Six more days!
Well, todays eating and workout went really good….I’m having another killer week! :o) Of course it’s not surprising, since I’ve gotta really buckle down to get under 200 lbs by next Monday. I should always have such pressure…it really seems to help. My workouts today consisted of an awesome upperbody and abs workout at my 6 am class at the dojo, and my karate class. So, got in a total of two hours. My workout this morning was so rough that I have been sore all day…I’d take a hot bath but simply don’t have the time, as I’ve got to head to bed in about twenty minutes so that I can get in some reading before bed time. I’ve gotta get up at 5:15 am tomorrow so that I can head out for my 6 am class again. I have NEVER been a morning person, but I am REALLY loving my 6 am classes. They’re rough…I’m likely burning a good 500 calories at each one, and it feels so damn good getting em’ done! Tomorrow we’re going for a hill hike on a dirt trail in the mountains behind my Sensei’s house. I’ve heard about it and have always wanted to go for one of these things, so I’m really looking forward to getting my chance now. The plan is we all walk up the hill single file, and whoever is the last in line sprints to the top/front of the line. We’re supposed to do this for the entire route, and the entire route takes about an hour to accomplish. Should be lots of fun!
At my karate class tonight I found out I’m on the test sheet to test for my blue belt on February 27th. I knew that I was going to be on the list, but seeing my name there got me to feeling queasy. I HATE testing…we gotta do our thing in front of people watching us, and it’s always nerve wracking. Especially when Sensei makes us stand in front of everyone alone and do one of the katas we learned. Normally it sucks, I really hate testing…but this time it’s going to be utterly horrible because my husband is going to be there for it….OMG I feel sick….
It’s weird, because I know of all people in the entire world, he is my #1 fan…my biggest supporter. I KNOW he isn’t going to be thinking I’m an idiot when I screw up (yeah…I WILL screw up lol). He will love me and be proud of me no matter what…but OMG…it’s soooo scary!
Only six more days!!!! I couldn’t be more excited!!!
Aww your hubby sounds like a very sweet guy… your # 1 fan how cute :o) I don’t think I could find the courage or be brave enough to test for a belt in karate I watched my brothers do it and having all those eyes on you. I give you major kudos for doing this and I want to wish you the best of luck with your test mess up or not you’ll still come out a winner and I’m sure you’ll come out with that belt too teehee :o)
6 more days! The countdown begins!! I am so excited for you girlfriend!! Yeah!
yeaaaayyy girlie, I can sense your excitement from here!!! How long will he be home for? Bet you and the kids cant WAIT!
And dont you be worrying about your test. You wouldnt have been put on that list unless your Sensei felt you were ready for it. They dont grade people and expect them to fail. You’ve been training so hard… you KNOW you can do it. Tell yourself that each and every time you go into your class. Visualisation really helps too. That’s what I used to do when I competed in taekwon-do and had to get up to perform patterns by myself in front of the judges. Before my turn I wouldnt even watch the people that went ahead of me. I’d be going over my pattern in my head. It always worked well for the nerves, and I never screwed up when I got up to do my pattern.
Keep up the great work and all the training. Best of luck with you hill hike too. I used to do something like that with my class when they were jogging around the hall. Except the person at the back had to sprint one lap of the hall and then sprint to the top of the line. I remember having to do it myself when i was a student and it was a killer!!!!!!
I am so excited for you that your hubby will be home soon! You are an amazing woman for all you do, you have been such an inspiration for me since the day we became buddies (Friends)!
Love ya!
Big HUGS!
Ahhhhh Catrina, did you know that every time you get up there and face that “fear” of testing, you grow stronger? Not only mentally, but in your self-confidence, and THAT boosts you right along to reaching out for new challenges and reaching goals. I’m betting not only that your husband will be proud of you, but that he will be sitting there beaming and elbowing the person next to him saying “THAT’S my wife!”
Now that hike sounds AMAZING! I wanna goooooooooooooooo… my knee wouldn’t allow the sprinting, but still is sounds like so much fun!
Enjoy your day.
And thank you for all the inspiration and knowledge I’ve gleaned from you over the past couple of years.
Hugggggggggggggggggggs,
Shan
The Hill Hike sounds awesome! Very Cool!!
Hubby’s coming home…hubby’s coming home! YIPEE!
Big smiles girl,
I feel ya bubbling with excitement and I dont blame ya….the countdown has began!!
As for testing, I know your gonna do well. You’ve tested before and while I can understand the nerves…your gonna earn another belt!! Thats exciting girl!!!
Have fun on that hill girl!!
OMG I AM SOO EXCITED FOR YOU!!!!!! I remember 6 days before my hubby got home.. EKK it was hard to contain my excitment but at the same time not throw up from being so nervous! I am so glad my guy is back for good. I admire you for going through this so many times.
You will do fine on your test! I hated testing also. Just practice your kata so much you could do it in your sleep and once its your turn dont think about just do it! Do you have to break boards? I only got to green belt and had to break boards yellow belt on up. :oP Yeouch.
Nope - no board breaking! hehe I am SOOO thankful for that! I do know, because Sensei has talked to me about it before, that we do not test unless we are ready and basically, if you’re testing you WILL get a belt. But somehow it doesn’t appease my nerves lol. Especially with the thought of my hubby out there watching. If he weren’t there, I think I’d be just the usual nervous…knowing he’ll be there sends me through the roof. lol Hope I don’t have a panic attack! It’d be my very first ever.
Hey I read your post and I wanted to leave you an encouraging note, but I thought my husband might have something more inspirational for you so here he is! -w
Hi. I’m Wifey’s husband and I’ve been practicing and teaching American Kenpo and self defense for over ten years.
Try not to be afraid of your upcoming test. Remember, your instructors woudn’t put you there to fail. If they believe in you enough to let you test for your next rank, then believe in yourself and you’ll do fine.
Tests are a ritual designed to temper the students to the rigors of more advanced material. You’ve already put in the work, you’ve already become a more advanced and more highly skilled practitioner, now all that remains is that ritual.
Prove to yourself that you deserve your rank. Prove to your instructors that they are right to think so highly of you. Stay calm, eat a light meal before hand, drink a little water, and you’ll be fine.
Good Luck. Come over to Martialtalk.com sometime and get on the forum and tell us about your training. You’ll find a lot of people with the same passions and challenges who are encouraging and helpful.
Every black belt was a white belt first, and we’ve all been where you are now. Someday you can be where we are if you keep training.
-Rob