Time to grade?
My new sparring partner asked me the other night at training if I would be grading next time. Now I have more than enough hours in the bank but am I ready to grade? Well, no I don’t think so. I kind of know my forms and probably will know my hand and kicking techniques etc by then but just busking it is not for me.
One of the worst experiences I ever had in martial arts was when I graded to green belt. I was sort of bounced into it.
I had done the required hours training. I knew most of the forms well except for Chil Sung E Ro so with 2 weeks to go one of the black belts put me through my paces and taught me that form.
By the time of the grading I just about knew it but I was worried and that worry ruined the entire test for me. I passed the grading but I knew I’d busked it. The worry had affected my overall performance. I wasn’t bad but I wasn’t as good as I knew I could be and knowing that really tainted the grading for me.
After that I promised myself that I would not allow that to happen again and now I only test when I feel ready. What I mean by that is when I not only know my stuff but I feel confident I know my stuff. As I progress through the belts and there is more to learn and more to remember so its taking longer but I would rather it that way so that when I get my black belt i’ll know that I deserve it.
Grading has always been a bit of a nightmare for me. I know our teacher never puts any of his students up for one unless he thinks we’re ready, but I’m always a nervous wreck – I’ve made other students nervous because I’m having a breakdown next to them. The last few gradings I’ve not felt ready at all, and just passed by the skin of my teeth. After the catastrophic grading that was blue tag, I’ve sworn I wont touch blue belt grading until I know I can pass with confidence.
I say good on you for wanting to wait. There’s no point in moving on if you’re not happy at the level you’re at. Everyone improves at their own pace – the important thing is that you’re aiming for the final goal – you’re just making sure you’ve got the groundwork down to make it worth obtaining.
You’re right grading is stressful enough and my view is that I’m trying to earn my black belt for my own satisfaction and I’ll know when I’m ready. Next rank for me is red belt one blue tag but all in good time.
Bravo to you! So many are just willing to rush thru it to that black belt. I feel the same way as you. If I am not confident in what I need to know, then I’d rather wait then just ‘slide by’.
Me too. Sometimes you see some people who are grading who just aren’t ready. I don’t see the sense in that. Everyone gets nervous and that can affect performance on that day but you have to feel ready in yourself.
‘Martial Art is not a sprint, but marathon’ is what someone has explained to me. Run well not fast. Well done for this conclusion. I never grade before I myself honestly believe I’m ready. I really enjoyed reading your post!
That’s a really good analogy. And you are right, like marthon runners, the whole point is about doing your personal best. Thank you for your kind words.
Good luck on your path to Black Belt! It’s an amazing journey. I’m a 2nd degree black belt in Muay Thai Kickboxing and a brand spanking me white belt (with my first stripe) in Brazilian Jui-Jitsu.
That should be *new* white belt…
Thank you Peggy. It’s slow progress but at least it is progress. When I was a little girl I did judo which was fun.
One of the reminders in our dojo is: a black belt is a white belt who never quit. Slow or not progress is progress. Keep up the great work!
Thank you. Will do.