The look on peoples’ faces when they find out I am a black belt never ceases to amaze me. Reactions can be mixed. Some will ask me “What would you do if I did this…” then they throw their hand towards my face or stomach. Other times I get questions like “How long have you been doing karate?” or, “What type of karate do you study?” Those all seem like normal reactions, right? Well, occasionally I get this response: “Oh, so you have a girl black belt.” This doesn’t happen often, and if you’re one of my friends who jokes about it once in a while, don’t worry, I am not referring to you. I am writing this article because of the few people I have encountered who truly believe that I am either not capable or shouldn’t be allowed to earn the same black belt as my male equal. Now, trust me, I really don’t take their opinions to heart, because now that I am old enough to know my worth, I know that is simply not true. I am writing this article for the little girls who give up on their dream, whether martial arts related or in any other part of life, because of how someone has led them to believe they are not good enough. This article is dedicated to both other martial arts and people who don’t even know how to throw a proper punch, who think they can tell me what my black belt is really worth.

Let me tell you a bit about my black belt test for you to understand. I belong to a very traditional dojo (karate school in Japanese) and study Isshinryu Karate. Our black belt test consists of a year-long extensive evaluation, culminating with a weekend-long test during our dojo’s annual Karate Camp held in the mountains of Pennsylvania. During this year-long evaluation, you are expected to be “on your A game” 24/7. That means coming prepared to be tested on any of your testing requirements at any time, at any karate centered event. It also means attending class at least three times a week and assisting in a few classes a week for the younger students. You also must get yourself in great physical condition, which includes 100 pushups, sit ups, squats, jumping jacks, and leg lifts, oh, and then be able to run a 5k in under 35 minutes. Now, if you think that is rough, just wait until the weekend-long culmination of your test. That weekend you are pushed to your physical and mental limits. You are only allowed to sleep a few hours over the course of the weekend, and again must be “on you’re A game.” Day and night you are tested on all of your forms, must spar (fight), and go through physical conditioning workouts. For most black belt “testees” (and the campers of the weekend), the most anticipated part is called the time fight. This is truly the fight of your life. You face about 15 of the black belts who have acted as your mentors, your cheerleaders, but also drill sergeants for the past year and go head-to-head, one at a time, on maybe three hours of sleep (if you are lucky). And then after that, it’s back to physical and mental conditioning up until the moment the black belt is tied around your waist, if you pass.

Now, let me assure you that my neither Sensei, nor any other black belts, took the time to create an easier test for the girls. They did not let us have extra breaks, or extra hours of sleep. We were not allowed more mistakes or yelled at less than any other “testee.” My test was not based on my gender, but how much hard work I put in; the amount of literal blood, sweat, and tears. And this equal treatment has not stopped since I earned by black belt in 2013.

I break the same wood boards and bricks. I teach the same classes. I go to the same seminars. I compete in the same tournaments. I attend the same weekly classes as my fellow male black belts.

I am lucky enough to be a part of a very “women strong” dojo. I have so many amazing women black belts to look up to and strive to be, both in the dojo, but also in the real world. I am also lucky enough to be a part of a dojo with men who don’t look at me or treat me any different than they would treat a guy. I have learned that in any part of my life, I am just as capable, important, and just as hard of a worker as any man or women who is my equal, and I don’t deserve to be thought of or treated as any less.

Sure there may always be some kind of questioning or double standard. As Taylor Swift says, “Haters gonna hate,” but I know in my heart that we all wear a black belt made of the same material; I worked just as hard as anyone else, and I can reach the same goals as any other black belt, regardless of gender. I look forward to continue to be treated the same as I test for my second degree black belt this May. I look forward to continuing to prove to everyone who questions my ability wrong. Finally, I look forward to raising up a generation of girls who know that they deserve the same respect as any other man, not only in the martial arts world, but in whatever they do in life.