I missed my 3rd degree Testing!!!!!!!

[Labatt]

I have been sick since last sunday, so over 1 week now.

And I missed my super important 3rd degree testing:( :( :( :( :(

I feel like crying. This sucks, now I have to wait till June!


And im still sick! I feel so horrible I missed it.

[Chazz]

Sorry to hear that. Use the time to become better.

[KickChick]

I sure do hope you're better by June!!!:D

eh, they say things happen at times for a reason.. maybe this was one of those times!

as chazz said....train hard and make up for it in June!!!

[HKD]

it's not the end of the world youll get you'll shot in june.
keep your chin up

[Labatt]

Thanks for the support.
I gotta channel my anger into my training. Still its gonna be rough.

[KarateKid1975]

Hey, you'll be extra ready in June ;) You have more time to "perfect" things.

[Sweeet]

You could always take the approach that testing is only a way of personally certifying and more prominently, recognizing skill.

Would you have passed the test? If you know it, then what does you having missed the test mean?

As I said, rank is meaningless except for what it means to you. It's an external measure that isn't necessarily indicative of skill or anything else, except perhaps time spent in a system.

I'd think of it as an opportunity to have more skill to be recognized when you have the chance. Then again, I could care less about belts or ranks, in general. I respect them to an extent - I just don't care about them personally :)

Hope you feel better.

[Tosh]

Dude I couldn't take my 2nd degree because I couldn't afford it!

[Labatt]

Thanks for those kind words. TKD has also taught me respect

And it is true that belt dosn't matter, it matters how good and deadly you are. And there is no extenct or limit to how much you can become. In a very short period of time.


Tosh Spice, I understand, I should of been 3rd deg a long time ago, but problems including $$ always pop up.

Let's all just try and become the best!

[Brad Ellin]

What makes the 3rd dan testing so super important? For that matter, what makes the rank super important? These are the questions you should ask yourself. Not knocking you or anything, just trying to put things in perspective. Take this time to not train harder, but smarter and mentally prepare yourself. If you were ready (technique wise and what ever else is in your curriculum) you'll still be ready in June. What's important is to not put too much emphasis on missing it. That's likely to affect your testing later. So you missed it. Next time you won't. And you'll be better prepared mentally.
But hey, what do I know? 20 years and I'm only a lowly 3rd Kyu. :)
You'll do great in June. Power of positive thinking!!

[Helm]

Kurohana, you're assuming he wasnt ready. His instructor thought he was. Im guessing he was and would pass regardless of whenever he did it, then or in June.

Its a bummer really because you've earned a 3rd dan now....

oh well.. :)

[Labatt]

Guys, My aproach will be to become the best I can from now, till june.

I just wanna get lossed in progress.

[Brad Ellin]

No, I wasn't assuming he wasn't ready. What I was trying to say ( and badly) was that missing the testing is neccessarily a bad thing. Sure it's a bummer, and I hope Labatt gets it in June. Just saying not to focus on the fact he missed it, and turn the energy somewhere else. Clearer?

[John G]

Labatt,

I know how it feels, I missed my 2nd degree grading in November, but in two weeks time I get to have another shot at it. Death to the first person that comes anywhere near me with a cold, flue or virus in the next few weeks.

Respectfully,

[Helm]

I actually had to work when i had my 2nd dan grading, i pleaded with my boss and line manager to have the evening off, but they said i had to be there for stocktake, which is basically counting eveything in the store twice (im a student working part-time).

I just didnt turn up and went to my 2nd dan geading instead, no-one noticed :D

[Mark Davies]

Don't worry about it. I remember talking to Bill Superfoot Wallace years ago & he said that whenever anyone asked what Dan he is he just replies 'I'm a Black Belt, thats good enough'. He also joked about crunching up & throwing his 8th Dan Certificate from Elvis Presley in the bin.
I stayed at 1st degree for ten years, I just spent the time getting Degree grades in other things:D
I've been training since 1984, so I'm an old git compared to you, keep your chin up coz you've got the rest of your life to get where you want, remember its not a race.

[Telsun]

Hey Labatt
Don't want to exhasut the subject, or undermine your dissappointment, but here is my sorry tale!!

I started training when I was 9. I got to 1st kyu in Shotokan karate, then quit:( Can't remember why. 3yrs later I took up Goju ryu after about another 3 yrs I passed my 1st dan. Just before my 2nd dan was due I got cold feet and started wondering around different clubs and styles. Upon my return to my Goju ryu club I discovered my instructor had also quit and a lesser student than myself had taken over! I wondered more, for about 5 years, I even opened my own club at one point. I was training hard but not settling anywhere.
Now I have found my ideal club/association and have settled. Upon taking my transfer 1st dan it was commented by my peers (but not my seniors) that I could have comfortably been with the 3rd/4th dans. This is the group that I would have been in had I stuck with it. Indeed the lesser student who took over the Goju club is now 3rd dan, yet he is not as skilled or as knowlegable as myself (thats not very humble is it!).

