Week of Black Belt test

[jason...@sbcglobal.net]

My black belt test in Shorei Goju Ryu Karate is this Saturday and I've
struggled with how intense to train the week of the test. It's
currently Tues night and my Sensei made me stay light yesterday and
today. For the last 8 weeks our black belt program has consisted of a
minimum of 2 classes per week, one hour of outside training (e.g.
kickboxing) and one 4 hour session that attempts to replicate (minus
the pressure) the test going over all our material in a high-paced
rhythm.

I wanted to run hard at least one hour a day until Thurs, then go
light and stay technical, then rest Friday and test Sat. But, now I'm
starting to listen to my Sensei and another black belt that highly
encouraged me to rest remainder of week...maybe go thru kata very
light, tai chi style rest of week.

I've had nagging injuries (strained calf, stubbed toe, and although
its doing fine I have a torn ACL that I've dealt with for years that
karate has amazingly strengthened) since week 4 of our 8 week program.

Any help or suggestions would be welcome so I can plan rest of my week
and feel rested, yet confident and ready for a grueling 4 hour test.

Also, any nutrition recommendations starting 48 hrs before would be
helpful (e.g. carb loading, etc.) and day of test as well (I've been
experimenting during our 4 hour session with runner's "Gu" and it
worked pretty well.

Tx!

[Sterling Heibeck]

Jason,
First of all, congratulations on your upcoming black belt test. The
amount of work just to get the the point of testing is a testament to
your commitment to being a martial artist and that's just plain
awesome.
I can only offer suggestions from my own experience, so please weigh
my opinions against everything else you hear. That being said I agree
with your Sensei (and others) that say you should rest up for the
remainder of the week. At this point, you already know what you know
and that's not going to really change between now and the test. The
week leading up to your test is a mental game. I spent a lot of time
in the week leading up to my test mentally going over what I knew of
the test. I did do my forms once a day, but I did them more Tai Chi
speed with a focus on quick recall of all the movements, since those
are the things that give me trouble during a test.
I also have a really hard time just before a test with an overflow
of nervous energy that I feel the need to bleed off by going really
hard, so I had to really focus on making sure any workouts I did do
didn't get too heavy.
As for diet, not my strong suit. I ate more salads during the week
before than I usually do, and on the day of the test I ate a very
light breakfast (a banana I think) and I ate a very light lunch (can't
recall off the top of my head). I kept my fluid intake light as well.
I don't like eating before being physical at all because I cramp up if
I do. However, not eating anything is nearly as bad because, at least
for me, my energy is gone in an instant without something in my
stomach, even something as light as a some fruit. I would consider
what your normal diet routine is and try to recall other times when
you've had to work really really hard and how your meals affected
that, if you can recall these, and go from that. Everyone's body is
different and they handle foods differently.
Not sure if any of this helps, but hopefully a little.

Good Luck!!

[Dan Williams]

I'm with Sterling, you need to focus on your mental state, and keep
your body ready and healthy. The day of the test you might want to
over warm up to calm your nerves, warm up, but keep in mind you've got
a long day ahead.

It helped me to realize I was only coming out of the dojo 2 ways: on
my back, or with a black belt. You work it until you fall over, or
you make it through.

I doubt your instructor would let you test if he/she didn't know you
are ready. Don't take his/her confidence in you lightly. Your
instructor has chosen you to be a representative of their school and
style, you have the physical ability. Often, the black belt test is a
mental one. Confidence can go a long way, even overconfidence.

I'd avoid sugar and caffeine the day of the test, it'll burn fast and
you'll feel drained after your body burns through it.

I can't wait for you to post the pictures of you in your black belt!
We'll make sure we give you a "shout out" on the next podcast.

Remember to breathe :)
Dan

[jason...@sbcglobal.net]

Guys thanks so much for your interest in reading my post and
replying...all very helpful advice! And, by the way, I forgot to add
in my original post that I dig your podcast...just good to hear other
martial artists jib jab about "martial arts stuff" that you find
yourself wondering about too...so great job, please keep it up!!!

I'm adhearing to the subscription and went in today (wed) my last
class before test and Sensei had me stretch and meditate the entire
time which was great. Made me lay down and put a breath pillow on my
stomach to focus breathing as he just simply fed my mind with positive
thoughts and visions of him putting my black belt on. There are two
other candidates going thru on Sat with me and Sensei is wearing each
of our belts during each class he teaches tonight to transmit his
Chi...I know, hokey maybe, but a neat tribute I thought to us.

Sterling, I'm there with you on overwhelming nerves beforehand and Dan
you're right about breathing, its the part of karate that is
underrated. But, I feel confident and ready to go out of there one of
two ways...

Here's a link to our dojo. Shorei Goju Ryu has an interesting history
(as they all do): http://www.broadripplemartialarts.com/

Looking forward to the shout out and will post pics indeed.

Thanks again guys!!!

> > Tx!- Hide quoted text -
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> - Show quoted text -

[Dan Williams]

Sooooo....? You're killing me, how did everything go?

