From Yellow to Orange

Hooray!!!  Tonight I was given an invite to a belt test!!  I'll be testing for my orange belt.  Its a little more intense than testing for yellow; there is more to know.  I'm excited though.  I kind of know what to expect this time around so I'll be more prepared!  Wish me luck!

The Crane

Tonight was the crane test.  I had a dilemma as this test approached, and that was that it landed on the same night as my family Christmas dinner.  Yes, I know its January.  Anyway, I had already paid for the test and then I realized I had a conflict in scheduling.  Everything worked out though. I went to the test and then arrived late to the dinner, but I still was there before the meal was served.  

Anyway, the test was fun, but tough at the same time.  One of the main characteristics of the crane is its balance and flexibility.  Two things I definitely do not have.  Two and a half hours later I passed the test.  Hooray!  So I now know that I'm not a crane.  I'm excited for the animal tests yet to come.

Yellow - Such a Happy Color

I passed!  I am now a yellow belt.  Well, sort of.  My test had two parts to it.  The first was the physical part: testing my knowledge of the forms I've learned up to this point and my endurance.  I have never done so many push-ups before in my life!  The second part is a written part.  For my rank I have to write a paper for my sensei about the five rules of the studio.  For those of you wondering, the rules are Etiquette, Effort, Character, Sincerity, and Self-Control.  These are the five areas in which as a student of the martial arts I am expected to conduct myself both in and out of the studio.  Once I turn in my paper, then I will receive my belt, assuming that it meets the expectations of my sensei.

From White to Yellow

Tonight I received an invitation to a belt test.  Honestly, I didn't know what it was when my sensei handed it to me.  Then I started reading it and suddenly became clear.  Although I'm excited about my advancement, I'm a little bit (okay a lot) nervous.  I have no idea what to expect at the test, or if I'll even pass!  And I would be lying if I said that I expected it to come this soon.  The test isn't until the first week of December, so for now I'm left to wonder.

And so it begins...

A few weeks ago my dad came home from running errands (getting water and the such) and he came into my room and place on my desk a flier and said "this is for you".  It was just a flier that had been put on his car while he was in shopping.  We chuckled about it, I set it aside and he left my room.  The flier sat on my desk for a week or so.  I kept looking at it, and I started to think about what it was advertising.

It was a flier for a karate studio.  The offer was for a free lesson, and a free uniform with enrollment.  I've thought about taking a martial arts class off and on for a few years now.  But every-time I looked into it the cost of the uniform was always separate, and they're not exactly cheap.  So, I called up the studio and scheduled the lesson and tonight was the night.  It was a lot of fun actually.  I felt a little silly when the instructor made me take my shoes off and bow, but I figure that's just because it was something new.

Anyway, he taught me some different grab escapes.  Basically these are maneuvers you would use to get out of different situations when your attacker has a hold of you.  Then he taught me some kicks and let me kick the dummy.  I really did enjoy myself, so I signed up.  And so it begins.... my journey in the martial arts, from a white belt to black.  I'm a little nervous about the unknowns ahead of me and excited all at the same time.