Pre-test

As many of you know, I test for shodan, first-degree black belt, in Yoshukai karate in just under 2 weeks.  Usually, coming down the home stretch there are several things that happen to both confirm and reinforce preparation.  One of the most useful is the pre-test, which happened just a little while ago.

Here's the rundown:

Sensei Hofmeister allocated 3 hours to run through what amounts to an entire black belt test.  Since the 2 uke for self-defense weren't available today, we did all material except for self-defense.  Today's lineup went like this:

Nunchaku kata:  Kihon Kata Nunchaku, Kihon Kata Shodan Nunchaku, and Yoshu.

Bo kata:  KK Shodan Bo, KK Nidan Bo (run twice), KK Sandan Bo

Sai kata:  Zenshin kotai sai, Shihohai sai (run twice), Rohai sho sai (run twice)

A rapid-fire series of basics and basic combinations.

All open hand forms except the Kihon Kata forms, which were blended into one form to view the different parts systematically.  Niseishi was run twice to accommodate shime (strike-testing of stances and body mechanics).

Then, my 5 testing combinations were run, followed by Ippon Kumite (1 step sparring).

After this, a short series of combinations was dictated by Sensei for me to perform.

Then breaking, and wrapped up with semi-knockdown sparring.  The whole proceedings ran just under 2 hours.

All-in-all, I think things went well, and there are a few observations I would like to share with you:

First, operation shodan fit worked.  Absolutely.  I found I had much more stamina than ever before, and I was able to ramp up intensity and find my "zone" for longer than I used to be able to.

There is a minor issue that arose now that there's more stamina.  Here comes a stupid car analogy!  Building stamina basically amounts to having a bigger gas tank with better access to the fuel.  But, what I didn't anticipate is this:  training as hard as I did is also analogous to adding a whole-new higher-powered engine.  Now to milk the metaphor entirely dry...the stronger engine guzzles way more gas.  So, I had to figure out early on how to ration out my energy so that I could be as intense as possible without running myself directly into the wall.

So, now, a major hurdle has passed in preparation for this test.  I have 2 weeks to tighten down the screws, and I'm confident that I'll be able to give a test performance that I can be proud of.  Here's an important thing to remember, though:  It can always be better.  Going back to my post on "Yoshu," I can be happy with the idea that my performance on any given day is indicative of my best work for that day, but I can't be satisfied and rest on any aspect of training accomplishments because it can always be better.  Always.

So, operation shodan fit continues!  In two weeks from today, I will have taken this test.  I'll be a little hobbly and a little wobbly...a little tired and probably a little wired.  And, then, it's on to the next task.  Life is really so much fuller when focusing on a set of s.m.a.r.t. goals, and I'm looking forward to the realization of this set of goals.

More to come as the clock counts down!

OSU!