Beyond the Belt : Preparation for Martial Arts Belt Exams
BEYOND THE BELT : PREPARATION FOR MARTIAL ARTS BELT EXAMS?
What is beyond the belt : preparation for martial arts belt exams? Have you ever heard that famous quote by Miyamoto Musashi “You can only fight the way you practice” Words of wisdom that I once came across many years ago. The meaning I took from this is. No matter if you are sitting your next belt grading in martial arts, or progressing in our professional lives. If you only treat your martial arts training as a means to an end in order to achieve that next rank. Sure, you will get the next rank, but you will lose the true essence of the art itself. You see In order to truly thrive and find satisfaction, you need to put things in perspective and try creative ways to solve problems. It’s only when we step out of our comfort zone that we can truly grow.
This is something I began to truly understand when I started training in karate and having to learn a whole different system of martial arts. Learning skills like basic punches, kicks and blocks prepared me to do just that. Overtime as I progressed through the higher ranks. I started paying attention to more styles and tried to replicate their techniques/ideas. This enhanced my karate techniques and started to make me stronger, learning new combinations and have a better flow.
BEYOND THE BELT : PREPARATION FOR MARTIAL ARTS BELT EXAMS WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT?
For me it was a nice way to encourage consistency to my training. After all, there are many different kinds of training, from fast and powerful to slow and deliberate, with all sorts of wild variations in between. Depending on the type of martial arts you are practicing. I always like to say “Your martial arts instructors job is to teach the skills, but only you can put them into action “. Belt gradings are done by the book and can only the most specific and correct techniques allowed for display. Everyone knows that tests are special.
The truth is that by putting these belt gradings on a pedestal like this we are adding unnecessary pressure on ourselves every time we go up for promotion. It’s understandable- Karate is a competitive sport. During these moments, we want to display the best techniques that we can perform. But there are several ways in which the grading atmosphere is different from a typical class within the dojo. There is the pressure of being ‘on stage’ with everybody watching, the mental stress of recalling a variety of techniques from memory, and the physical pressure of continuous movement. How can we rise to the occasion during these biggest moments? The mindset of “You can only fight the way you practice” helps guide the way.
So let’s look at important strategies you can use to conquer your next grading.
SET TRAINING GOALS (Beyond the Belt : Preparation for Martial Arts Belt Exams)
To make your training relevant to your next grading, you must set goals for each rank, and then work towards them every day. Make them specific- not just something like “do good karate ” or “pass the next grading.” Familiarise yourself with the specific requirements, then consider what you would like to improve on from your last grading.
For beginners, memorizing the techniques or combinations is a priority, and as you work your way up. Your sensei will provide specific feedback about the expectations for your belt. You could also add more personal goals- perhaps you would like to have a louder kiai, more balance, or better endurance. If you’re not sure what to work on, it is very helpful to review any feedback that your sensei has given you during class and adjust accordingly. Get a parent or someone to video you doing techniques or katas as this can also be very revealing. Both to find flaws in your practice and confirm the things you are or not doing correctly.
Once you have particular goals, keep them in mind during regular training. Even if the class is not about something relevant to your next grading. You can still see how it applies to the context of your goals and your current level.
PHYSICAL PREPARATION
As you go through the belt system of your martial arts. You will notice that as a grading approaches you can expect a lot of attention to specific requirements during class. However, it’s important to remember that you can’t presume that you will become ready for a grading just by showing up to class. This is the true essence of what Beyond the Belt : Preparation for Martial Arts Belt Exams means.
So how can you test like you train when the pace of every grading is so different? There are actually two components to pacing for the next grading: speed and stamina. To train for correct speed, you need to set a baseline for how fast you wish to demonstrate a technique. This should be slow enough to maintain clarity, but appropriately fluid for your rank. Also mentally acknowledge when you are going faster or slower, and make sure you get some repetitions at baseline speed.
To train for stamina, bear in mind that during a grading you won’t be stopping between each move to discuss or catch your breath, so train this way as much as possible. It is also helpful to train outside of class with a focus on aerobics and developing endurance. We use a method of kata endurance. This means after a kata is complete you do 1 -10 before moving onto the next kata, with no break. (1-10 means 1 push up, 1 sit up, 1 squat kick and then 2 of each and so on).
MENTAL PREPARATION (Beyond the Belt : Preparation for Martial Arts Belt Exams)
One of the benefits of martial arts is the ability to respond to unexpected situations. When a crisis arises, we need to react rather than be paralyzed by fear, and grading can be a good way to sharpen your response.
It can be quite common, to experience some anxiety of performing in front of other practitioners. Your heart may begin pound or there are things happen during a grading that could cause to lose focus. In order to demonstrate your best technique, it is important to enter a grading with the proper mental attitude.
