple belt at the same test Lisa got her black. The boys had been working on their self defense drills - Justin in his awkward way, Devin with his stony seriousness, until (inevitably, Lisa realized, furious that she hadn’t foreseen it) Justin perceived a personal insult and attack, shoved hard back at Devin, and began shouting threats of the most instigative nature.
“Fight me! Fight me!” His voice carried across the room, and everyone stopped what they were doing to stare. By his expression, Devin seemed to be considering taking up Justin’s offer, and Lisa felt she reached them not a moment too soon.
“Enough!” she said, loudly and forcefully enough that Justin immediately fell silent and dropped his raised fists, and Devin turned to her.
Now that she had their attention, Lisa found herself floundering for what should be immediately said and done next - she had never seen so big of a scene happen in the school before. But she mustn’t be seen as uncertain now, so she went on sternly, if also rather blindly: “Not another word - both of you, you’re disgracing Master Su’s school -“
“I didn’t do anything!” Devin snapped, just as Justin yelled, pointing accusingly, “HE HIT ME!”
“I said be quiet!” Don’t raise your voice, Lisa, part of her whispered immediately, you shouldn’t have to use volume for control - be cool and calm. “Justin, put your arm down -“ She reached to push it down, but he angrily jerked it out of reach, striking her arm in the process.
Oh, that was a deadly offense, if Master Su or any of the higher black belts were here…. But they weren’t; it was just her, and she had to make it clear herself how he couldn’t do that.
Before she could say anything, however, another voice said, “Hey, I really don’t think you should hit black belts, that’ll get you in even more trouble than you’re already in.”
Lisa looked up at Jordan, feeling herself blush with embarrassment. In other circumstances, she would have been glad for his support - but a white belt helping out a black belt -
Justin scowled up at Jordan. “Don’t tell me what to do, you’re just a white belt.”
“Actually, Justin, he’s acting like more of a martial artist than you are,” she said as sharply as possible. “In fact, as even the white belts know that rule and you do not, you’re about to lose your belt.”
Justin looked round at her, shock written all over his face and his mouth beginning to open to undoubtedly protest, but Lisa lifted a warning finger.
“Don’t say anything, or it’ll be for a year.”
Justin shut his mouth, though he looked in danger of imploding from rage. Lisa straightened up, looking first at Jordan. “Thank you, Jordan, I can handle this myself. Justin, you come with me, Devin - stay there and think about what happened.” That was quite vague, but she didn’t want to blame Devin unfairly or let him off too easily as he had just been involved in such a scene.
She straightened up, calling to the staring students, “Continue with your lessons,” and was grateful to see the upper-ranking ones at once obey and attempt to enforce it for all those around them. She led Justin to a private area and dropped to one knee to better meet his downcast eyes and pouting lip.
After another deep breath, she began quietly and calmly, “Justin, you have been in this school long enough to know how we handle problems. If another student hits you too hard, you go right to whoever’s in charge - that’s me, tonight. You do not start anything with that student. You know that by now. You also know not to hit or talk back to black belts, that’s a very important rule. Now, I’m going to ask you to take off and hand me your belt. If you do it quietly and don’t argue, I’ll mention that to Master Su and he may only keep it away for a short time, until you show you can be a real martial artist and deserve it back. Now, please give me your belt.”
For a moment he didn’t move; then without looking up, he started to tug at the knot of his belt. When it was undone, he let it fall to his feet and kicked it over to her.
“No, Justin, pick it up and fold it neatly.”
He did this without any more belligerence, though he still wouldn’t look up at her.
“Thank you,” she said softly. “Now, sit right here until the end of class and think about what happened and what you should have done or said instead - or you can watch the other students, see how they behave and handle problems.”
Though clearly sulking at massive proportions, he didn’t seem inclined to cause any more problems that night, so she left him to have a few words with Devin, who was sitting placidly right where she left him. Lisa talked to him a little about how to responsibly handle such a problem as a purple belt and how not to react, and when she finished she realized suddenly that time was almost up for class and parents were waiting outside.
After warm-down exercises and meditation, they were released. Lisa told Justin to stay where he was while she talked with his parents, though she told them he had already been punished in the school and Master Su would hear of it. They thanked her with some embarrassment; clearly, they were aware of their son’s temper.
Finally, the school was again empty but for Jordan, who was dawdling with his shoes. Resignedly, Lisa joined him.
“Hey,” he said. “I thought you handled that really well.”
