i don't feel ready for my blackbelt?

Discussion in 'General Martial Arts Discussion' started by Sam meister, Sep 20, 2017.

  1. Sam meister

    Sam meister New Member

    Hi new here, not sure if this is the place to post, i've had my 1st kyu in t'ang soo do for over a year now, and i'm eligible for chodan in november but i don't feel ready, i've been an instructor for almost a year know, i know all the curriculum like the back of my hand, i know all the forms from white belt, all the way to eedan, and some sam dan, i know all their techniques. but for some reason i don't feel like i'm ready for my chodan, i'm not sure why, i've wanted this for a really long time. maybe i'm so use to being a kyu im not ready for dan? i'm 17 and leaving for the marine corps next summer, i probably will never return to this dojo for a long time and i kinda hope to get my chodan before then, so i can continue training in other places. any advice? i don't feel ready
     
  2. aaradia

    aaradia Choy Li Fut and Yang Tai Chi Chuan Student Moderator Supporter

    Do you trust your instructors judgement? Then trust them when they say you are ready. I know the feeling, I never feel ready for my tests. I painfully see all my flaws and shortcomings. But I have an amazing instructor, who also happens to be the strictest instructor at my school location. So, even though I never feel ready, I trust her when she says I am ready.

    Trust your instructors- test when they say you are ready if you believe in them. That is my advice.

    And Welcome to MAP!
     
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  3. Travess

    Travess The Welsh MAPper Supporter

    100% this ^^ - I have been put in for some gradings early, and occasionally held back for a while on others, but have always trusted my instructors reasons for doing so. When it came to my BB grading I had never felt less prepared, so I rested my confidence in my instructors (and to a slightly lesser degree my peers) hands - They have got you this far after all.

    Travess
     
  4. Knee Rider

    Knee Rider Valued Member Supporter

    Agree with aaradia.

    Test is just a formality anyway, you will/should be developing your skills constantly and always finding room to grow.

    You know the curriculum and can demo it to the standard required. That's all it is.

    Good luck!
     
  5. Sam meister

    Sam meister New Member

    i know i can pass the test really easily, i just mentally have a block
     
  6. Knee Rider

    Knee Rider Valued Member Supporter

    What makes you feel unready?
     
  7. Sam meister

    Sam meister New Member

    i'm not sure, id like to say i'm being humble but honestly i just don't feel like i deserve a blackbelt, i havnt really done anything bad, i can demonstrate everything perfectly, i can fight, i know the technical aspect of stuff, i know the theoretical aspect, i know the history, i just don't feel like i deserve a blackbelt
     
  8. Knee Rider

    Knee Rider Valued Member Supporter

    Sounds like you have to some extent put the belt on a pedestal?

    I reckon just grade. Black belt has no fixed meaning and certainly isn't some sort of golden fleece of which you are unworthy.
     
  9. Rataca100

    Rataca100 Banned Banned


    God damn it, i was just writing soemthing like that, curse you! :p
     
  10. Knee Rider

    Knee Rider Valued Member Supporter

    Shouldn't you be packing your gear bag? ;)
     
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  11. Jaydub

    Jaydub Valued Member

    I'm not a black belt myself, but I think that your humility makes you all the more worthy of it.

    As a serving military member, I can say with authority that it will help you there.
     
  12. El Medico

    El Medico Valued Member

    Did you ever feel you didn't deserve to advance to the next grade in school? That you didn't deserve to pass a math test? Probably not.

    I understand when people are nervous about testing,but the idea of not deserving it? Why??? People make too big a deal over The Black Belt.

    It's just a first degree anyway.All that means is you've got your basics down and now you're ready to start REALLY learning. Test,pass,wear.

    It ain't gonna be as bad,nor as big a deal as boot camp's gonna be. You're not going to start thinking you don't deserve to be a Marine,are you? They've been around a lot longer than any KMA you're studying.

    So good luck,although t'would seem you don't need any!
     
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  13. Latikos

    Latikos Valued Member

    That's pretty much, what I was about to answer as well. Even in very similar words.

