Codja

I do put the middle of my belt on my belly, but in my back it is flat. Not that tough... just ask someone who seems to do it well.

Think about my maxim: It can't be worse than worst. So even if you think you can't "survive" another hour, just think that it cannot hurts more than really much. You have to be focused, it's all about the mental. If something is really tough, think about something else to forget pain. Good luck!

Hey, I'm Claudia, another new on this forum. I'm 18. I'm from St-Georges which is a small city one hour south from Quebec city. I'm doing Nick Cerio's Kenpo with "Les Studios Unis" ( http://www.studiosunis.com/ ) since I'm 7 years old. I'm also Instructor since 4 years, helping and giving some classes. I speak french, but I understand english pretty well (however I'm still doing lots of mistakes trying to write it) Hope the time pass here writing and reading about MA will be enriching.

18 and being in MA for 11 years

I personaly started when I was 7.

I agree at 100%. I think that a well done kata reflects a good martial artist. It is complete, with stances, strikes well done, moves, it really shows how much someone has understand the basic of a martial arts.

I would say my black belt test was tougher. It was just not the same... my brown test was really physical and all in a row, but it didn't last as long as my shodan test. This one was long and more psychological. We could be for 20 or 30 min (I just cant remember) in horsestance. And during that time, if you think, it's too bad, you really have to forget pain. There is more people watching you at a time, you always have too be intense, and I didn't knew lots of people. so I would say my black belt test was the worst. *sorry for my english, I speak french...

Sparring Jason Tankson Weapons Jonathan Boyd Forms Casey Marks John Su Open Steve Terada Youth open Tommy Paquet ...

I would also say Steve Terada.

If Jason Tankson, Trevor Nash and Raymond Daniels have no technique and if Casey Marks, John Su, Daniel Sterling and Jason Boyd are performing ugly forms, it is maybe the same.