“Ha, thanks.” She brushed her hand nervously through her hair. “Stuff like that really doesn’t happen here.”
“Yeah, it looked pretty new to you,” he said, grinning, though he added quickly, “but you did a good job. I hope I didn’t embarrass you.”
“Oh, no - it’s just that I should be able to handle it by myself.”
“Yeah, I realized that it might look bad right after I said it.”
“It’s all right this time - remember, a white belt can get away with whatever they like, but they can only do it once.” She winked at him.
Jordan smiled back; it was the realest smile Lisa had seen from him yet. As they moved to the door and Lisa fished out her keys, he asked, “So, what do you think Master Su’ll say?””
“Oh…he’ll probably have some advice for what I should say next time something like that happens, but I don’t think he’ll be upset, since I did calm things down and there wasn’t any bloodshed, after all.”
“I didn’t know you took belts away,” Jordan commented neutrally.
“We do, when someone clearly shows they don’t deserve it. They always earn it back, though, unless they or their parents get huffy and quit.” Lisa watched his expression to see what he thought of this, but he didn’t seem to be disapproving, only thoughtful.
As she was fixing the locks on the outside, Jordan spoke up again. “Uh, if I could ask you more of a personal question…”
“Sure,” Lisa said, although a bit guardedly.
“So - why do you do it? What made you want to get in karate and stick with it to black belt, and keep teaching now that you have it?”
Lisa considered while she made sure the doors were shut tight. It wasn’t something she had thought about in a while. “I joined because - some friends in my high school were mugged on the way back from a party, and it scared my parents, they wanted me to learn some self defense. I thought it was pretty cool myself, and I liked Master Su as I got to know him - you’ll see too. And it is a really good school. I like learning the martial arts, being able to teach it to others. And black belt’s just the start of it all, as they say. You’ve just barely started to learn when you get your black belt.”
Jordan was silent again, but he seemed to be mulling over this. Finally he said, “All right - good luck with Master Su and Justin. I’ll see you Thursday.”
“Thursday it is. And remember, if Master Su yells at you, it just means you’re starting to get good.”
“I’ll remember.”
This is interesting. It was written as my black belt thesis, when I was testing for my black belt. It's true (and rather awful) that I deliberately refused to angst about every word as I normally do, because I wasn't turning it in to writing professors, but the head of the school. Not that they don't know good writing from bad, but the story mattered much more than the writing of it.
Therefore, re-reading it now, I see a bunch of flaws, simple and large - overall, it's not very subtle. ...But I do like the overall story; I think the ending's cute and it is, as a whole, a Heart-Warming Tale. It fulfills its purpose of demonstrating my understanding of being a black belt and shows a new black belt working her way out of multiple difficult, challenging situations. My karate masters liked it too. It is supposed to be quite similar to my own karate school and how it works, though all the characters are completely fictional. Though Lisa does have a lot of similarities to me with her insecurities, the way she works and things - that's intentional too.
Not Just Another Color
Lisa nervously straightened her black belt - stiff as could be - around her waist. It was her first class as head instructor; and sure, she had a couple of brown belts at her disposal to do the practical work of leading the class and teaching, but she was the one ultimately in charge, the one who had to answer to Master Su for anything that might go wrong. She was responsible too for handling any visitors that might come in, giving them the spiel about White Dragon Martial Arts School and why it was so much better than the shiny, commercial American Tae Kwon Do gym two blocks down.
Another three white belts - siblings - shuffled into the school. Only one did a belated, awkward sort of hunch toward the school’s logo at the front. Lisa winced.
Daniel, one of the brown belts, came up beside her. “Want me to go talk to them for another quick lesson on bowing?”
“Please, Daniel, thanks,” said Lisa, relieved, and turned to appraise the students already present and how they should spend the class.
Maria, the other brown belt, gave her an inquiring look a couple of minutes later, and Lisa nodded her assent to start class.
“Class line UP,” Maria called, cuing the traditional uncertain shuffle of the lower-ranking belts behind the first row. It rather resembled a slow version of musical chairs.
Class progressed as smoothly as Lisa had always known it. She knew not to put Timothy and Robert together, that Jerry was capable of teaching the white belts, and Amanda needed to work solely on her forms. The class was nearly half over before she noticed the newcomer standing quietly near the entrance.
Berating herself for not noticing when he first came in, Lisa hurried toward him. “Hi, I’m Lisa Stewart, how may I help you?”