There is a couple of points from this:

1. My sensei told me that the grading panel were "impressed" and I am quite clearly more worthy than 1st dan. However due to tradition, etc I was not graded to the grade that I was worthy of.

2. Despite my lack of title (3rd/4th dan, whatever) my skill and knowledge speaks for itself. I am well respected within the association.

3. I am the best 1st dan in our association!!!

Despite sounding like a big egoed, over confident, arrogant.........nobody, I assure you I am not. I tell myself that grades are not important and I truly believe that they are not but it would be nice to just say I am a 3rd dan!!!

Don't give up now (I am sure that you have no intention) otherwise you will kick yourself in years to come, just like I do now.

(Oops, that post was alot longer than I inteneded, sorry for rambling)

[TKDad]

Stay focused. Keep your center. Find your place of inner peace and remember that most of the tasks that matter in life depend primarily on the journey rather than the arrival. Education is a process that never ends. The same can be said for relationships and careers. Reflect on the strength a missed promotion can provide -- it can expose pride, conceit, and perhaps a bit of unnecessary ambition to win (against whom?) and may give rise to patience, reflection, and an opportunity to build character.

I did not promote in my last test because I could not properly perform a jump reverse back side kick (see my thread above). It was critical for passing. I failed because I lost focus and failed to put in the time to master this technique. One might quibble that my holders rammed the boards together so tight it would have taken a nuclear explosion to pry them apart, but that would be unfair. (Mostly unfair, anyway.) I am going to take this opportunity to learn and train myself thru this technique. I've seen others do things that look WAY harder that I will likely have to do some day. I don't plan to be conquered by a minor setback.

[Mark Davies]

Great attitude!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You have the rest of your life to get where you want to go. Like TKDad showed, if there are obsticles in the way keep your determination & focus & just roll over them.
Nice to have people with your experience with us TKDad.

[Labatt]

Update:

I havn't been here in a while because after I missed the testing over a month ago I just went into a deep depression. It effected me so terribly, and I didn't want to post here anymore for the time being, because of intense immotions.

Also, I have not been going to class ever since I got sick, a while back. Taking a breat. Weight Training, just trying to relax. But what I have noticed is having almost Visions of my return to TKD. I this time I have had dreams of TKD, I think about it. But all I really do is get angry, angry at myself, at my skool, at my fellow practitioners. I don't know. I will be returning this wednsday, and I intend to sparr the first day back. My mindset is not to become the best I can be anymore. TKDdad, u said time off(just like I took time off) can build "Character". Im afraid that's just what happened. In a good way or bad way? I don't know yet, but all I know is that I want to reenter My Sport, Anihilate, and become the best once again.

I thank you for your good comments, I have read them all. You guys are great. I appreciate all of this.

Thankyou.

BTW im back

[KickChick]

Originally posted by Labatt
Update:My mindset is not to become the best I can be anymore. .......I don't know yet, but all I know is that I want to reenter My Sport, Anihilate, and become the best once again.....
BTW im back

:confused: so which is it??

Just find your "personal best" and pursue that realistic goal!

Welcome Back!!

Ive been there and back and know what it's like.... HELL!!!

Hey check back and let us know how you're doing!!

[Labatt]

Thanks Kickchick. How good are you?

Well, I just got back from class today. I did horrible, off coordination, loss of flexibility. I feel like **** right now, like im getting sick all over again. My sparring however was good, my kicks were alot more fast and powerful.

[Mark Davies]

Hey Labatt

Glad to see that you're back kickin & punchin:)

I know how you feel mate, I took five years away from TKD & even though I was training in other Martial Arts it was hell getting 'TKD fit' again (it doesn't help when your instructor is the beastmaster from hell). Ohhhhhh the paaaaaaiiiiin.
Your co-ordination & stuff will come straight back, you've only been away a wee while.

If you've got the guts to get over your little hurdle & get back to training, then you're gonna max your grading:D

Keep at it.

[KarateKid1975]

I missed my brown belt test twice in two schools. In TSD, I moved on the day of my test. That really sucked. I was depressed for a bit. The second time I didn't care. I went from a good school, to a McDojang, to a good dojang again. This time it will mean more to me. I REFUSED to test again at the McDojang, let alone get a BB that wasn't worth crap there. I was REALLY depressed at the McDojang. Because I knew that it sucked there (except that it taught me how to spar good .... sport place). I knew I wasn't in MA for sport.

What I'm trying to say is, you seem to be happy there (from what I've seen), except for the fact that you missed your test :( It does suck. I been there. Look on the bright side. You have another chance. And your 3rd dan will mean that much more to you. Just like me when I finally get my brown belt :) I look at it this way. I've been training almost 3 years, was supposed to test for BB in TSD in Oct. Now I will have more exerience, my technique is strong, and I'll be way better suited for my BB test here :)

[Mark Davies]

A McDojang, I like that, hehehe:D

[Labatt]

Thanks guys/gals. Ya I suppose your right.

I WAS happy at TKD, and I want to get back in it. But I want more, better MA training. I want to get so damn good in blocking and strikes. I don't know if TKD can give me that. But sparring, I love it.

