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In some Taekwondo schools and organizations (regrettably, not many) promotions, especially to the senior color belt levels and to the black belt level, are awarded not for just attendance and physical ability, but also for kong. Without kong, a student should never be promoted to black belt. To build kong, a student must show leadership abilities, set an example as to what a true black belt should be, volunteer for school projects, do what needs to be done without being told, be available to junior students when they need assistance (all the time, not just during class), be a mentor to junior students, work within his or her community to make it a better place for all to live, etc. When any problem arises, people should say "I will go to him; he is a black belt. He knows what to do and will help me."

As mentioned at the beginning of this topic, a black belt may be compared to a U.S. Navy Navy chief. Being selected to be a chief petty officer is a great accomplishment that puts the person into a unique fraternal order of other chief petty officers. As a chief, your every action will be scrutinized by the lesser ranks, so chiefs must constantly set an example for them to follow. With many years of dedicated effort, a chief may earn the coveted highest rank of master chief petty officer. Black belts are also members of a fraternal order and must set the example for lower belts. With years of hard work and study, a novice black belt may one day be considered an expert, but regrettably, many novices harbor the misconception that they are experts and thus will remain novices forever.

Man of Tao

In the parable of A Man of Tao (Do) and a Little Man, a student asked, "What is the difference between a man of Tao and a little man?"

The sensei replies, "When the little man receives his first degree black belt, he can hardly wait to run home and shout at the top of his voice to tell everyone. Upon receiving his second degree black belt, he will climb to the rooftops and shout to the people. Upon receiving his third degree black belt, he will jump in his automobile and parade through town blowing the horn, telling everyone."

The sensei continues, "However, when a man of Tao receives his first degree black belt, he will bow his head in gratitude. Upon receiving his second degree black belt, he will bow his head and his shoulders. Upon receiving his third degree black belt, he will bow at the waist and quietly walk alongside the wall so that people will not see him or notice him."

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