The boy - well, he might be in his late teens, early twenties - was very bony, with close-cropped hair and a long face. He was about Lisa’s height, although he was slouching. He took her hand slowly, with an indefinite grip. “Jordan Gulton,” he said, looking at the room beyond Lisa instead of her. “Are you, uh - do you own the school?”
“No, the head of the school is Master Huo Su - he’ll be here tomorrow night. I’m the head instructor for tonight’s class. If you have any questions…”
Hands thrust in his pockets, eyes everywhere but on her, he asked the usual information about prices, class times and sizes, how open they were to non-experienced students. Lisa answered patiently, but she got the feeling that none of these questions were what would make up his mind, or perhaps his mind was already made up one way or another. Finally, she invited him to watch the rest of class, and he took a seat on the bleachers.
Lisa kept him in mind for the rest of the class and approached him again afterwards, but he only said he would come back the next night to talk with the master.
Lisa did that herself as the last of the children was finally picked up by his apologetic mother and she went about locking up the school, her cell phone pressed to her ear and cushioned by her belt hanging around her neck.
“Hey Lisa, what’s up?”
“Hi Master Su - just wanted to let you know the school’s still standing and you still have all your students. And you may get one extra tomorrow night.”
“Oh really?”
“Yeah - his name’s Jordan and he’s maybe twenty, kinda quiet. Looks a little interested, he said he’d come back tomorrow night to meet you.”
“All right then. Was Eduardo there tonight?”
“No, but his mother called and said he had too much homework and hopefully next week he’ll be back. Derek nearly had a tantrum, but I talked to him about being a martial artist and had him sit out until he was quieter. Jessica learned Palgue Two -“
“Good, good. I trust you, Lisa, or I wouldn’t have given you that belt. Now I’ll see you Thursday night.”
“Yessir. Goodnight.”
Wednesday was Lisa’s off-night from the school, and Thursday was the night nearly all the black belts came in if they were able, for it was Master Su’s class. Lisa arrived to spot Jordan standing awkwardly out of the way in his new uniform; she smiled and nodded at him, though they had no opportunity to talk further as class was about to begin.
Master Su’s Thursday night class was known to be strenuous, meant to challenge the black belts as there was little other opportunity to do so. Master Su was crisp and inexorable; incentives were offered to not repeat mistakes. It was Lisa’s first Thursday night class as a black belt, and as she expected, Master Su paid particular attention and corrections to her. She had only a brief occasion, midway through class when they had their first break, to think of Jordan and how he was doing in it; but surely Master Su had warned him how tonight would be.
Finally, class was finished and after the regular, quick meeting of black belts, Lisa made her way to Jordan, who was tying on his shoes.
“Hey,” she said. “Glad to see you joined - how’d it go for you tonight?”
Jordan stood up. He wasn’t slouching now, and Lisa had to angle her head up slightly to keep eye contact. There was a bit of a funny smile at his thin lips. “I can’t say it was particularly helpful to someone who just started yesterday.”
Lisa flushed a little. “Well, yes, Thursday nights are mostly focused on teaching the higher ranks, since nearly every other night we help the other students. Master Su explained that to you, didn’t he -“
“I guess so,” Jordan said, shrugging. “So - what did you do to be in the doghouse tonight?”
It was asked in a friendly way, as though to make conversation, but Lisa blinked in confusion. It took her a moment to realize what he meant. “Oh - no, I wasn’t in trouble, it’s just that I only got my black belt about a week ago, so he’s trying to bring me up to the black belt level.”
“Oh.” Jordan glanced at her belt again in surprise. “I guess that’s what he meant, then, about you being too used to red.”
“Heh, yeah.”
“But,” Jordan said slowly, “it doesn’t seem fair to expect you to be as good as the others if you only just got your belt.”
Lisa shrugged lightly. “He doesn’t, he was just encouraging me.”
“That was rather harsh encouragement. In my opinion. I mean,” he went on, as Lisa opened her mouth to respond, “I always thought being too harsh cancels out any benefit when you’re trying to teach.”
“That’s true in some cases, but I’ve been a student here and known Master Su for over four years. He knows I won’t take it too hard, that he’s just trying to help me and set a standard for the other students as well.”
“I wouldn’t want to be yelled at like that,” Jordan said flatly. “I got enough of that from my parents.”