    First Dan in Japan doesn't have the meaning it has in the Western world, I'm aware of that, but it's also a way to look at it to take pressure of it.
    But of course I'm good to talk: I didn't even thought I'd fill my yellow belt or any others that came after - and doesn't include a Dan :D

    But, yes another but: I think aaradia nailed it, with the question of you trusting your instructor.
    That's how I go about it.

    My teacher wanted me to grade some other Blackbelts I really appreciate as well (and no, it's not about them being BB, but about them being martial artists I really, really like and respect!) - so I did it.

    In the end of October my Karate coach wants me to grade for my third Kyu; I don't feel ready at all, despite of being able to the techniques and such.
    I'm just never satisfied with myself.
    Maybe that's similar for you?
     
  14. Rataca100

    Rataca100 Banned Banned

    Think of it this way, at least after you have started doing the marine martial arts you can crotch strike black belts in black belt only schools and teach them of the wonders of unrestricted below the belt combat. XP
     
  15. Mitch

    Mitch Lord Mitch of MAP Admin

    Many people put the black belt grading on a pedestal, something different. In some ways it is, it is like a rite of passage.

    But the reality, once you have passed it, is that it was just another stepping stone along the way.

    Most people aim towards their black belt for years. And for years they see people that are black belts who look confident and assured, training right along side them.

    But here's the secret; those people who are now black belts didn't used to be. Like you, they made slow, sometimes imperceptible gains, until they were ready. They may not have felt ready, because they still compared themselves to people better than them. They may not have felt ready because they didn't see the progress they had made. Or they may not have felt ready because it was more comfortable to remain as they were and not take what they had always seen as the "final step."

    But now those people know, and they are waiting for you to join them in continuing training, because they're still moving forward, and so can you :)

    Mitch
     
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  16. aaradia

    aaradia Choy Li Fut and Yang Tai Chi Chuan Student Moderator Supporter


    I think this is very true and part of the issue for me at least. I said that I trust my instructor, but never feel ready for a test myself. I don't know when, but my CLF black sash test is looming. And when talking to fellow students, they gave me similar advice to what you all said here. I have this feeling like I need to be perfect, even though I know it isn't true. I know and believe all the things said about a black sash not being the end all of it and just being one marker, but when it comes to myself, I still end up not listening to what I know to be true and irrationally put it on a pedestal. Not for other students, but just me.

    In my preparation for this test, which isn't immediate like the OP, I have come to the conclusion that battling feelings like this and other mental battles is actually the harder part of testing for black sash. Facing those mental demons is more challenging than the physical part, even though the physical part is really extremely difficult. But the hardest part is the mentality to get there.
     
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  17. Morik

    Morik Well-Known Member Supporter MAP 2017 Gold Award

    I haven't ranked past yellow belt in any martial art, but:

    I have observed a tendency in both myself & others. We tend to be much harsher critics of ourselves than we are of others. (I mean, maybe some people aren't, but most are, I think.)
    Try re-framing this: if a friend/class-mate were in your place, what factors would you evaluate to help them see whether or not they are really ready?
    Can you evaluate those same factors with yourself?
    I know it will still seem like its missing something--because we can see inside our own minds & insecurities/etc, we have a lot more information to apply to the situation.
    If you cut out that extra information and just analyze what you'd be able to analyze for another person, maybe that can help?

    (I feel like I'm not explaining this very well... sorry.)
     
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  18. Rataca100

    Rataca100 Banned Banned

    To assist with that: You need to live with yourself. If that helps clarify the point if its not clear enough.
     
  19. axelb

    axelb Master of Office Chair Fu

    Do it!
    You won't be given the opportunity if they think you are not ready.

    turn it down and you'll most definitely regret it.

    I haven't met a black belt grader yet who said after that they regretted taking the test.
     
  20. Dead_pool

    Dead_pool Spes mea in nihil Deus MAP 2017 Moi Award

    Trust your instructor, s/he has a better perspective on your abilities then you do, if you don't feel good enough, then train extra hard to make sure you are good enough, and make them proud.
     

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