Always be prepared... but if you are not....

[DisgruntledGirl]

Went to my very first Belt Ceremony the other night.... I was the only adult there (even though I think 3 passed) so that in itself was kinda odd.

Anyway, while giving me my belt my Sensei said some nice and encourageing things about how I'm an "Inspiration" yadda yadda yadda. All good stuff right?

Then came the humiliation. What I hadn't really thought through before going was that we might actually have to do our kata during this ceremony... and well, I hadnt exactly been practicing all that much lately (was almost a month since the test) due to a lot of other stuff going on in my life at the time. I guess I was just hoping that it would have been voluntary.

Lets just say... I didnt do well. Worst Ive ever done the Kata since I fully figured out what exactly to do where. I only really remember one big mistake with wrapping up with the wrong arm, realising it, getting a lil flustered and rewrapping up with the correct arm and continuing.... unfortunately however I went on autopilot after that so from then on while I know I did the right techniques at the right times... I have no clue how well or poorly I executed them. Felt like I embarrased not just myself but felt like my Sensei shoulda bin embarrassed too... even though when he saw my mistake and he saw the lil twinge of fluster he just said "its ok!" so I dont think it was as bad as I think it was.

Lesson learned.... Always be prepared... and if I happen to not be prepared... then i'll just skip the ceremony

[lordtariel]

That's what senseis do, keep you on your toes. I'm forced to regularly practice all the katas/techniques I know because I never know when I'm going to get called out to demonstrate a kata or technique. It gets worse as you get to be a higher belt and they ask you to do a beginner kata because it's been so long since you've done it.

You may want to consider practicing your kata facing different directions in the dojo. Sometimes I'll be told to do a kata facing the northwest corner of the dojo or facing the east side of the dojo. The most difficult one I had to do was a synchronized kata with another person where we started back to back, went opposite directions and ended facing each other. Like I said... senseis like to keep you on your toes.

[DisgruntledGirl]

That's what senseis do, keep you on your toes.

Aint it though? I really dont find it a big deal if I get a lil embarrassed in class when I mess up something I should very well know... it was just the "in front of people who are not a part of the class" part that had my nerves in a knot.

You may want to consider practicing your kata facing different directions in the dojo.

I do try after class sometimes, I dont find that I get all that confused/messed up if I'm facing a different direction than I am used to... on very rare occation what I have found happen is I start to go in a bit of a continuous loop because I forgot where I started, so my directions etc are usually done in the right way... just perpertual

[bushido_man96]

Lordtariel has some good advise. Always keep your low rank material fresh. Practice it often. The more you do, the easier you will be able to recall it. Before you know it, you will be recalling all of your forms with no problems.

[DWx]

Everyone forgets at some point, just take it in your stride and carry on. And anyway, it was only your first belt ceremony

Look on he bright side, at least you learnt something from it:

Lesson learned.... Always be prepared... and if I happen to not be prepared... then i'll just skip the ceremony