When you think you give 100%....until....

[Shotokan-kez]

My sensei has been on holiday for two weeks so we have had the assistant instructor who's a 2nd dan. I have a grading on friday going for 1st kyu. Officially you are meant to wait 6 months between 2nd kyu and 1st kyu but sensei has said that if he feels someone is good enough they can grade within the 3 months with the other kyu grades. While sensei was away i put my name down for the grading and then tonight i discussed it with him and he said that the assistant instructor said i was doing wel, he would look at me but he doesnt see why not.

Then the bombshell came. During the lesson he told me that my moves were not strong or powerful enough. He said my form and technique were good but not enough power. I am allowed to grade though but he said that i had to show more power and strength on friday night. There are two kids the same grade as me and he doesnt want them to grade because they are not good enough yet.

Now this puts heaps of pressure on me, i need to shine but i already thought i was. I always put 100% into my classes and i honestly thought i had it spot on! Yes form is good and so is technique but without power what good is that? I'm gutted now. Just goes to show it doesnt matter how good you think you are....sensei always knows best!

Kez

[granmasterchen]

just keep at it, imagine that those moves are being performed in a real life situation where each block is blocking an attack powerful enough to knock you out, also every technique that you execute as an attack needs to be powerful enough to knock out your opponent each time. Remember to breathe, if you do it with proper power and intensity you will notice a difference after you perform each form. Doing it this was is very draining on your system, but it shows power. With more practice you will be able to control your breathing and condition yourself better because now kata will become a cardiovascular job instead of just repetition of skillful and graceful movements. This is just one of the many levels of understanding in kata.

[Shotokan-kez]

Would using a punch bag/kick pad increase power and strength?

[alsey]

granmasterchen's advice is good, and yes a bag is great for developing power. probably won't make a massive difference if you've only got until friday though.

as granmasterchen said, try to imagine each block or strike as if you were doing it for real. give 100% as usual, and there's nothing more you can do. the important thing is not whether you pass the grading or not, its the fact that you are doing your best. if your best requires another three months, then don't worry about it. three months isn't very long.

at nidan i still don't feel my basics are spot on, i doubt they ever will be. i just do my best, and that's all that can be done

moral of the story though; don't ever think you've mastered something!

[Jiffy]

Just when you think you've used everything you've got, when the time is desperate enough, you will find more. All I can say is have faith in yourself, give it your all, and the rest is up to the big man upstairs.

Good Luck!

[P.A.L]

as a higher rank you need to develop your ki, that's the only way you can show the power in your techniques, i looked at you stat. in another thread it seems pretty good, work on putting ki into your hand techniques. and what do you think yourself, do you think you are lacking physical strenght? or you can't pop the techniques?

[Zorbasan]

i guess thats what the instructors are there for. if they go up to people and say yep, your doing fine, we would never strive to be better.

[Jiffy]

^^^^ Good Point!!

[The Kyokushin punisher]

Just keep goin and dont worry about the outcome it will come soon enuff.

[bushido_man96]

Well, just use the extra 3 months to really start cracking things out. Do each form so hard it makes you tired, then do another.

An exercise you could do is to do your form with great technique and a fast pace, but not so fast you can't control it. Then, do it 5 more times, and go for the gusto. Put more speed and power into it than you have ever used. If technique slops, that's ok. What will happen is that you will push your muscles into a new level of speed that they haven't worked yet. After doing this 5 times, rest, and then do the form at your normal pace, to keep the correct technique. Do it a couple of times.

Try this, and see where your power goes. Good luck!