Unconsciously twisting her hands in nervousness, Lisa took a deep breath before answering, choosing her words carefully. “Well, of course, no one wants to be yelled at by a complete stranger, and that’s pretty much what he is to you right now. But if you talk to him and make it clear you really don’t like that and it isn’t helping you learn martial arts, he’ll listen. He’s actually really nice, you know.”
Jordan shrugged again. “Yeah, I guess he did seem so last night. I don’t know. I’m not quitting, don’t worry,” he added, seeing her expression, then added rather challengingly, “Would you get in trouble for losing a student?”
“No,” she said, almost laughing. “They wouldn’t blame me, it doesn’t work like that. They know it’s all up to you, whether you like it here or not.”
“Hm, all right.” He finally seemed to have relaxed a little. “I’ll see you later then.”
“Okay, goodnight.”
She mentioned the gist of the exchange to Master Su as they were leaving. He listened attentively, then said, “I don’t know, Lisa, maybe he’s had a bad experience with a martial arts school before, or maybe it was just his parents. You’re doing fine, just make the rules clear to him. There’s no reason for him to be so aggressive, and he can’t keep challenging you. He can come to me if he has problems with the school.”
Though Lisa dutifully agreed on the spot, she wished she could keep dealing with Jordan herself. After all, she was the first one in the school he had met and he seemed to be restricting his complaints to her, which was certainly a good thing. He might have quit immediately had he gotten the reactions of some of the other black belts. But Master Su was right; White Dragon was what it was, and it wasn’t going to change to suit Jordan Gulton. Either it would suit him or it wouldn’t, and if it didn’t, it wouldn’t do
anyone any favors to try to gloss the school over and keep him here longer than necessary. Lisa knew she was just particularly interested in him because he was the first new student she had met as a black belt.
Next week, Jordan showed up again for Lisa’s Tuesday class. The school was packed that night, including another brand-new couple and she wasn’t able to pay him any more attention than the others. As she did her rounds watching and assisting the different sets of students, she was pleased to see Jordan putting good effort into learning from twelve-year-old purple-belt David the basic kicks and punches with the other white belts.
Fifteen minutes before the end of class, there was a sudden crisis between Justin and Devin. Justin was a heavy ten-year-old orange belt who had always shown signs of barely-contained hostility and aggressiveness; Devin was a quiet, serious boy a few years older who had gotten his purple belt at the same test Lisa got her black. The boys had been working on their self defense drills - Justin in his awkward way, Devin with his stony seriousness, until (inevitably, Lisa realized, furious that she hadn’t foreseen it) Justin perceived a personal insult and attack, shoved hard back at Devin, and began shouting threats of the most instigative nature.
“Fight me! Fight me!” His voice carried across the room, and everyone stopped what they were doing to stare. By his expression, Devin seemed to be considering taking up Justin’s offer, and Lisa felt she reached them not a moment too soon.
“Enough!” she said, loudly and forcefully enough that Justin immediately fell silent and dropped his raised fists, and Devin turned to her.
Now that she had their attention, Lisa found herself floundering for what should be immediately said and done next - she had never seen so big of a scene happen in the school before. But she mustn’t be seen as uncertain now, so she went on sternly, if also rather blindly: “Not another word - both of you, you’re disgracing Master Su’s school -“
“I didn’t do anything!” Devin snapped, just as Justin yelled, pointing accusingly, “HE HIT ME!”
“I said be quiet!” Don’t raise your voice, Lisa, part of her whispered immediately, you shouldn’t have to use volume for control - be cool and calm. “Justin, put your arm down -“ She reached to push it down, but he angrily jerked it out of reach, striking her arm in the process.
Oh, that was a deadly offense, if Master Su or any of the higher black belts were here…. But they weren’t; it was just her, and she had to make it clear herself how he couldn’t do that.
Before she could say anything, however, another voice said, “Hey, I really don’t think you should hit black belts, that’ll get you in even more trouble than you’re already in.”
Lisa looked up at Jordan, feeling herself blush with embarrassment. In other circumstances, she would have been glad for his support - but a white belt helping out a black belt -
Justin scowled up at Jordan. “Don’t tell me what to do, you’re just a white belt.”
“Actually, Justin, he’s acting like more of a martial artist than you are,” she said as sharply as possible. “In fact, as even the white belts know that rule and you do not, you’re about to lose your belt.”
Justin looked round at her, shock written all over his face and his mouth beginning to open to undoubtedly protest, but Lisa lifted a warning finger.
