Three years ago today was my official promotion to black belt.
In looking back, it seems like it's been a lot longer than that.
Three years ago I was a senior in high school. Three years ago I was still working at Didley's. Three years ago I was watching wrestling. Well, that part didn't really change.
I've had the opportunity to do a lot of things because of my promotion since then, like lead seminars and demonstrations, go on trips to see and compete in a variety of tournaments, and have the chance to lead my own program for an entire school year. I've even been promoted again.
For those of you who haven't known me all that long, the test itself took almost seven hours. I started at noon, knowing neither me nor my instructor would be thrilled about doing it much earlier. If memory serves me correct, Neil's started at 8 or 9 in the morning, and that was too early (especially when I got kicked in the nuts sans cup). We ended at about 6:45, after which I went home and showered, then had a mini celebratory meal at McDonald's, of all places.
I was really sore that Sunday (the 22nd), but I wasn't feeling too terrible yet. We had the party, and I proceeded to bouncy box the crap out of anybody within range (I'm pretty sure I popped BFD right in the face).
Monday was the worst I've ever felt in my life. What was a pretty awesome day otherwise with people patting me on the back, shaking my hand and congratulating me as I walked around MTHS with the belt traditionally tied around my waist, my body felt absolutely horrible. Not only was I tired (it was a Monday) and sore, but apparently my immune system gave out too because I had this awful cold.
I had my mom take lots of notes and had her write to the minute when I finished doing all of my stuff - katas, ippons, taezus, kihons, self-defenses, etc. Eventually I might post those notes, or I might not. Time-wise, some of the things don't seem to long. I think it took somewhere between 10 and 15 minutes to do all 500 front kicks, which doesn't sound like much, but that's a lot of moving.
Eventually I might make a post detailing that day and try to remember what I was going through at particular times. I tried to have as many notes as possible taken. Maybe now is a good time to go back and analyze some things about the day itself, as I've corrected many errors from Oct. 22, 2006.
Now into my second degree, a lot has come to light, but there are still more questions left to be answered. I'm hoping that, even though getting to any class is hard with my current schedule, I can still be successful and nitpick myself and find things to improve upon.
Showing posts with label karate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label karate. Show all posts
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
June - Top 5
Promotion
Relay For Life made it official. June 5, 2009, is the day I was officially promoted to 2nd degree black belt and received the title of "Deshi," though nobody calls me that.
In all actuality, the Relay was boring this year. I opted not to participate for so long this year, showing up around 1 and leaving around 5:30 or 6. It was mostly an afternoon of deciding I was officially burnt out with karate.
Be that as it may, I decided to suck it up and not get behind on my training. I was rewarded for my efforts.
This day (and week) was also sweet because David was home from the Army.
Learning New Stuff
June wasn't all together an extremely exciting month, though looking back I got excited about learning a new kata (Naihanchi San). This is the third and final installment of what is really O Naihanchi. Black belt classes at Mr. Hawkey's began again, and luckily he had Justin and I work the interpretation for it.
I feel I've gotten a better understanding of this new form than Naihanchi Ni, which I've known for almost 2 years. For some reason, some katas get taught to me real well, and others seem to fall by the wayside and I don't have a great understanding of them.
Plus we've learned two new ippons, and Mr. Hawkey has worked with us on advanced interpretation for different kata and applications that, at this point in time, would never have revealed themselves to me otherwise.
Learning a new weapon (kama) is fun, too.
Finishing a Class
I got an A in my May term. This is exciting. As I write this, we're in the final week of another class. Since the end of last August, I have gotten 2 weeks of break between terms at most. So finishing CIS 300 was a nice milestone - racking up gen ed points and an A.
In other news, Bradley finally switched us over to Interactive Media. Except I have no degree audit, currently, so I don't have anything to look at right now in regards to what classes I've knocked out.
Continuing this stream of consciousness, bollocks to IM 313 not being offered in the fall. Bollocks, I say!
Focusing on the Positive
It has never been my intention to use this blog as a LiveJournal or talk about emotions. I don't think it is right (or necessary) for people to air grievances on public spaces when the issue is personal.
Instead, all I'll say is that I have decided to cut off contact to negative people and negative situations. Initially I was worried this wouldn't work out, but I'm still having fun this summer.
Working Out
I'm working my way up to run some races. I'm not there yet, but close. I've also recently taken up riding my bike, in the hopes to ride to Germantown and back next week without completely feeling like crap afterwards.
Eventually one day, I think it would be sweet to run a marathon, but that is a loooong way away.
Other Notable June Moments
-Leading the Metamora Martial Arts crew in the Old Settler's parade for the fourth year in a row.
