Yesterday, I attended a course that was just for the black belts at our club.
Last year, I attended around 5 seminars outside of our club as well as our club courses.
Reaching black belt is not really a sign that you have mastered the art as some may think. It is really the start and a sign that you can perform some of the basic techniques and exercises to a required standard.
It may also mean you are ready to more specifically help with teaching beginners.
In some arts and practices, as well as sports, it seems like people get to a particular level and they stop training. Especially with competitive sports, people get to a stage where their body can no longer train as they once did.
Or people will choose to become a trainer or teacher and will focus on that part from that point forward.
With Aikido, you will often find people that continue to focus on studying the art for many decades. Though some will become teacher, for others they are happy to keep up their own training.
The further you train, the more there is to explore and learn. There are many different styles and areas to focus on which keeps it interesting. It can also be frustrating to realise there may be something you have been neglecting that you should have spent more time on.
In this way, it can become a life long journey and something that will aid in your fitness, health and well being throughout life.
Aikido For Glasgow 