My Blackbelt Grading
This is the long slightly rambly post about my grading. For the benefit of those who aren't that interested; all the preamble is
I went up to Oldham on Friday. The reasoning was that I attended the grading last year and the traffic was terrible on the M6 and people ended up late. I didn't want that to happen to me so I planned to stay two nights. It was 7 hours in the car on Friday quite a lot of it crawling along at about 20 mph. The chap who was giving me the lift up to Oldham was also grading for his blackbelt but unfortunately he had hurt his hip and back so all that time in the car wasn't a lot of fun for him, his daughter also a brown belt but not grading this time was also travelling.
We made it to Oldham, got to the hotel checked in and had a very short while to rest before we all headed out again. We went to Asda for pain killers and I tried and failed to get a toasted cheese and tomato sandwich. We then went to the dojo and attended a 2 hour class. The three of us doubled the size of the class and it was fairly grading focussed and thus intense. Sensei picked on a few things in my technique but nothing to serious. Then we went out for curry. I had tandoori chicken which is my favourite; this restaurant served it with your choice of sauce which was very nice as it can often be dry. I had started to feel nervous by this point and was doing my best not to think about the grading.
When back to hotel and had hot shower before turning it. I thought I wouldn't sleep. I did although it wasn't the most restful night's sleep on record and I had a dream about the grading which wasn't terribly comforting but there you go. Had breakfast at hotel. Ended up chatting to a group of parents and kids, the kids were entering a sailing competition and were very excited. They were a wonderful distraction. I knew that there was a morning class but I wasn't going to take it as I didn't want to be tired for grading. As it was I was all twitchy and in desperate need of distraction so I went to class. An hour and a half this time. Not too strenuous.
There was a minor calamity at the end of class when one of the lenses popped out of my aikido glasses (the old pair I wear on the mats). My parents had arrived in Oldham by this point (they had a good drive up from Surrey) and I met up with them after class. We made a quick detour to an opticians who were able to fix my glasses, the screw hadn't come out. We returned to Asda for a snack; I got my toastie and ended up scrapping about three quarters of the cheese out as I was feeling queesy enough by then.
I arrived back at the dojo about 45 minutes before we were due to start so I could warm up and get ready. I was really twitchy and this point although all the blackbelts present were telling me that I'd relax as soon as the grading started. It started late. I ran through a few bits of the grading with the other cadidate from my club but just couldn't settled. The grading started; we all lined up and bowed in. Sensei gave some explainations for the benefit of the audience. Then we started. I was the first one called up, wasn't expecting this, I wasn't first alphabetically but there you go.
There were 4 1st Dan candidates and 1 2nd Dan candidate. We started with the ki tests. 30 of them. I know there was one failed test (not me), and being on one end of the line I actually had to remember them. The tests were all a bit of a blur and I certainly didn't feel particularly relaxed doing them. Even though that's the best state for doing ki tests. We finished the ki tests and bowed out.
The the 1st Dan candidates got called back up. Again I was first called so I ended up right under Sensei's nose. Sensei pick's your partner for a blackbelt grading. So until then I had no idea who was going to be attacking me. I ended up with one of the guys from the Swindon club.
The moves in any order sort of passed in a blur. I was aware of Sensei calling the moves; cameras clicking away on the sidelines and that was about it. The fourth candidate was having a bad day and ending up having to repeat a lot of moves. I certainly didn't mind as it gave me a chance to catch my breath. I ended up having to repeat one move as I did the wrong move. Oooops. This part of the grading went really fast I was sure that there were more still to do.
The next section was tantodori, five set defences against a knife attack. Again this went smoothly. At one point this was the bit of the grading that most worried me but it went very smoothly. I was first up and when I had done my techniques was able to sit down and rest while the other three did theirs.
Then I did a sword form, with a bokken not an actual sword. Again it went very well. I was aware that my feet were slipping on the mats and I didn't want to fall over.
Then I got to have another brief rest while the others did theirs before being called up for the final bit of the grading 'four man attack' which is pretty much what it says on the tin. You partner plus three other blackbelts attack you until Sensei says stop which is about 10 seconds after he thinks you look tired. I have no idea how long mine went on for I will have to check the videa. I know I was smiling throughout. I had to check my parents photographs to find out who my other three attackers had been because I simply couldn't remember. Finally when you are really tired and out of breath you have to do one more throw with your partner and the grading was over; had to bow out when everyone was done.
It was when I was sitting back doen after that my hands started shaking which i think was adrenaline come down. When we were all finished it was the second dan candidate's turn, he had actually been in my four man attack (he said he needed a warm up for his grading). As there was only one of him he didn't get the pauses we did.
The whole thing took about 2 hours. Then we had a short break and then Sensei announced the results. I may have to get the grin surgically removed... There should be a video of the grading and I can't wait to see it since my recollections are rather hazy. I expect I'll be quite critical though. After the grading I did two hours of class on Saturday evening and 3 on Sunday morning before we headed home. Strangely I only had one bruise and could move on Monday morning.