-Invision Power Board 3.0 coming out finally.
-Helping out at this arts conference deal at Bradley
-Splashdown with Sarah and her cousins
Relay For Life made it official. June 5, 2009, is the day I was officially promoted to 2nd degree black belt and received the title of "Deshi," though nobody calls me that.
In all actuality, the Relay was boring this year. I opted not to participate for so long this year, showing up around 1 and leaving around 5:30 or 6. It was mostly an afternoon of deciding I was officially burnt out with karate.
Be that as it may, I decided to suck it up and not get behind on my training. I was rewarded for my efforts.
This day (and week) was also sweet because David was home from the Army.
Learning New Stuff
June wasn't all together an extremely exciting month, though looking back I got excited about learning a new kata (Naihanchi San). This is the third and final installment of what is really O Naihanchi. Black belt classes at Mr. Hawkey's began again, and luckily he had Justin and I work the interpretation for it.
I feel I've gotten a better understanding of this new form than Naihanchi Ni, which I've known for almost 2 years. For some reason, some katas get taught to me real well, and others seem to fall by the wayside and I don't have a great understanding of them.
Plus we've learned two new ippons, and Mr. Hawkey has worked with us on advanced interpretation for different kata and applications that, at this point in time, would never have revealed themselves to me otherwise.
Learning a new weapon (kama) is fun, too.
Finishing a Class
I got an A in my May term. This is exciting. As I write this, we're in the final week of another class. Since the end of last August, I have gotten 2 weeks of break between terms at most. So finishing CIS 300 was a nice milestone - racking up gen ed points and an A.
In other news, Bradley finally switched us over to Interactive Media. Except I have no degree audit, currently, so I don't have anything to look at right now in regards to what classes I've knocked out.
Continuing this stream of consciousness, bollocks to IM 313 not being offered in the fall. Bollocks, I say!
Focusing on the Positive
It has never been my intention to use this blog as a LiveJournal or talk about emotions. I don't think it is right (or necessary) for people to air grievances on public spaces when the issue is personal.
Instead, all I'll say is that I have decided to cut off contact to negative people and negative situations. Initially I was worried this wouldn't work out, but I'm still having fun this summer.
Working Out
I'm working my way up to run some races. I'm not there yet, but close. I've also recently taken up riding my bike, in the hopes to ride to Germantown and back next week without completely feeling like crap afterwards.
Eventually one day, I think it would be sweet to run a marathon, but that is a loooong way away.
Other Notable June Moments
-Leading the Metamora Martial Arts crew in the Old Settler's parade for the fourth year in a row.
-Invision Power Board 3.0 coming out finally.
-Helping out at this arts conference deal at Bradley
-Splashdown with Sarah and her cousins
Saturday, May 30, 2009
A Thousand Open Ears and Still Not a Word To Say
The scene boards have posted a Top 5 of May, so I thought I'd take the concept and put some more detail into it.
1. Final Shows / End of an Era
Black the Sky and Devil's Pie's final Peoria shows. May 9 was an awesome headbangin' time at Johnny's Coffee House with them, Black Teeth, and the Serpent Son.
End of an Era in Chicago with DP and Dead to Fall's final shows...the other bands I'd heard of but never really listened to, so I wasn't as into them. DP and DTF played awesome sets, and my throat was super sore the next day from singing along.
Somewhat bittersweet though, because BTS and DP (+TSS) were the reasons I got into local music in the first place. Oh well, life goes on.
2. 20th birthday
Did nothing that day, went to karate, Aztekita, opened some presents and got a bunch of wrestling DVDs, played ultimate frisbee with tons of my best friends, then did our usual BWW run. So much fun.
3. Finishing sophomore year.
This year seemed super long, but I finished school nonetheless. Another successful year, bringing my GPA to 3.75. :)
4. 2nd degree test
I'd hoped to test way sooner than I did, but I still ended up passing my test with "precision" on May 16. Thanks to those who came out and took a beating.
5. WWE in Bloomington
The night I tested, I wanted to see WWE in Bloomington, so I went with Wes, Vince, and Ryan. Nothing super special, but still a fun show. Afterwards Vince and Ryan hit each other with posters of seductive college girls.
1. Final Shows / End of an Era
Black the Sky and Devil's Pie's final Peoria shows. May 9 was an awesome headbangin' time at Johnny's Coffee House with them, Black Teeth, and the Serpent Son.
End of an Era in Chicago with DP and Dead to Fall's final shows...the other bands I'd heard of but never really listened to, so I wasn't as into them. DP and DTF played awesome sets, and my throat was super sore the next day from singing along.