[jason...@sbcglobal.net]

WATER...HELP...

I felt like I was in a freaking car accident on Sunday...could hardly
move, hung over from the Kampai party afterwards, and my wife and I
are expecting our 3rd child any day now, so there was no rest for my
weary ass in preparation for that!!!

Anyhow, it was an awesome day all around...ok, yes I passed...nearly
puked twice and my calf (that I mentioned in first post was strained
and had wrapped for last 4 wks) cramped up on me during the last hour
or what we call the "Black Belt Hour," when everything is stepped up
for big finale. It happened during our demo of floor strategy where a
black belt has you pinned on the ground and we have 4 basic ways to
escape...well I cinched my leg up to trap his so I could roll him and
it was the same pain you feel in the middle of the night when your
calf just winds up and leaves you crying for mommy. It hurt like a
mother and my Sensei had me try to work it out off to the side while
they finished, but it was going nowhere.

He then announced one last technical demo which was all our chokes and
so I told the black belt paired w/ me to help me up cause I could do
these just standing there easily which I did. But our finale consists
of our "2-Man," or defense against 2 attackers in numerous waves at
the highest pace possible and finally dojo sparring. I literally
hopped to the corner of the dojo behind all the black belts that were
in line to form a tsunami of attacks to figure out what to do. A
black belt, who is a massage therapist luckily, came over and pulled a
freaking Mr. Miyagi on my calf, "helped me go find a balance
Danielson," and totally worked it out...by the time it was my turn for
2 Man, I ran out to the middle, completed that portion and went on to
some of my best sparring ever while running the black belt
gauntlet...it was awesome, I had some black belts falling out like
they were at the Apollo on some of my blitzes and slip hook heels, but
my adrenalaine was on total max at that point cause I knew this was
the end! So, I went from not thinking I would be able to finish to
finishing even stronger, just the way I always wanted!

I'll have to send you guys the bio we were all required to write for
the board and audience to read cause this accomplishment was made much
sweeter in that I had waited 24 years to get my black belt and my
Sensei and I are close friends. In high school and college I was a
state TKD champ, was 3 months from my black belt test and blew out my
knee and began what has been a painful struggle ever since. From that
surgery I contracted staph infection, lost 50 lbs and spent months on
home health recovering. Flash forward to the last couple years when I
came back to martial arts, it was karate that has totally strengthened
my knee in the face of doctors that have told me to quit, and
entertain a new procedure that would carry me over until I'm ready for
a total replacement w/in a few years. Today, I feel no pain...ever
and there is no question it is due to the deep stances in kata and
general training that strengthens the muscles around the knee. And,
mind you, I'm a big kicker from my TKD days and I haven't missed a
beat on that. I can do now at 38 nearly everything I did when I was
21...spin kicks, axe kicks, tornado kicks you name it. However, to
save myself now that black belt is attained, I'm going to dial all
that down and focus on other areas, but you might get a kick out of
reading it.

Sorry this is was long, but it was a day I had waited for since I was
14. Following the promotion, the new black belts are still subjected
to further embarrassment by having to tell how they feel, tell a joke
and sing a song at the Kampai Party, which was a great way to top off
the day. Thanks guys for this forum, its been cathardic for me during
this last week to write to someone with the same interests!!

Jason

[Sterling Heibeck]

Jason, even though I don't know you personally, I understand fully
everything you went through on your test day. I'm proud of you for all
the incredible effort you've put in over the years to finally see one
of your dreams completed.

That's a really long winded way of saying FREAKIN' AWESOME!!!

Congratulations, and I'd love to read the bio you wrote.

Now get some rest for that new baby. ;)

[Dan Williams]

Congratulations! That's awesome that everything went so well.

Don't worry about the long post, the rule is: anyone who just got
their black belt can make a post as long as they want. It was good
reading anyway. Can't wait to see the pictures.

Good Job!

Dan

[whiterock....@gmail.com]

Congrats!!!

[jason...@sbcglobal.net]

guys tx for the well wishes...would post pics of my test but don't
know how, any ideas? also, thought you might find it humorous that
i'm writing this in my wife's delivery room as we await baby # 3...why
am I spending my time writing this group when I should be focusing on
my wife? well we're inducing and there's a long day ahead of
us...besides, we already ran out of topics to discuss...its the
longest date day in our history and with no kids its like a freaking
vacation baby! today she earns her 3rd degree black belt in baby
delivery...anyhow, let me know on pics and when's the next podcast?

On Feb 5, 3:16 pm, "whiterock.kenshin...@gmail.com"

> > I felt like I was in a freaking car accident on Sunday..- Hide quoted text -

[Dan Williams]

If you have a google account you can put them in your photos section
(http://picasaweb.google.com/). That's where I put all mine. If you
don't, you're welcome to email them to me and I'll post them. A
google account is very worth while, you can put baby pictures there
too.

vacation baby, not words you usually see next to each other.

I hope everything is going well, tell your wife that a perfect
stranger wishes her well. :-)