I went up to Oldham on Friday. The reasoning was that I attended the grading last year and the traffic was terrible on the M6 and people ended up late. I didn't want that to happen to me so I planned to stay two nights. It was 7 hours in the car on Friday quite a lot of it crawling along at about 20 mph. The chap who was giving me the lift up to Oldham was also grading for his blackbelt but unfortunately he had hurt his hip and back so all that time in the car wasn't a lot of fun for him, his daughter also a brown belt but not grading this time was also travelling.
We made it to Oldham, got to the hotel checked in and had a very short while to rest before we all headed out again. We went to Asda for pain killers and I tried and failed to get a toasted cheese and tomato sandwich. We then went to the dojo and attended a 2 hour class. The three of us doubled the size of the class and it was fairly grading focussed and thus intense. Sensei picked on a few things in my technique but nothing to serious. Then we went out for curry. I had tandoori chicken which is my favourite; this restaurant served it with your choice of sauce which was very nice as it can often be dry. I had started to feel nervous by this point and was doing my best not to think about the grading.
When back to hotel and had hot shower before turning it. I thought I wouldn't sleep. I did although it wasn't the most restful night's sleep on record and I had a dream about the grading which wasn't terribly comforting but there you go. Had breakfast at hotel. Ended up chatting to a group of parents and kids, the kids were entering a sailing competition and were very excited. They were a wonderful distraction. I knew that there was a morning class but I wasn't going to take it as I didn't want to be tired for grading. As it was I was all twitchy and in desperate need of distraction so I went to class. An hour and a half this time. Not too strenuous.
There was a minor calamity at the end of class when one of the lenses popped out of my aikido glasses (the old pair I wear on the mats). My parents had arrived in Oldham by this point (they had a good drive up from Surrey) and I met up with them after class. We made a quick detour to an opticians who were able to fix my glasses, the screw hadn't come out. We returned to Asda for a snack; I got my toastie and ended up scrapping about three quarters of the cheese out as I was feeling queesy enough by then.
I arrived back at the dojo about 45 minutes before we were due to start so I could warm up and get ready. I was really twitchy and this point although all the blackbelts present were telling me that I'd relax as soon as the grading started. It started late. I ran through a few bits of the grading with the other cadidate from my club but just couldn't settled. The grading started; we all lined up and bowed in. Sensei gave some explainations for the benefit of the audience. Then we started. I was the first one called up, wasn't expecting this, I wasn't first alphabetically but there you go.
There were 4 1st Dan candidates and 1 2nd Dan candidate. We started with the ki tests. 30 of them. I know there was one failed test (not me), and being on one end of the line I actually had to remember them. The tests were all a bit of a blur and I certainly didn't feel particularly relaxed doing them. Even though that's the best state for doing ki tests. We finished the ki tests and bowed out.
The the 1st Dan candidates got called back up. Again I was first called so I ended up right under Sensei's nose. Sensei pick's your partner for a blackbelt grading. So until then I had no idea who was going to be attacking me. I ended up with one of the guys from the Swindon club.
The moves in any order sort of passed in a blur. I was aware of Sensei calling the moves; cameras clicking away on the sidelines and that was about it. The fourth candidate was having a bad day and ending up having to repeat a lot of moves. I certainly didn't mind as it gave me a chance to catch my breath. I ended up having to repeat one move as I did the wrong move. Oooops. This part of the grading went really fast I was sure that there were more still to do.
The next section was tantodori, five set defences against a knife attack. Again this went smoothly. At one point this was the bit of the grading that most worried me but it went very smoothly. I was first up and when I had done my techniques was able to sit down and rest while the other three did theirs.
Then I did a sword form, with a bokken not an actual sword. Again it went very well. I was aware that my feet were slipping on the mats and I didn't want to fall over.
Then I got to have another brief rest while the others did theirs before being called up for the final bit of the grading 'four man attack' which is pretty much what it says on the tin. You partner plus three other blackbelts attack you until Sensei says stop which is about 10 seconds after he thinks you look tired. I have no idea how long mine went on for I will have to check the videa. I know I was smiling throughout. I had to check my parents photographs to find out who my other three attackers had been because I simply couldn't remember. Finally when you are really tired and out of breath you have to do one more throw with your partner and the grading was over; had to bow out when everyone was done.
It was when I was sitting back doen after that my hands started shaking which i think was adrenaline come down. When we were all finished it was the second dan candidate's turn, he had actually been in my four man attack (he said he needed a warm up for his grading). As there was only one of him he didn't get the pauses we did.
The whole thing took about 2 hours. Then we had a short break and then Sensei announced the results. I may have to get the grin surgically removed... There should be a video of the grading and I can't wait to see it since my recollections are rather hazy. I expect I'll be quite critical though. After the grading I did two hours of class on Saturday evening and 3 on Sunday morning before we headed home. Strangely I only had one bruise and could move on Monday morning.