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Feb. 27th, 2009
Karate belt test tomorrow
Feb. 27th, 2009 11:39 pmI've been rather distracted over the past twenty-four hours, and so haven't had the chance to state here that I'm testing tomorrow for single black stripe (in our dojo, assuming I pass, the next belt after that is double black stripe, and then the screening process for black belt first degree begins).
This test feels problematic to me. My karate has been erratic since November, due to the knee problems, and I'm feeling the results of the gap in my training. The affected leg is still not up to full strength, and I'm still coping with a serious challenge with balance on that side. I'm back to it full time now, but I'm still experiencing pain. Then, too, since I had missed so many weeks, I had to re-learn the form for this test all over again. I was still making mistakes when I went over it tonight, although after about six trial runs, I finally felt I had it down.
I've been most nervous about the kicking portion of the test (due to balance/pain issues) and the form (since I had to re-learn it) but at last Thursday's test, the second day of pre-test, the section that gave me the most problem was self-defense. I've never been bent out of shape about the self-defense portion of the test, but I kept doing it wrong. I had great intensity, but I was gauging distances incorrectly, or striking with the wrong hand. The net result of gauging distance incorrectly was that while I was stopping an inch from the target, like I should, I wasn't twisting properly or transferring my weight properly, because I was pulling my punches. Sensei corrected me again and again, which unnerved me. Rattled by this, I fumbled on one of the grab defenses, too. I don't believe this I thought to myself when I went to gulp some water at one point. I'm gonna flunk pretest on self-defense when all along I've been worrying about form and kicks.
But I guess he was satisfied in the end, because I passed pretest. But now I'm worrying about a section of the test I have never worried about before. On top of worrying about kicking and form. And whether I'll just be able to get through an hour and a half of all-out effort, given the problems I've been having with my knee.
Ah, well. It will all be over tomorrow.
This test feels problematic to me. My karate has been erratic since November, due to the knee problems, and I'm feeling the results of the gap in my training. The affected leg is still not up to full strength, and I'm still coping with a serious challenge with balance on that side. I'm back to it full time now, but I'm still experiencing pain. Then, too, since I had missed so many weeks, I had to re-learn the form for this test all over again. I was still making mistakes when I went over it tonight, although after about six trial runs, I finally felt I had it down.
I've been most nervous about the kicking portion of the test (due to balance/pain issues) and the form (since I had to re-learn it) but at last Thursday's test, the second day of pre-test, the section that gave me the most problem was self-defense. I've never been bent out of shape about the self-defense portion of the test, but I kept doing it wrong. I had great intensity, but I was gauging distances incorrectly, or striking with the wrong hand. The net result of gauging distance incorrectly was that while I was stopping an inch from the target, like I should, I wasn't twisting properly or transferring my weight properly, because I was pulling my punches. Sensei corrected me again and again, which unnerved me. Rattled by this, I fumbled on one of the grab defenses, too. I don't believe this I thought to myself when I went to gulp some water at one point. I'm gonna flunk pretest on self-defense when all along I've been worrying about form and kicks.
But I guess he was satisfied in the end, because I passed pretest. But now I'm worrying about a section of the test I have never worried about before. On top of worrying about kicking and form. And whether I'll just be able to get through an hour and a half of all-out effort, given the problems I've been having with my knee.
Ah, well. It will all be over tomorrow.