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Going for Black Belt


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This Monday, for the second time in my life, I will be stepping onto the mat to be tested to see if I'm worthy of earning the rank of Black Belt, this time in Sho Bin Ju. Years back I tested for my second degree black belt in Taekwondo, but changed styles when I moved due to a lack of quality Taekwondo schools in the area of my new home and the desire to round myself as a martial artist. The test is to be about 10 hours over the course of 3 days starting on Monday.

I'm both nervous and excited. I've been training very hard. I find at age 32 my body is less forgiving than when I was 22. I know for some of you 32 will sound young but I definitely feel the difference in that decade of time and this test is known in my area to be quite grueling. A black belt from my head instructor is worn in my school as both a symbol of respect and the highest level of achievement.

I hope I'm equal to the task. :karate:

"The key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering."

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That is great! I wish you success in your endeavor. I know it is a lot of work. I am 38 and my body tells my brain I am not 32 any longer. My brain does not agree.

"Those who know don't talk. Those who talk don't know." ~ Lao-tzu, Tao Te Ching


"Walk a single path, becoming neither cocky with victory nor broken with defeat, without forgetting caution when all is quiet or becoming frightened when danger threatens." ~ Jigaro Kano

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That is great! I wish you success in your endeavor. I know it is a lot of work. I am 38 and my body tells my brain I am not 32 any longer. My brain does not agree.

My body and brain don't agree on my age anymore either. Brain still thinks I'm 22. Ha ha

"The key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering."

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On my 50th birthday my wife gave me a card, in it she wrote "Try to remember that you are now 50 and not 18" .

You're as young or as old as you want to be, it's the recovery time afterwards that you notice the most. Good luck with the grading!

"We don't have any money, so we will have to think" - Ernest Rutherford

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On my 50th birthday my wife gave me a card, in it she wrote "Try to remember that you are now 50 and not 18" .

You're as young or as old as you want to be, it's the recovery time afterwards that you notice the most. Good luck with the grading!

I appreciate your kind words.

"The key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering."

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Best of luck to you!

Kishimoto-Di | 2014-Present | Sensei: Ulf Karlsson

Shorin-Ryu/Shinkoten Karate | 2010-Present: Yondan, Renshi | Sensei: Richard Poage (RIP), Jeff Allred (RIP)

Shuri-Ryu | 2006-2010: Sankyu | Sensei: Joey Johnston, Joe Walker (RIP)

Judo | 2007-2010: Gokyu | Sensei: Joe Walker (RIP), Ramon Rivera (RIP), Adrian Rivera

Illinois Practical Karate | International Neoclassical Karate Kobudo Society

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That's great! Good luck, I'm sure you'll do great. What is Sho Bin Ju?

Sho bin Ju is a hybrid system built from Ed Parker's American Kenpo and elements of Chinese and Japanese systems. It builds on the principle to keep what is useful and throw away what is not. As my prior exclusive was in Taekwondo which was heavily engrained in sport (50/50 split at my old school) and this system is 100% built for self defense it seemed a great way to round myself out.

Here's a description link if interested.

http://www.teamplusone.com/martial-art-styles/sho-biyn-jiu/

"The key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering."

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Best of luck with the test! As an older guy (40 years old), I find I can do just about anything I did a decade or two ago. It just takes a bit more effort and far more recovery time.

Make sure to get adequate rest beforehand, and even more afterwards.

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