By executing a spirit of readiness, you will be more than ready to take on your next grading. The more you can make a grading feel like normal training, the more consistent your performance will be. During training, imagine that everyone is watching you all the time, even if nobody is. Think about it like this – is the simplest of exercises a challenge of skill and is it an opportunity to learn. Keep good posture whether seated or standing, bow to your partner with sincerity and intention, and don’t allow your mind to wander.
WHAT IS BEING ON TILT ? (Beyond the Belt : Preparation for Martial Arts Belt Exams)
In any sports and competitive events, participants run the risk of allowing their emotional state to negatively influence their decision-making process. When this affects performance, the competitor becomes “on tilt.” What this means in a grading is that you may not only lose mental focus, you can literally lose your balance as well! This is bad especially if you have to hold your kicks, for a long period of time.
A common scenario is that a practitioner will make one mistake and become frustrated, then overcompensate on the next attempt, which spirals into more mistakes and more frustration. When you don’t have a plan to refocus and return to a centred state. If you are on tilt you increase your mistakes and make the whole grading much more difficult process.
If for example if you are performing a difficult kata and you start to get anxious. Your techniques may become ‘too stiff’. Characterised by fast, choppy movements, stiff shoulders and hips, and a lack of connection with technical ability . Other times, if you become too relaxed. A practitioner techniques become ‘too loose’. Arms hanging limply, taking long pauses or shuffling around between movements.
Both of these qualities are forms of on tilt that can create mistakes. Which then would cause you to experience negative thoughts. “I’m screwing this up… I can’t do this or I just want it to be over.” If this gets really bad, a practitioner will draw a complete blank, or just do something random while ignoring the instructions of the head sensei.
PERFORMANCE DISTRACTION
Diligent training and preparation are the only things that you can use to increase your chances of a successful performance. No matter what you are trying to accomplish, one of the greatest distractions you may face is thinking about the outcome of the day. Can you pass this grading to the best of my ability? How great would you feel if you emerge victorious! How sad would feel you failed ? You need to realise that focusing on the outcome of your grading is totally worthless to the action itself, and just an opening for a lack of mental weakness.
No matter how hard you try or how badly you want to pass or succeed in something. Nothing in the world is certain or completely under your control. Unexpected issues arise all the time. As they say “ Always be prepared for the unexpected “. You may get over an injury just before a grading which can disrupt how you perform. You may fall sick or you may have a grading venue change at the last minute.
OVERCOMING ON TILT (Beyond the Belt : Preparation for Martial Arts Belt Exams)
Gradings will become much easier if you can avoid the trap of becoming “results oriented.” Despite your best efforts, the results of your performance will be out of your control, and therefore no effort should be wasted in worrying about them. Put one hundred percent of your attention and energy into techniques that you are currently executing. Do not think about the end result of the grading, do not worry about the next technique, and do not dwell on the one you just finished, whether you were satisfied or not. The saying “test like you train” is an important motto: if you have done the technique in the dojo hundreds of times, then simply let yourself do it. Don’t think- feel. The fact that the stakes feel higher, the setting is different and everyone is watching, makes no difference whatsoever.
Of course, that is easier said than done, and we are all only human. Mistakes WILL happen, and it’s okay to feel emotional. This is why It’s important to have a plan to get back on track when things start to go wrong. The first step don’t dwell on your emotions. Allow yourself to acknowledge and experience them rather overshadowing what you are trying to accomplish. Breathing is an incredibly valuable tool for refocusing and staying centered. Learn how to replace your negative emotions with positive ones. This can be a very intentional process. Just as we seek to remove the opportunity for an attacker to overthrow us or mix up our techniques. We must be wary of allowing openings in our mental attitude.
HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF NEGATIVE THOUGHTS THAT CAN BE CHANGED INTO POSITIVES:
It may seem cheesy or insincere, but thoughts and even facial expressions have a great effect on your emotional state and external attitude. This is why it is so important to have fun with your training, and not let it become a chore or just a daily workout to get through. Let the joy of training karate or your chosen art – help you shine through on grading day! Smile, kiai with purpose, and you will find yourself enjoying the moment in spite of all difficulties.
FINAL THOUGHTS (Beyond the Belt : Preparation for Martial Arts Belt Exams)
While we don’t need to have belt gradings to learn martial arts. Some practitioner are more focused on the belt rank and achieving the ultimate prize of black belt. Other practitioners prefer the process as the most valuable part of their training. For our sensei, gradings is a useful metric to show the progress of each of its practitioners, but rank is by no means directly correlated to ability.
The true testament to your training is what occurs outside the dojo, in the times and places that you would least expect, where nobody cares about the color of your belt. Regardless if it’s for self-defence or simply responding to a stressful situation, the true value of dedication and training will reveal itself when you need it most.
Elevate Your Martial Arts Performance
https://winnersma.com/blog/a-must-have-guide-to-pass-every-martial-arts-exam