get my green belt

testing is tomorrow!

I finished this goal last week.

This took longer than it should have, but tomorrow I should be getting my green belt. Yesterday was stripe testing, and I felt that I did really well. I kept up with the class while we all did the forms together, and I did forty push-ups, which was really hard.

Last week, I did my form by myself. I messed up several times, but at least I faced a fear. I even yelled in front of everyone a few times, until I started messing up really bad. Anyway, I made up for it in class yesterday, when I didn’t make any mistakes on orange belt form.

Some things put D and I behind on our classes. First he had to work on some of our class days, which we tried to make up for by going in a couple of saturdays, but we couldn’t catch up all the way. Then we had to go out of town for my mom’s funeral, and by the time we got back we were both exhausted and depressed, and missed two more classes. We will not be able to get our green belts at the next belt testing. Boo.

On the plus side, we are finally back in the swing of things, and yesterday we had a very good class. He had a partner who was about his size, so he didn’t have to pull his strength, like he does when I am his partner. (He says he doesn’t mind, because it helps him with control, but I know he enjoys a stronger partner.)

I was the odd one out of the class, so I got an instructor as a partner. This worked out very well for a couple of reasons. First, I felt very comfortable putting all of my strength into my excercises, because I know an instructor can take anything an orange belt can dish out. Secondly, I didn’t have to hold any punching blocks, whereas I am used to holding one for someone stronger than me, which depletes energy, and causes my sugar to drop faster.

So, I was able to stay up and feel energetic with no sugar crashes throughout the entire class, and wasn’t even popping glucose tablets like candy. Yay me!

Last class, we practiced forms together, in sections. It made it much easier for me, because people who usually go really fast slowed down a little, and as a result, people who are usually slower (like me) didn’t get confused, and were able to keep up. And all the medium folks, well I’m sure they were happy.

The point of the excersise was about control, and attention. We are supposed to be able to do any form together as a class, but not everyone goes at the same pace, and it ends up looking messy. The instructors said that we’ve not really been doing this as a clas, and so they are going to keep practicing in sections until we can move as a body.

I am pretty pleased with this new drill, as it will really help me to learn, despite how easily distracted I can be. Also, I agree that the class needs more discipline in this area. I think I might be one of the catalysts of this, so I’m going to work really hard to make sure I keep up with everyone by practicing every day at home.

Yesterday we tested for our black stripes, and I did a horrible job. I got all the way through half of my orange belt form ok (which was all I needed to know), but I did not get through even half of my white or gold belt forms.

It’s not that I don’t know them. I just lose my consentration completely when there are other people around. I don’t forget what I need to do next, but rather what I’ve just done, and I can’t stop and start over, because everyone else just keeps on moving.

As a result, I get completely frazzled, and end up pulling my hair and turning in circles, trying to figure out where I am supposed to be. It looks very bad in testing, and I, in all seriousness, believe a few people in class honestly think I am mildly mentally retarded. That includes our newest instructor. To say the least, it is frustrating.

Today I got a new pair of soft, black, cotton mary-janes which work very well for practicing my forms outside in the evening. There’s no room for it inside. I hope the extra practice pays off and makes scaring all the nieghbors worth it.

but I’ve been sick, and ended up not going to class. At least this means thursday I’ll still be a yellow belt for a day, and I won’t have to do as many push-ups as everyone else. :P

I got my green belt and i finally got my own Gee too, so YAY!

AHHH testing tomorrow!!! I’m nervous but confident, I really screwed up my kata at tournament on saturday but I think I’ll do okay tomorrow!!

Wish me luck!!

It’s official. I got it :D. And my sensei’s both praised me on all the hard work I’ve been doing. Yay!