First grading

[Carlos_Solis]

I just had my first grading last Wednesday, although it was only for a kyu grading (I got 5th). I have always had trouble with nervousness as far back as I could remember, legs start to shake and I seem to forget everything I was suppose to do. It happend when I had to do presentations in school when I was younger and now with Kendo. I tried everything I could think of to try and not to be so nervous, I told myself to just think of it as a normal practice, tried to empty my mind etc. but alas when the time came I completly messed up. Just wondering if anyone else goes through this and if anyone has any suggestions on how to deal with, thanks, Carlos.

[joekc6nlx]

Carlos,

We've all been there. I know it's hard to relax when you are going up for promotion. The way I think of it is that it's just another keiko, and the person across from me is probably just as nervous. The trick is to hide your nervousness and seem outwardly calm.

When I was in college (for my first degree) I had to take public speaking. You find that it's easier the more you practice it. Those skills came in handy when I was an instructor in a classroom full of teenagers.

Now that you've tested, you know what to expect next time and you'll be more relaxed. The hardest part is the not knowing what is coming at you.

Congratulations on passing to 5th kyu. There is no shame, at least, you outrank the mukyu people now. :silly:

[Carlos_Solis]

Thanks joekc6nlx, I think what made me so nervous was that I kept thinking about it too much!!!! This grading were for non-bogu students, so it basically consisted of all the basic cuts and kirikaeshi. I kept going over all the little details that they told us they would be looking at, next time I will try to relax and try not to think about it so much, just go out and do it. Carlos.

[nodachi]

Just as Joe said, you'll get used to it. I don't get nervous about the testing part, I get nervous during the waiting part when the results aren't posted yet... :)

I always like kiai because it helps to really settle my nerves.

[Ignatz]

next time I will try to relax and try not to think about it so much, just go out and do it. Carlos.

That is the key, no thinking. I have incredible stage fright which kept me from being a famous rock star (that and a lack of talent) but I became a trial lawyer and have had several hundred trials over the years and throw up before each one. Once I start it is autopilot.

Hang in there, keep training.

[stuartwilson]

I was a bit nervous at my ikkyu test. The first part was kata 1-5, and my partner make three major screw-ups right off the bat that messed me up a lot more than they should have. We were right next to one of the high ranking sensei, who was giving the commands. He seemed at the time to be pretty irritated with us. I was like, "Oh, well, there's always next year," and from that point on I wasn't nervous.

[Julian D]

So how much did you pay the judges to pass?

:p

Oh wait, perhaps even if you got nervous and made mistakes, the judges still were able to see that the right things were present for the intended level. Otherwise, I figure you would have been sent home.


When I got ikkyu in iaido, at first I believed I didn´t deserve it. Sure, I made no major screw ups, but still my cuts weren´t big enough and I realized some spots here and there weren´t OK. My sensei had told me about them more than once during classes... and I still went and did them in the exam!

Yet I passed, and even was told by people that I did a good exam!

So I´d tell you to stay aware of your weaknesses, be humble, but don´t let them become a humilliation even to your own eyes. You have a VERY long road to walk, where would the fun be if you already had everything it takes?? Don´t enjoy what you know, enjoy what you´ve learnt ;)



Oh, and congratulations!!!!!!!

[Carlos_Solis]

Well the test were judged by our sensies in our dojo so I think they took into account that this was everyones first time grading and that we were all nervous. So they probaly judged us on how we usually performed in a regular practice as well. Thanks everyone for all the advice everyone, Carlos.