Haven't been able to put in my best

[cathal]

All I can say is that when I feel down I look to the other students. The experience is quite humbling and I've gone through the feeling before. As my own father said to me a long time ago, when we walk down the path of life we're bound to stumble a few times.

[Brandon Fisher]

Yep we all stumble.

Kez,

I am glad that you like your sensei, that is very important. I just wish he would be more understanding. Now a 9 year old black belt bothers me. Just like you said the behavior of this kid in class is not top grade . This should be part of being a black belt. Having fun and a laugh or two or three isn't bad but yikes. One of the many reasons I don't agree with kids wearing black belts.

[jaymac]

We all go through ups and downs in our training. Taking Monday class off is a good idea, but honestly when I get in a rut, I take a week. It gives me time to remotivate myself and train on my own at home. I recently had been in a rut, but last week I was witness to a black belt testing where a few of my friends were promoted to nidan. They did such a great job and were so deserving. Just watching them motivated me to quit sulking about my own training and really dig deep and work harder. As for your instructor's comments, you know you should be able to nail those heian kata without even thinking. Figure out what is bothering you and fix it.

[Shotokan-kez]

Yes Brandon i'm glad i'm not alone there. I don't disagree with kids having black belts but only as long as they can live up to it, but unfortunatly there are a few kids in our club with a black belt that doesn't, and it really bothers me.

I agree with what your saying Jaymc, i really should be able to nail those heian kata's and that's why i was so dissapointed that i had messed them up in front of lower grades.

[bushido_man96]

thanks Bushido, i do totally see where your coming from. And it's funny because i have said similar things to people on the forums, then i find myself in the same situation, surreal really. But i guess we do all go through it.

Yep, I go through the same things as well from time to time. We know what we would say to someone else, but we are never as likely to tell ourselves the same thing, and it always helps to hear it from someone else. It makes you feel good when you know that someone else cares.

[Shotokan-kez]

Yeah thats why i made the thread Bushido, Kf is very supportive. When your as crazy on MA as all of us are on the forums it's difficult to talk to friends/family about it. They may listen to you but they don't undertand.

[bushido_man96]

Yeah thats why i made the thread Bushido, Kf is very supportive. When your as crazy on MA as all of us are on the forums it's difficult to talk to friends/family about it. They may listen to you but they don't undertand.

You are right about that. I understand where you are coming from.

[pegasi]

I just wanted to add that even though I can't train shotokan anymore, I still remember the work it takes. I am one rank below 1st red (4th kyu) in taekwondo, and the red belt test is something a good bit beyond the ordinary ranking test. So, I think I do understand your apprehension about your 1st dan grading , even though my level isn't quite up to yours yet.

My instructor in taekwondo tells everyone from white belt on to train every form (kata/poomse) every time you work on them. Start from the beginning and go through them all, without power, as a warmup, prior to focusing on the form for your current grade. This keeps the forms you have already mastered fresh in your memory, so that you can do them in that "no mind" state where you do them without conscious thought.

A "time out" is not a bad idea. I hope you're feeling better now.

Please don't forget, that no matter what the rank of your classmates, progress in any martial art is an individual thing, the main competition you have to face is yourself. Don't let the thought of your classmates taking their grading make you feel pressure to take yours, if you're not ready to do so.

My instructor tells a story of someone who stayed a blue belt (roughly 6th kyu) for about 5 years. When asked why he didn't test, he told the person that he didn't want to. He explained that he wasn't concerned about the rank, he was concerned with perfecting what he knew.

[bushido_man96]

My instructor tells a story of someone who stayed a blue belt (roughly 6th kyu) for about 5 years. When asked why he didn't test, he told the person that he didn't want to. He explained that he wasn't concerned about the rank, he was concerned with perfecting what he knew.

Great point, pegasi.

[Shotokan-kez]

That is a great point, and i am happy to stay on 1st kyu for some time. Simply because i don't want to rush things and then mess it up as a consequence.

Thanks for you kind words and support guys!