Tomorrow is test day at the dojo. I am not up for testing as I don't have nearly enough time in to even think about my next rank. I will, however, be participating in the test. This will be my very first time serving as uke for another student. I must admit, I was both flattered and slightly anxious when C asked me to be her partner for her 5th kyu test. I figured, 'Why not?' There's always a first time. It might as well be now.
I'm also bringing the gigantic bottle of hand sanitizer I got at Walgreens last weekend. Another form of self defense. Ethyl alcohol-style.
Showing posts with label testing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label testing. Show all posts
Monday, November 30, 2009
Sunday, April 26, 2009
My Test on Tape
I came back from a week away at a conference to find a CD with my 3rd kyu test in my mailbox at work. I eyed it with a hint of apprehension. Later that night, I popped it into my disc drive and had a look.
Impressions:
1. "Man, this was longer than I remember it!" The footage lasts about 20 minutes. No wonder I was pretty winded by the jiyuwaza at the end. In my mind, there was no time. There was just the test.
2. I skipped through most of the jo techniques because I still can't face looking at them. I did see the last couple of techniques and they don't look as bad as I feared.
3. I do kind of look like I know what I'm doing. Kind of.
4. More practice.
5. I look like I'm having fun.
Thanks to one of my friends who always brings her camcorder for tests, I now have copies of my 5th, 4th and 3rd kyu tests. Something to look back on in the future. Something to learn from.
Impressions:
1. "Man, this was longer than I remember it!" The footage lasts about 20 minutes. No wonder I was pretty winded by the jiyuwaza at the end. In my mind, there was no time. There was just the test.
2. I skipped through most of the jo techniques because I still can't face looking at them. I did see the last couple of techniques and they don't look as bad as I feared.
3. I do kind of look like I know what I'm doing. Kind of.
4. More practice.
5. I look like I'm having fun.
Thanks to one of my friends who always brings her camcorder for tests, I now have copies of my 5th, 4th and 3rd kyu tests. Something to look back on in the future. Something to learn from.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
3rd Kyu
Whew! All done.
I tested at the beginning of last month and, just like the last test, it pretty much was a blur. What do I remember? I remember my jo hitting the mat during the 20 jo suburi, doing tsuki kotegaeshi instead of the called out tsuki iriminage. I remember the mistakes. I suppose it's the perfectionist in me that chooses to dwell on what I missed rather than on what I got right. (Why does this sound just like my third grader? Augh! He must get it from me, poor kid!)
I also remember the first day I stepped on the mat, in jeans, no less, and joined in class. I remember the welcome I felt from the teacher and the students. I remember the confusion about what to do with my feet and my arms.
It's been three years and though I've come along, I still think a whole lot about what I'm doing when I'm doing it. The techniques are more natural than they were before but I still find myself struggling with them. I suppose that is the way it will always be - there is a constant process of learning and improvement.
But there's also a heck of a lot of fun.
Last Thursday's class brought a whole bunch on newcomers to the mat. We warmed up as usual with the basic blending exercises, slowly progressing through some very slow throws into back sit falls and then deconstructing katate dori shihonage, the four-directional throw. At one point while we were practicing, our instructor came up to me and asked, "Can you take a high fall from this?" I grinned and said, "Can we do a practice one first?" We did and then he called for a break and called me up as uke.
"Now we shall work on the fall," he said, and proceeded to throw me into a high fall right smack onto the mat. I landed with a resounding thud.
Cue: bug-eyed newbies.
"No, not really."
Aw shucks. Well, we do want them to come back so maybe next time.
I tested at the beginning of last month and, just like the last test, it pretty much was a blur. What do I remember? I remember my jo hitting the mat during the 20 jo suburi, doing tsuki kotegaeshi instead of the called out tsuki iriminage. I remember the mistakes. I suppose it's the perfectionist in me that chooses to dwell on what I missed rather than on what I got right. (Why does this sound just like my third grader? Augh! He must get it from me, poor kid!)
I also remember the first day I stepped on the mat, in jeans, no less, and joined in class. I remember the welcome I felt from the teacher and the students. I remember the confusion about what to do with my feet and my arms.
It's been three years and though I've come along, I still think a whole lot about what I'm doing when I'm doing it. The techniques are more natural than they were before but I still find myself struggling with them. I suppose that is the way it will always be - there is a constant process of learning and improvement.
But there's also a heck of a lot of fun.
Last Thursday's class brought a whole bunch on newcomers to the mat. We warmed up as usual with the basic blending exercises, slowly progressing through some very slow throws into back sit falls and then deconstructing katate dori shihonage, the four-directional throw. At one point while we were practicing, our instructor came up to me and asked, "Can you take a high fall from this?" I grinned and said, "Can we do a practice one first?" We did and then he called for a break and called me up as uke.
"Now we shall work on the fall," he said, and proceeded to throw me into a high fall right smack onto the mat. I landed with a resounding thud.
Cue: bug-eyed newbies.
"No, not really."
Aw shucks. Well, we do want them to come back so maybe next time.
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