[seienchin]

I can relate to schuyler's comment, but perhaps in a slightly different way. One feels a particular pressure/desire to be a good role model. If a black-belt exhibits poor behaviour, it can infect the dojo. This is not a complete shock, as brown belts have a similar position. I just felt more "responsible" once I was a shodan. I guess it's like parents suddently realising that they have to mind their language once the toddler starts repeating back *&$%&#* language at them! However, on topic, this didn't keep me going, so to speak, it just added a different flavour to my attendance at main dojo.

What kept me going was that I just loved it! I couldn't envisage stopping.