UBBT testing

[Aodhan]

We had our testing for the Ultimate Black Belt program that some of us in the school have been doing for the past year. Our instructor created it as part of the requirements for her Master's level induction.

For the final, we got to design our own testing, as long as it was personally challenging, so I did my traditional form as a warmup, then basically a breaking demo.

Breaks (All done with 1" ponderosa pine boards)

#1 - Ridge Hand (2 boards) Knife hand (2 boards) back elbow (3 boards) combination break. Broke one of the ridge hands (bad prep on my part), both knife hand, and all the back elbow, then came back and finished the ridge hand.

#2 - 360 jump reverse side kick, 3 boards, successful

#3 - 360 spin heel kick, 3 boards. Supposed to be a speed break, missed both times I tried, basically I kicked the boards out of the holders hands.

#4 - 3 concrete edging blocks, about 2" thick. If you go to a home depot or similar, it;s the ones with scalloped edges that they use for garden borders. Broke all blocks first attempt

#5 - 3 board shin break. I was worried about this one, but it went smooooth, like buttah.

All in all, I was pretty pleased. I now know that I could do more boards on several of the techniques, but since this was my first multiple boards attempt, I didn't have a measure. Also, I taped the boards together at the ends so that the grains didn't get mixed, I've been told now that makes it harder.

All in all, it was very cool! I have a video, if I can ever figure out how to get it into a web format, I'll post a link.

Aodhan

[cathal]

So what are the goals of the UBB program she made?

[Aodhan]

So what are the goals of the UBB program she made?

Similar to Tom Callos' program (She got permission from him to use it as a model)

Daily tasks:

Form - 3 times

Good deeds - 3

3 miles walking

150 pushups

150 situps

Sparring - 3 2 minute rounds (Could be regular, shadow, etc.)

15 minutes meditation

Yearly tasks:

1 self improvement/philosophy type book read per month

Achieve 10 personal goals

1 day, 3 day and 9 day fast

One community project

Spend 1 day blind, mute or in a wheelchair

Also, there were journaling requirements, but I didn't really journal all that much. I've never been much of a diary keeping type of person.

Final was to design your own testing, it could be used as either two midterms or as a rank test if you were ready for a rank test. Unfortunately, I couldn't use it as a rank test as I have another 2 months in rank to go before I am eligible.

Basically, it's a way to really advance yourself personally and as a martial artist. It's a lot of work and sacrifice, but it was very much worth it. I don't think without this as part of the preparation, I would have done as well as I did on my instructor certification camp.

Aodhan

[bushido_man96]

That sounds very interesting, Aodhan. What I like about the ATA is the constant improvement and refinement that is made in the organization.

[Aodhan]

That sounds very interesting, Aodhan. What I like about the ATA is the constant improvement and refinement that is made in the organization.

Well, this wasn't really anything the ATA engineered. This is something my school owner did as a program in school only as part of her Master's preparation.

Aodhan

[bushido_man96]

That sounds very interesting, Aodhan. What I like about the ATA is the constant improvement and refinement that is made in the organization.

Well, this wasn't really anything the ATA engineered. This is something my school owner did as a program in school only as part of her Master's preparation.

Aodhan

Yeah, I understood that. But, don't you imagine that is where the ATA comes up with some of it's ideas? It is great networking.

[Aodhan]

That sounds very interesting, Aodhan. What I like about the ATA is the constant improvement and refinement that is made in the organization.

Well, this wasn't really anything the ATA engineered. This is something my school owner did as a program in school only as part of her Master's preparation.

Aodhan

Yeah, I understood that. But, don't you imagine that is where the ATA comes up with some of it's ideas? It is great networking.

Oh, absolutely. I was asked to be a board holder during my school owners testing for 7th degree at Worlds, and I got to meet SO many of the high ranks in the organization by doing so. I also got to meet Chuck Norris, and I had probably a good hour conversation with Mike Chat about XMA, marketing, why he chose the ATA to "ally" with, how to teach, etc. I have a HUGE respect for the man that I hadn't before. Not only is he an incredible MA, but he understands the business aspects of martial arts as well. Networking rocks!

Aodhan