You've done the hardest thing already by coming into a martial arts school and signing up.
Now, due to the hard work you have put in, you are coming up on your first test.
You have put in many hours learning the moves that felt incredibly foreign when you first began your training.
Now, these moves have become ingrained, and you are ready to demonstrate your prowess in front of the class.
It's easy to become apprehensive when the word "test" rings out in the air- the carefree training you had thus far undergone has suddenly become a bit more serious.
A test with an intimidating martial arts instructor looking on, along with the freshly honed eyes of the rest of the class, can be a scary thought.
With the right preparation however, your martial arts test will be just another step- just one more building block in this enriching endeavor you have committed yourself to.
The following twelve points will assist you in getting ready for your upcoming martial arts test.
Refer to this list periodically during your training and when it's time to test you will pass with flying colors.
Start with Preparedness.
Whether beginning a new commitment to a martial art or walking into a physics class for the first time, it starts with being prepared from day one.
When you're in class, absorb as much information as you can, and this is much easier when you leave all of life's distractions outside the school.
As soon as you walk through the dojo's doors be committed 100%.
Always Anticipate.
Pay attention to how your school conducts its tests and be ready when your number is called.
Some schools have what is needed for a particular test posted and some do not.
Take it upon yourself to know where you are in your training and what you should be concentrating on.
Ultimately the responsibility falls to you, so don't expect anyone to hold your hand.
Use Available Resources.
Sometimes asking your instructor what's on the next test might be sufficient, but in some schools this is bad etiquette.
In such cases consult the senior students for a run-down of the expected curriculum.
Also refer to students who have taken the same test recently.
Many times, tests will be recorded for posterity.
Borrow the film of a test and watch it regularly.
Tests more recent are best because instructors are not always concrete in their methods.
A teacher might have been looking for different things when a senior student took his blue belt test eight years ago.
Make a Schedule.
A few weeks prior to your test, you will most certainly want to up your training.
We all lead very busy lives and finding time to fit in even one more night of training can be extremely difficult.
By devising a schedule, you will be able to see how much time you actually have, and with better management, fitting in a couple extra hours of training a week will become feasible.
Train Your Weaknesses.
Focus on those techniques that give you the most trouble and train them over and over until they are strengths.
Tests are good for this purpose because they will round out your style, and force you to not just focus on one area of the art you may be particularly good at.
Work After Class.
You have already made the effort to get to your school and train for two hours, so an extra 15 or 20 minutes won't seem like much, but could be worth an entire extra class.
Practice what you have just learned and what will be on your test while it's still fresh.
If an uke or partner is needed, it is always easier to find someone right after class.
If its forms you need to polish, have a few sempai or senior students watch and work with you to see how your action stacks up.
Exude Confidence.
During the training leading up to your martial arts test you should always believe in yourself and constantly fight the leakage of self-doubt.
There will always be someone in the school who's better, or been training longer.
Don't get caught up in this thinking.
Instead, concentrate on your own journey, train hard and do your best.
Everything else will take care of itself leading up to, during, and after your test.
Don't Forget to Breathe.
Breathing is fundamental to life and something we actually spend little time thinking about.
It seems very simple, but regulating your breathing is key to executing a successful martial arts test.
Under stressful circumstances we tend to speed up, and when this happens it is easy to go to fast, wind yourself, and lose your breath for the remainder of the test.
Learn to coordinate your breath with your techniques and work for maximum efficiency.
Don't Cram.
Do what's needed to properly prepare for your test with at least 24 hours to spare.
Overthinking in the last hours before your test can lead to indecisiveness.
It is best to go into your test with a clear and confident head, knowing you've done what was necessary to guarantee success.
Nourishment and Hydration.
Make sure in that last 24 hour period you feed yourself well and drink plenty of water.
Often times tests can be rigorous events and in that time frame you may not have access to any water.
Hydrate well prior to the test to prevent cramping and other physical strife.
Be Early.
On the day of your test don't do anything too taxing physically or mentally, and make sure you allow yourself plenty of time to get to your school with a nice grace period.
If that means cutting out of work a little early, do what's necessary.
If you created an accurate schedule, the day of your test should be the primary factor.
Don't let anything jump up out of the blue at the last moment to take you away from the task at hand.
Have Fun.
Ultimately, if you are not having fun during your martial arts training you probably won't stick with it.
Learn to have fun during your normal training, and then your test will become no more than an extension of this.
Concentrate on why you love executing these techniques and focus on why you love the time you spend at the school.
