Karate Green Belt!
May. 31st, 2018 09:09 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bjarvisThis past Monday, I passed my test for my green belt. This is still a beginner level belt, of course, but my next belt will move me into the intermediate group.
So far:
- White belt at first class, Aug 17, 2017
- Yellow (gold) belt at first exam, Nov 28, 2017
- Orange belt at second exam, Feb 26, 2018
- Green belt at third exam, May 28, 2018
From this pattern, I expect the next belt exam (blue) will be at the end of August. I also anticipate that progress will become a lot more difficult when I graduate from the beginner levels. Send Aleve.
In each exam, there is a ceremonial breaking of a board. For my first exam, we used a side kick. For my second, I attempted a round kick but failed: I was pulling back because I was afraid of kicking wild and injuring our dear sensei holding the board. Ultimately, I succeeded with a side kick, but I learned I need to either let go of my fear of harming someone, or at least develop the aim & control required to ensure I can use any kick on the board with complete confidence.
In this latest exam, we were to use a palm strike. And that's when I suddenly discovered there was extra material covered during my Amsterdam & Toronto trips which I completely missed. Palm strike? WTF? Fortunately, I was last among eight graduates so I had time to observe the others carefully; one chap needed four hits before he landed the winning blow, so I also had a good counter-example. When it came my turn, I broke the board on my first try. Go me!
We traditionally keep our prior belts, mostly for sentimentality and as a reminder of where we began. Now that I have three retired belts, it's time to get a proper display rack for them (Heavy duty hint to husbands thinking about xmas presents...).
I'm planning to do a double-class this Saturday morning, kick-boxing followed by karate, old body willing.
So far:
- White belt at first class, Aug 17, 2017
- Yellow (gold) belt at first exam, Nov 28, 2017
- Orange belt at second exam, Feb 26, 2018
- Green belt at third exam, May 28, 2018
From this pattern, I expect the next belt exam (blue) will be at the end of August. I also anticipate that progress will become a lot more difficult when I graduate from the beginner levels. Send Aleve.
In each exam, there is a ceremonial breaking of a board. For my first exam, we used a side kick. For my second, I attempted a round kick but failed: I was pulling back because I was afraid of kicking wild and injuring our dear sensei holding the board. Ultimately, I succeeded with a side kick, but I learned I need to either let go of my fear of harming someone, or at least develop the aim & control required to ensure I can use any kick on the board with complete confidence.
In this latest exam, we were to use a palm strike. And that's when I suddenly discovered there was extra material covered during my Amsterdam & Toronto trips which I completely missed. Palm strike? WTF? Fortunately, I was last among eight graduates so I had time to observe the others carefully; one chap needed four hits before he landed the winning blow, so I also had a good counter-example. When it came my turn, I broke the board on my first try. Go me!
We traditionally keep our prior belts, mostly for sentimentality and as a reminder of where we began. Now that I have three retired belts, it's time to get a proper display rack for them (Heavy duty hint to husbands thinking about xmas presents...).
I'm planning to do a double-class this Saturday morning, kick-boxing followed by karate, old body willing.
