Loading ...The Test
Friday, April 29th, 2005 by johnI look forward to Fridays because, as most people whom work weekdays know, it is the last day before I have a two-day vacation. Yet this Friday was different—it was Testing Day.
Most individuals stop “testing� after graduating high school or college; a few have job related testing throughout the work year, however this testing was different. I was testing for my next Belt Rank in Martial Arts.
I started the Martial Arts program at the church where I am a member in August of 2004. The program is a blended style that combines American Kickboxing, Jeet Kune Do, Russian Combat Sambo, American Ju-Jitsu, Karate AITF, Taekwondo and Close Quarters Combat. The Master Instructor has his 6th Degree Black Belt under Joe Lewis, chosen by his peers as the “greatest karate fighter of all time� in 1985, he also holds belts in Taekwondo and was the 2002 Martial Artist of the Year; USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. When he founded his style, he wanted to make sure it was a practical Martial Arts system. Anyone who studies a Martial Art is familiar with the various forms and stances the student must learn and then perform before the Master. These forms are elaborate and executed in a classroom environment without interference from another party. While the forms have historical value, I am not likely to encounter someone on the street with a Sai or Kama. However, in the real word, I am likely to meet someone with a knife, stick or a similar weapon and the individual would probably not stand around and let me grab his/her pinky finger to twirl him/her around with. With his goal of practical Martial Arts in mind, my instructor founded American Martial Arts Systems. 15 years later, he has seven Black Belts that continue to train with him on a regular basis.
My first test was in October of 2004 where, after an intense testing session, I received the first Belt Rank of Gold. As a Gold Belt, I did not have to spar for my belt. I worked with several different fellow students to demonstrate my ability to perform the self-defense, grappling and fighting combos required for my level. That evening, the Instructor presented our belts to us. I can only equate this to acing a test in school. I had accomplished a physical feat and, after receiving a reward for it, decided to continue toward my goal of Black Belt.
The training did not stop after receiving my belt in October. Now that I had “color� around my waist, the instructors’ expectations of me increased significantly. Although I was just an under belt, I was expected to help the newer students with the material, learn the new material and continue improving my skills as well. When I worked with the upper belts, they were allowed to go harder with me than they would with a no belt.
The preparation for our next Testing continued for the next sixth months. During this time, I decided I wanted to skip a Belt Level. I shared this desire with my Master Instructor. He informed me that to skip a Belt Level is not an easy thing to do and he would not be easy on me. I had to be able to perform any of the level requirements for the lower level with no hesitation. This meant I had to train harder and attend classes at least 3 times a week. I even received private lessons from one of the other instructors.
Six months after my first Belt Test, the day I had been preparing for arrived.
