Assistant chief instructor Shihan David Jacobs 6th Dan is highly regarded under Hanshi as being one of the most powerful karate men around today, promoting a true image to all those who meet him of what a karate black belt should look like and stand for.

A lesson for senior dan grades

The rank of senior dan grades such as a 4th Dan black belt would be awarded by many karate groups without a test.

A 4th dan would be awarded to a 3rd Dan who has shown over a period of four years (which is the minimum time for this grade) respect and loyalty within their organisation.

To the SAMA Organisation that's just part of the package.

Senior black belts of the SAMA Organisation know that they are not going to receive their Dan grades from doing a couple of hours of a test.

SAMA instructors are vetted continuously throughout their term right from their last grade. For example, if an instructor has 3 years to his next grade, then 3 years is how long their test is.

The SAMA Organisation is built on older traditional training rather than the sport karate concept which has plagued the karate world. I can assure you SAMA is certainly not a place for any weak so-called 'black belts' as we see in other karate groups. Although we require all our students to work hard, we also expect our senior instructors to dedicate themselves 120% to the hardships of ongoing training with a complete commitment and loyalty to their seniors as well as to the SAMA Organisation. This is traditional values at its best.

Most of our experienced black belts have done over 10 to 20 years of training and are still 1st and 2nd Dan's. Many may think this is wrong, but SAMA Organisation wants to keep the standards of our karate and our black belts high and it has shown us that that these black belts have a strong commitment, perseverance and total loyalty as it was back in the old days when a 1st Dan black belt really meant something special. Nowadays many karate groups hand out 1st, 2nd & 3dan black belt grades like sweets but at least our black belts understand that they are truly worthy of their belts.

Here is the story of Shihan's Jacobs previous 4th Dan Grade test.

After over four years of hard training 7 days a week sensei Jacobs was not told in advance that he was to be graded for his 4th Dan black belt. Hanshi telephoned sensei the night before his test and told him to be at his house before 6am next morning. He was also told to wear his karate suit, although he had always did this when he would come for his private lesson.

On a dark freezing cold and very frosty December morning

Sensei Jacobs arrived on Hanshi's doorstep at 6.00am. Sensei was then told to drive to a beach in Hove. For people who don't know where Hove is, it lies along-side of Brighton, East Sussex. At this point Sensei remembered that 35 years ago Hanshi along with other club students used to be taken by Japanese instructors to train in mid-winter in the sea and lochs in Scotland.

At around 6:30amn on a very dark and freezing cold icy morning on an isolated beach stood Hanshi with his most senior student, Sensei David Jacobs, both preparing themselves mentally to do battle with the English Channel, which I have to impress was blowing a severe gale. Hanshi always believed in the Japanese martial art philosophy that one should show by example and is why he also decided to do the test along-side his student, sensei Jacobs.

Stripped down to their karate trousers and black belts, they both plunged themselves chest deep into the freezing icy waters to practice the one hour test of old style traditional karate training.

Just to stay on their feet from the powerful high crashing in waves and the strong pull of the under water currents which kept dragging them time and time again under the icy water was a test in itself as they both said it was physically and mentally exhausting.

To do a test like this in such severe weather conditions was very dangerous, especially of that time of high waves, the coldness and the very strong under currents. It is reasonable in hindsight to say that both of them could of drowned or could easily of been swept out to sea. Some may think it was a crazy thing to do, but they both believe in the traditional ways in that karate to them is an ongoing challenge to one's courage and inner spirit. Sometimes you have to put yourselve up against situations that to the majority of others may seem dangerous.

A part of the exercise was to help us face up to our fears, and even though Hanshi explained that he is not a very good swimmer he say's this test brings out the mental and physical side together so they act as one in helping you to win the fight. Although the challenge was great the feeling afterwards was even greater.

The important thing that this exercise achieved, is that it tested Sensei Jacob's respect and dedication to his teacher, and had also tested his dedication to true karate.

Now a 6th Dan, Shihan Jacobs will never ever forget the day that he was awarded his 4th Dan karate black belt. How many can say they have experienced this sort of test.

Shihan awarded his 6th Dan by Hanshi

On the 9th December 2005 Shihan and Hanshi returned to the same place on the same date of the 9th of December at the same time of 6.30am in Hove where Shihan took his 4th Dan Black belt.

Once again it was a dark and very cold morning on the same deserted Hove beach.

Hanshi and Shihan are now facing each other sitting in seiza (traditional kneeling), Hanshi asks Shihan two questions.

Are you willing to wait another year for this grade - the answer came back promptly without any hesitation, oss (yes) Hanshi.

Are you prepared to follow me back into the sea as before - again the answer came back without any hesitation, oss (yes) Hanshi.

As befor Shihan's showed his loyalty, spirit and commitment.

The award of 6th Dan was given and accepted.

We both retraced our steps of the past by going once again back into the freezing sea.

Going back many years later to the same place at that same time of day proved Shihan's same determination andf attitude to his karate and his respect towards Hanshi.

Once again without question both our spirits and the strong bond between us were rekindled