L
Lucy Rhombus
Guest
Well, I just found out that I'm to test for brown belt (san-kyu in Okinawan kenpo and kobujutsu) in three weeks. Yahoo! -- but also so much to work on! There will be a warm up, which can be very strenuous, and then I'll have to perform two karate kata and one kobudo kata. Not sure which karate kata I'll be doing yet (I'm hoping for Passai and Pinon Godan, but Sensei will decide), but the weapon kata will be Kyan No Sai.
I'll also have to answer questions about the history or our style of karate as well as kobudo, plus talk about the karate "way," why I take karate, why I'm testing, etc. Finally, I'll have to do full contact sparring (wearing bogu gear) with one of the black belts.
I'm becoming a wreck thinking of all the work I have to do! I feel my stamina isn't up to snuff, and I'm not sure how to build it up in three weeks. (I'm considering getting a month-long membership at the local Y and doing the treadmill there.) Kyan No Sai is my weakest weapons kata, which is why Sensei has asked me to perform that one. Passai, though I love it because it's so beautiful, is extremely hard, with a spinning side kick that doesn't agree with me. And Sensei will be looking for me to have fixed my problem of often lifting my back heel on moves.
So:
1. Okay, I've been going into overdrive to increase my flexibility and strength, I have plenty of notes on the history of karate, and I know I need to practice my kata. Any suggestions for how to increase stamina in three weeks? I'd hate to poop out during the warmup so much that I can't give my all during the kata. Any other suggestions for training for a belt test in such a limited amount of time?
2. I'm not even going to get into describing my intense fear of performing in front of a crowd (and my parents and some friends may attend as well!). I've been getting better, but any tips would be appreciated.
3. I'd also like this thread to be for members to describe how THEY prepare for belt tests. Should be interesting!
Looking forward to your responses!
I'll also have to answer questions about the history or our style of karate as well as kobudo, plus talk about the karate "way," why I take karate, why I'm testing, etc. Finally, I'll have to do full contact sparring (wearing bogu gear) with one of the black belts.
I'm becoming a wreck thinking of all the work I have to do! I feel my stamina isn't up to snuff, and I'm not sure how to build it up in three weeks. (I'm considering getting a month-long membership at the local Y and doing the treadmill there.) Kyan No Sai is my weakest weapons kata, which is why Sensei has asked me to perform that one. Passai, though I love it because it's so beautiful, is extremely hard, with a spinning side kick that doesn't agree with me. And Sensei will be looking for me to have fixed my problem of often lifting my back heel on moves.
So:
1. Okay, I've been going into overdrive to increase my flexibility and strength, I have plenty of notes on the history of karate, and I know I need to practice my kata. Any suggestions for how to increase stamina in three weeks? I'd hate to poop out during the warmup so much that I can't give my all during the kata. Any other suggestions for training for a belt test in such a limited amount of time?
2. I'm not even going to get into describing my intense fear of performing in front of a crowd (and my parents and some friends may attend as well!). I've been getting better, but any tips would be appreciated.
3. I'd also like this thread to be for members to describe how THEY prepare for belt tests. Should be interesting!
Looking forward to your responses!