“Don’t say anything, or it’ll be for a year.”
Justin shut his mouth, though he looked in danger of imploding from rage. Lisa straightened up, looking first at Jordan. “Thank you, Jordan, I can handle this myself. Justin, you come with me, Devin - stay there and think about what happened.” That was quite vague, but she didn’t want to blame Devin unfairly or let him off too easily as he had just been involved in such a scene.
She straightened up, calling to the staring students, “Continue with your lessons,” and was grateful to see the upper-ranking ones at once obey and attempt to enforce it for all those around them. She led Justin to a private area and dropped to one knee to better meet his downcast eyes and pouting lip.
After another deep breath, she began quietly and calmly, “Justin, you have been in this school long enough to know how we handle problems. If another student hits you too hard, you go right to whoever’s in charge - that’s me, tonight. You do not start anything with that student. You know that by now. You also know not to hit or talk back to black belts, that’s a very important rule. Now, I’m going to ask you to take off and hand me your belt. If you do it quietly and don’t argue, I’ll mention that to Master Su and he may only keep it away for a short time, until you show you can be a real martial artist and deserve it back. Now, please give me your belt.”
For a moment he didn’t move; then without looking up, he started to tug at the knot of his belt. When it was undone, he let it fall to his feet and kicked it over to her.
“No, Justin, pick it up and fold it neatly.”
He did this without any more belligerence, though he still wouldn’t look up at her.
“Thank you,” she said softly. “Now, sit right here until the end of class and think about what happened and what you should have done or said instead - or you can watch the other students, see how they behave and handle problems.”
Though clearly sulking at massive proportions, he didn’t seem inclined to cause any more problems that night, so she left him to have a few words with Devin, who was sitting placidly right where she left him. Lisa talked to him a little about how to responsibly handle such a problem as a purple belt and how not to react, and when she finished she realized suddenly that time was almost up for class and parents were waiting outside.
After warm-down exercises and meditation, they were released. Lisa told Justin to stay where he was while she talked with his parents, though she told them he had already been punished in the school and Master Su would hear of it. They thanked her with some embarrassment; clearly, they were aware of their son’s temper.
Finally, the school was again empty but for Jordan, who was dawdling with his shoes. Resignedly, Lisa joined him.
“Hey,” he said. “I thought you handled that really well.”
“Ha, thanks.” She brushed her hand nervously through her hair. “Stuff like that really doesn’t happen here.”
“Yeah, it looked pretty new to you,” he said, grinning, though he added quickly, “but you did a good job. I hope I didn’t embarrass you.”
“Oh, no - it’s just that I should be able to handle it by myself.”
“Yeah, I realized that it might look bad right after I said it.”
“It’s all right this time - remember, a white belt can get away with whatever they like, but they can only do it once.” She winked at him.
Jordan smiled back; it was the realest smile Lisa had seen from him yet. As they moved to the door and Lisa fished out her keys, he asked, “So, what do you think Master Su’ll say?””
“Oh…he’ll probably have some advice for what I should say next time something like that happens, but I don’t think he’ll be upset, since I did calm things down and there wasn’t any bloodshed, after all.”
“I didn’t know you took belts away,” Jordan commented neutrally.
“We do, when someone clearly shows they don’t deserve it. They always earn it back, though, unless they or their parents get huffy and quit.” Lisa watched his expression to see what he thought of this, but he didn’t seem to be disapproving, only thoughtful.
As she was fixing the locks on the outside, Jordan spoke up again. “Uh, if I could ask you more of a personal question…”
“Sure,” Lisa said, although a bit guardedly.
“So - why do you do it? What made you want to get in karate and stick with it to black belt, and keep teaching now that you have it?”
Lisa considered while she made sure the doors were shut tight. It wasn’t something she had thought about in a while. “I joined because - some friends in my high school were mugged on the way back from a party, and it scared my parents, they wanted me to learn some self defense. I thought it was pretty cool myself, and I liked Master Su as I got to know him - you’ll see too. And it is a really good school. I like learning the martial arts, being able to teach it to others. And black belt’s just the start of it all, as they say. You’ve just barely started to learn when you get your black belt.”
Jordan was silent again, but he seemed to be mulling over this. Finally he said, “All right - good luck with Master Su and Justin. I’ll see you Thursday.”
“Thursday it is. And remember, if Master Su yells at you, it just means you’re starting to get good.”
“I’ll remember.”