[KarateKid1975]

Then get your butt in there and train! :D

[Mark Davies]

Originally posted by Labatt
Thanks guys/gals. Ya I suppose your right.

I WAS happy at TKD, and I want to get back in it. But I want more, better MA training. I want to get so damn good in blocking and strikes. I don't know if TKD can give me that. But sparring, I love it.

Then find a Dojang that teaches that buddy. I know that I teach that, & that my Instructors taught me that. If you feel that it's time to move on & start learning something new, then do it. I did, & it was the best thing I could've done for my TKD career.

[KickChick]

Originally posted by Labatt
Thanks Kickchick. How good are you?

You're welcome Labatt .... don't listen to what you hear, I am not that good!! :D

I'm fine thanks!! :)

Think positive .... worse thing you can do right now is to be overly critical of yourself. Start training "consistently" and your efforts will pay off the day you test for that next degree!
June will be here before you know it ... TRAIN HARD!!!


CONGRATULATIONS JOHN on your 2nd dan!!! http://smilies.networkessence.net/s/ups/razor_wind/sususani.gif

[Labatt]

Mark, I can't find any Dojang that has what I want.

Thanks kickchick. Give me updates on your progress as well.

[TKDad]

I hope you find what you're looking for, Labatt. The funny thing is, however, that no matter where you are, you have to go with yourself. It sounds like you've lost your internal focus (the "chi", I think they call it) that allows your skill and power to show thru in the forms and techniques. Even the greatest dojang cannot put your head together. That's up to you.

For example, why do you want to annihilate your opponent in sparring? Anger does not become lessened by losing it. I have a suspicion that your form and technique will return to its former levels and better when you stop making yourself sick with anger and reunify your spirit. Have you ever seen or known a Master who had not gained control of his/her anger?

Win the mental game first! Join a yoga group, learn how to meditate, or talk to a sympathetic girlfiend, would-be girlfriend, or just a good listener. (I heard somewhere that half the girls liked vulnerable guys - the other half just thought they were whiners. Go figure.) Try flower arranging or something that will allow you to regain your focus without allowing anger to intrude or color your focus. Then start training again, but without concern for the external schedule for promotion imposed by your dojan.

Maybe, you could even choose not to promote if you don't feel yourself ready. Such a choice can let you regain control. It's a step.

Sorry about the length of the post, but I have also had some experience in conquering my own personal demons before I could advance professionally. I cannot overstate the importance of personal self-mastery as a prerequisite for matters that require focus, discipline, and skill.

TKDad

Ability is what you're capable of doing...
Motivation determines what you do...
Attitude determines how well you do it.

[Labatt]

Wow. That is truly a great post TKDad.

I know what your saying is right......but, I just feel that I should NOT try to calm down and self master myself. The reason being is that I have ALWAYS been calm and have had self mastery. This is the first time I've really "Exploded" in a different direction.

Graunted, my form and technique will come back slower if I Do this, but I want to try it out, see what happens, gain some experience, learn something about myself. U know what I mean?

I feel, that Im very close, very close to something. This anger is a good feeling, I like it. I do need to RELAX though. Im gonna work on that.

Annihilating my oponent, I need to do this. I have never been this viscious before. I want to see what I can do. I need to grow stronger.

Thanks man, once again, great post.

[John G]

If you must release your anger, do it on someone who has the same size or bigger chip on their shoulder as you have and thrash it out. One will loose and the other will feel like a fool.

You get a far bigger buzz out of knowing you can, and controlling it so you don't.


Good luck.

[John G]

If you must release your anger, do it on someone who has the same size or bigger chip on their as you and thrash it out. One will loose and the other will feel like a fool.

You get a far bigger buzz out of knowing you can, and controlling it so you don't.


Good luck.

[TKDad]

I can empathize with your 4/16 post. I' too, had always been too "calm". It was exhilarating when I could really "let go". It's just a temporary fix, though. It becomes harder and harder to get the same rush of elation and freedom. Kinda' like the banned stuff.

Have you seen the movie "Anger Management"? The repressed anger/depression stuff really happens. The key to the plot was integrating the angerand self-confidence into the daily routine so that there is no difference among the proper needs of your self-image, self-confidence, and personal success and the daily interactions with folks around you. I hate looking to a movie for advice, but it seems like this one might be apt.

Good luck.

A calm sea does not make a skilled sailor. (African proverb)

[DOUBLEDOUBLE]

I understand how you feel. I been a 1st dan for 4 years, something always comes up to keep me from training, example car wreck in year 01 , had collaspe lung, broken collar bone, crack rib. off for six months, then came money problems etc etc.
But i know i'll get back to my traing when iam suppose too and will be where iam suppose to be when iam suppose to be there. so keep up the good work you been doing and you'll there where you're suppose to be there

[Bulldog]

Originally posted by Tosh
Dude I couldn't take my 2nd degree because I couldn't afford it!

LOL...

Ok...it's not really funny...I've been there too bro!

[Ara]

Keep your chin up, train just as hard and when you test next it will feel even better when you pass :)