Your most difficult grading.

[cathal]

So what was your most difficult/challenging grading? What were you asked to do, and did you overcome the challenge?

[Holland]

When I tested for san-dan I messed up my knee when my instructor was testing my stance in a kata.

By the halfway point in the test my knee was really, really swollen. I grunted every time I had to bend in a kata and fighting was not fun.

I survived though and passed. Now its a good story and funny to tell about, but at the time it was no joke.

[jaymac]

My Nidan test was very tough. I was sore for probably one full week afterwords. I will not be testing for Sandan for quite awhile, but I think I had better start preparing now

[cathal]

For me the toughest was my 6th kyu grading. There were about 12 of us doing the kata simultaneously (because there were so many of them). Since a few of the others were screwing around during the test we all ended up having to do the exam three times in entirety, and the kata (Heian Yondan) four times in a row.

[patusai]

My San kyu test.

[aefibird]

My first ever MA test was a tough one for me. It was particularly physically difficult, but it was a big thing for me at the time. Passing 9th kyu boosted my confidence no end and I really came on in my training after passing my first test.

My Karate Nidan was the most physically demanding test I've ever had to do, although yesterdays test for 3rd kup in TKD was very physically tough too - I'm dreading the BB test!!

[KarateK]

My worst was def my yellow belt grading.

To those who dont know my back story I am a purple belt who went back through the grades after a gap in training.

I felt like there was a lot expected of me, and when a few sensei said they expected me to double grade I felt awful afterwards that I didnt. Sorry to say the nerves got the better of me on the day. However I soon got over the need to please everyone and as such my marks etc have gone up.

[karatekid1975]

Mine was my 1st gup test (TKD). I have never failed a test before (other than stripe tests, which wasn't no biggy to me). I failed the first time for several reasons. The second time, I prepared and trained hard for it. I passed. It wasn't so much physically demanding as it was mental. My instructor put a lot of pressure on me. But I got him (and me) to break out in laughter, when the only form I messed up on, I joked about.

[KarateK]

There does seem to be a pattern here, it tends to be nerves etc that are causing the probs!

Edited July 10, 2006 by KarateK

[cathal]

I agree, staying calm and not worrying about passing the test seems to be the best way of going here.