Somewhat bittersweet though, because BTS and DP (+TSS) were the reasons I got into local music in the first place. Oh well, life goes on.
2. 20th birthday
Did nothing that day, went to karate, Aztekita, opened some presents and got a bunch of wrestling DVDs, played ultimate frisbee with tons of my best friends, then did our usual BWW run. So much fun.
3. Finishing sophomore year.
This year seemed super long, but I finished school nonetheless. Another successful year, bringing my GPA to 3.75. :)
4. 2nd degree test
I'd hoped to test way sooner than I did, but I still ended up passing my test with "precision" on May 16. Thanks to those who came out and took a beating.
5. WWE in Bloomington
The night I tested, I wanted to see WWE in Bloomington, so I went with Wes, Vince, and Ryan. Nothing super special, but still a fun show. Afterwards Vince and Ryan hit each other with posters of seductive college girls.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Nidan
Labels:
karate
It's been on my mind since probably October 23, 2006. I've trained a pretty decent amount here at home and I've been at the school at nearly every achievable opportunity. But yesterday I finally got a timeframe for testing for my 2nd degree black belt. Early May 2009.
It's been a long time coming. My two year minimum was up in October 2008, and because of my weak class schedule at Bradley I could never hit the high school, with my only formal karate coming from my teaching at MGS. This semester was originally going to let me go all four days, but I had a last-minute scramble and I get the conditioning days now. And those are really hit and miss, but I'm hoping now that we've worked into a decent schedule we can get around that.
So what do I do now? First are form approvals. Mr. C is looking at passing about one a week which takes us through March, then doing new stuff and reviewing wazas. The pressure is on for me, having seen the three prior nidans go up and do their thing. I think I'm at a slight disadvantage in not being able to work with Mr. Hawkey...I really wish I could make his classes or at least get some private training with him like Amanda did. Oh well, I'll make it.
It's interesting to hear the quote, "the journey only starts with black belt." I figured that was the case but when I was still a kyu it was just kind of like, "yeah, whatever." Now it's real. I look at this crew we have at the high school. Some are really into it, which is cool, and some are there because it's fun to socialize and whatever. I wish I could remember what it was like at every rank. When I do stuff it feels like I've been doing it ever since freshman year but sometimes this stuff I've just picked up in the past month, so I lose that relation now. But having lived and continued on my journey since earning my shodan, it's an entirely different story.
My perspective on the martial arts has changed. I've read more, I've given speeches, I've led demos, I've taken first place in a black belt forms division, I've been a judge at two other tournaments and I've been a head judge in a ring in our first open tournament, I've become the chief instructor for some kids and adults, and I've honed my skills. I haven't learned as much technique-wise as I did in my first 37 months of karate training, but overall knowledge learned was probably more.
I realize as I've been watching The Daily Show and typing this, I've been rambling and it's probably not all that coherent, so I'm going to head out.
It's been a long time coming. My two year minimum was up in October 2008, and because of my weak class schedule at Bradley I could never hit the high school, with my only formal karate coming from my teaching at MGS. This semester was originally going to let me go all four days, but I had a last-minute scramble and I get the conditioning days now. And those are really hit and miss, but I'm hoping now that we've worked into a decent schedule we can get around that.
So what do I do now? First are form approvals. Mr. C is looking at passing about one a week which takes us through March, then doing new stuff and reviewing wazas. The pressure is on for me, having seen the three prior nidans go up and do their thing. I think I'm at a slight disadvantage in not being able to work with Mr. Hawkey...I really wish I could make his classes or at least get some private training with him like Amanda did. Oh well, I'll make it.
It's interesting to hear the quote, "the journey only starts with black belt." I figured that was the case but when I was still a kyu it was just kind of like, "yeah, whatever." Now it's real. I look at this crew we have at the high school. Some are really into it, which is cool, and some are there because it's fun to socialize and whatever. I wish I could remember what it was like at every rank. When I do stuff it feels like I've been doing it ever since freshman year but sometimes this stuff I've just picked up in the past month, so I lose that relation now. But having lived and continued on my journey since earning my shodan, it's an entirely different story.
My perspective on the martial arts has changed. I've read more, I've given speeches, I've led demos, I've taken first place in a black belt forms division, I've been a judge at two other tournaments and I've been a head judge in a ring in our first open tournament, I've become the chief instructor for some kids and adults, and I've honed my skills. I haven't learned as much technique-wise as I did in my first 37 months of karate training, but overall knowledge learned was probably more.
I realize as I've been watching The Daily Show and typing this, I've been rambling and it's probably not all that coherent, so I'm going to head out.
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