I had my black belt test on November 19th and 20th. The test is two days, on a Saturday and Sunday.
First, my teachers tested me on my curriculum (all my kicks and punches from white belt to the belt before black belt).
Then I got tested on all of my curriculum's self defense combinations (my curriculum was to do all of the self defense combinations I learned so far). Self defense combinations are meant to teach you how to defend yourself if someone were to attack you. In all, all of the self defense combinations that I had to memorize add up to a total of nineteen combinations.
Next, I had board breaking, which is breaking twelve thick wooden boards with kicks and punches. I had a difficult time with one of the kicks, but I eventually broke the board.
Thereafter was sparring. Sparring is fighting with, I have to admit, not the most comfortable gear on with other people. Since at this particular black belt test there was only one person testing, ten people signed up to spar, and after that I was exhausted, though I was not finished yet.
After, there was grappling. Grappling is pretty much wrestling, but not that hard. Here I had to grapple fourteen different people. If the person signing up to spar and grapple with someone during their black belt test is not yet a black belt, when it is their turn to have their black belt test, it is a black belt's responsibility to support them and spar and grapple with them.
The last thing to do that day was to say an inspirational speech about a person or people who motivate(s) you.
The next day on Sunday was to do a five mile run from my karate studio to the closest high school, do five laps around their track, twelve sprints (races) around it, and to run back. My feet grew very tired and sore for days after, but it was worth it because I earned my well-deserved black belt.
Have you ever earned a black belt?
If so, what were the steps you had to take to earn it?
Do you do karate, and are you on a goal to earn your black belt?
If you do not do karate, what, from the pictures, looked like the most interesting thing to do? If so, why?
First, my teachers tested me on my curriculum (all my kicks and punches from white belt to the belt before black belt).
At that time while I was working my butt off to earn my black belt, take a look at what my mischevious little brother was doing, decorating his body, including his tongue and shoe with bright red stamps.
Then I got tested on all of my curriculum's self defense combinations (my curriculum was to do all of the self defense combinations I learned so far). Self defense combinations are meant to teach you how to defend yourself if someone were to attack you. In all, all of the self defense combinations that I had to memorize add up to a total of nineteen combinations.
Next, I had board breaking, which is breaking twelve thick wooden boards with kicks and punches. I had a difficult time with one of the kicks, but I eventually broke the board.
Thereafter was sparring. Sparring is fighting with, I have to admit, not the most comfortable gear on with other people. Since at this particular black belt test there was only one person testing, ten people signed up to spar, and after that I was exhausted, though I was not finished yet.
After, there was grappling. Grappling is pretty much wrestling, but not that hard. Here I had to grapple fourteen different people. If the person signing up to spar and grapple with someone during their black belt test is not yet a black belt, when it is their turn to have their black belt test, it is a black belt's responsibility to support them and spar and grapple with them.
The last thing to do that day was to say an inspirational speech about a person or people who motivate(s) you.
The next day on Sunday was to do a five mile run from my karate studio to the closest high school, do five laps around their track, twelve sprints (races) around it, and to run back. My feet grew very tired and sore for days after, but it was worth it because I earned my well-deserved black belt.
If so, what were the steps you had to take to earn it?
Do you do karate, and are you on a goal to earn your black belt?
If you do not do karate, what, from the pictures, looked like the most interesting thing to do? If so, why?
