How did you feel about your test?

[karatekid1975]

Hiya all,

The week of tip testing, I feel I did really well. I tested four times (we go through the testing routine all week even if you are testing or not). I got my final tip the second day (the first day, my instructor said it was a "practice run" LOL). I wasn't nervous, and I breezed through everything.

When I tested for senior red (high red). I don't feel I did so well. I think I did 2 out of maybe 6 or 7 forms correctly (I had to repeat a few of them). For those WTF'ers out there, I know I did Taegeuk 4 perfect. I butchered Taegeuk 1, 2, and 6. Taegeuk 7, I did ok, but I think my stances were off. I did my bo form to the "T." I was happy about that.

The breaking portion was awful. I did a reverse punch first. Didn't break the boards, but nearly broke my hand I tried a jumping front kick ... also a no-go. I blasted the boards apart with an elbow strike. And I did a front leg hook kick. Took me two tries. I had to break two boards for every station.

My self defense stuff wasn't all that great. My technique went out the window on those But I did my one-steps good. I actually had to show someone else the right ones to do (I kinda helped them "cheat" I think ).

But I feel I did great on the sparring. I thought I had to spar maybe 3 times at the most for my portion of the test, but my instructor kept calling me back up to do 2 on 1's with the black belts that were testing (I was the second person). I did give them a run for the money

Anyways, I thought I could "redeem" myself at the tourny last week for what I did wrong on my test (forms and breaking), but that story is in the competition forum.

Tell me the story of some of your tests and how you felt about it. Did you pass/fail and didn't/did agree with it? Let me hear it, folks

[sdargie]

Last sunday tested for 8th gup (3rd rank, we count down) and there were a few times when I thought through the technique and then thought, "I'm not going to do ___" and then proceded to execute the wrong technique perfectly.

I did Tiger strike instead of Tiger claw, but corrected myself.

Double round kick instead of double front because all I heard was "double kick".

I missed one step in Taeguk 1 and had to do it again which throw off my concentration for Tiger Rising, which I did again but had regained my composure then.

All in all the test went very well and I scored perfect 10s in most of the aikido portion, which I was really proud of, but it goes to show that I have more work to do in being in the moment.

[fallen_milkman]

I've only taken one test, for my first rank of white sash, but I think it went really well.

First requirement is basic strikes and kicks. No problem.

Secon requirement is freeform, which I've never heard of another style doing so I'd better explain. Basically, one person stands at the head of a line of the classmates, facing the next person in line. They bow, and the second person in line throws an attack. The first person defends, and does a counter attack. They bow, and the second person goes to the end of the line. The head of the line goes through the entire line, sometimes twice if there are fewer people in class that day. Three times if only 3 or 4 of us are there. After he goes through everyone, the second person takes their place, and so on until everyone goes. We do this every class.

Third requirement is sparring. Two 4 minute rounds for white sash with a small break in between. I, however, tested on a sparring day. I did five 4 minute rounds. Pretty rough.

Fourth requirement is our 16 man form. This is the only real part anyone can fail. I, however, do my form 3 or 4 times daily, so no worries.

And that was it. Not bad at all. It is the next test I am worried about...one half hour straight sparring, no breaks. No puking, no stopping, no passing out. I hope I make it!

[karatekid1975]

Good to hear you guys were happy with your tests.

fallen_milkman, I'm not a big fan of sparring, and I'm not all that good at it. But at my test, I sparred A LOT, and I didn't even feel winded (which isn't normal for me, cause I have athsma LOL). I guess something just "clicked" that day, so I don't think you will have any problems

[Kieran-Lilith]

Let's see....

Testing for 8th kyu, I forgot to bow at the beginning of my kata, but other than that, knew far more than I needed to. I redeemed myself with how much terminology I knew, I think.

Testing for 7th kyu, I was in a rush because I had a choir concert for school I had to get to, but I remember, again, knowing far more than I had to.

Testing for 6th kyu....has not yet happened, but will be happening next week. I'm not worried about it. It's the test for 5th kyu I'm worried about. It's not only the terms and kata, but it's sparring. For an hour and a half. No breaks. No passing out. No keeling over and dying (which Sensei would kill you for). None of it. You have to spar everybody....it looks hard, I watched one of my best friends go through his test. It wasn't pretty. Neither was school the next day. And I think I'm going to stop babbling now.

[karatekid1975]

Just don't eat fried food before hand or you will puke LOL

Seriously, I know how you feel. In TSD, I knew stuff past my rank. But this school, I think I'm "lagging" LOL

[ninjanurse]

Good to hear you guys were happy with your tests.

fallen_milkman, I'm not a big fan of sparring, and I'm not all that good at it.

So you say!!

[karatekid1975]

LOL. Well, if a 3rd dan says so ... hehehehehe. Seriously, thanks Heidi. You would murder me in sparring LOL

Are you coming this friday to the black belt graduation?

[niel0092]

My last test was for BB canidate back in march. I did all of my forms very well and nailed my one steps. It was also the first test where I got to make up my own self defense patterns. I tried to add things I had learned from judo and I got a great big smile and a "I like that one" from the head instructor when I defended a takedown with a sprawl and rolled my partner into a nasty armbar. He Never(!) says things like that durring tests.

My break gave me a few problems though. The first break was a 180 jump back kick through 3 boards followed immediately by a jump front kick. The back kick took me several tries to get right. The front kick and the suspened board snap punch and knife hand I got first try.

I'm planning on testing for BB sometime in Sept or Oct and I'm really excited. It's been a long (6years) and rewarding journey to this point and I cant wait for the next step. Wish me luck!

[sdargie]

Luck!