Enjoy what you do, do what you enjoy, and success will be yours.
Now, due to the hard work you have put in, you are coming up on your first test.
You have put in many hours learning the moves that felt incredibly foreign when you first began your training.
Now, these moves have become ingrained, and you are ready to demonstrate your prowess in front of the class.
It's easy to become apprehensive when the word "test" rings out in the air- the carefree training you had thus far undergone has suddenly become a bit more serious.
A test with an intimidating martial arts instructor looking on, along with the freshly honed eyes of the rest of the class, can be a scary thought.
With the right preparation however, your martial arts test will be just another step- just one more building block in this enriching endeavor you have committed yourself to.
The following twelve points will assist you in getting ready for your upcoming martial arts test.
Refer to this list periodically during your training and when it's time to test you will pass with flying colors.
Start with Preparedness.
Whether beginning a new commitment to a martial art or walking into a physics class for the first time, it starts with being prepared from day one.
When you're in class, absorb as much information as you can, and this is much easier when you leave all of life's distractions outside the school.
As soon as you walk through the dojo's doors be committed 100%.
Always Anticipate.
Pay attention to how your school conducts its tests and be ready when your number is called.
Some schools have what is needed for a particular test posted and some do not.
Take it upon yourself to know where you are in your training and what you should be concentrating on.
Ultimately the responsibility falls to you, so don't expect anyone to hold your hand.
Use Available Resources.
Sometimes asking your instructor what's on the next test might be sufficient, but in some schools this is bad etiquette.
In such cases consult the senior students for a run-down of the expected curriculum.
Also refer to students who have taken the same test recently.
Many times, tests will be recorded for posterity.
Borrow the film of a test and watch it regularly.
Tests more recent are best because instructors are not always concrete in their methods.
A teacher might have been looking for different things when a senior student took his blue belt test eight years ago.
Make a Schedule.
A few weeks prior to your test, you will most certainly want to up your training.
We all lead very busy lives and finding time to fit in even one more night of training can be extremely difficult.
By devising a schedule, you will be able to see how much time you actually have, and with better management, fitting in a couple extra hours of training a week will become feasible.
Train Your Weaknesses.
Focus on those techniques that give you the most trouble and train them over and over until they are strengths.
Tests are good for this purpose because they will round out your style, and force you to not just focus on one area of the art you may be particularly good at.
Work After Class.
You have already made the effort to get to your school and train for two hours, so an extra 15 or 20 minutes won't seem like much, but could be worth an entire extra class.
Practice what you have just learned and what will be on your test while it's still fresh.
If an uke or partner is needed, it is always easier to find someone right after class.
If its forms you need to polish, have a few sempai or senior students watch and work with you to see how your action stacks up.
Exude Confidence.
During the training leading up to your martial arts test you should always believe in yourself and constantly fight the leakage of self-doubt.
There will always be someone in the school who's better, or been training longer.
Don't get caught up in this thinking.
Instead, concentrate on your own journey, train hard and do your best.
Everything else will take care of itself leading up to, during, and after your test.
Don't Forget to Breathe.
Breathing is fundamental to life and something we actually spend little time thinking about.
It seems very simple, but regulating your breathing is key to executing a successful martial arts test.
Under stressful circumstances we tend to speed up, and when this happens it is easy to go to fast, wind yourself, and lose your breath for the remainder of the test.
Learn to coordinate your breath with your techniques and work for maximum efficiency.
Don't Cram.
Do what's needed to properly prepare for your test with at least 24 hours to spare.
Overthinking in the last hours before your test can lead to indecisiveness.
It is best to go into your test with a clear and confident head, knowing you've done what was necessary to guarantee success.
Nourishment and Hydration.
Make sure in that last 24 hour period you feed yourself well and drink plenty of water.
Often times tests can be rigorous events and in that time frame you may not have access to any water.
Hydrate well prior to the test to prevent cramping and other physical strife.
Be Early.
On the day of your test don't do anything too taxing physically or mentally, and make sure you allow yourself plenty of time to get to your school with a nice grace period.
If that means cutting out of work a little early, do what's necessary.
If you created an accurate schedule, the day of your test should be the primary factor.
Don't let anything jump up out of the blue at the last moment to take you away from the task at hand.
Have Fun.
Ultimately, if you are not having fun during your martial arts training you probably won't stick with it.
Learn to have fun during your normal training, and then your test will become no more than an extension of this.
Concentrate on why you love executing these techniques and focus on why you love the time you spend at the school.
Enjoy what you do, do what you enjoy, and success will be yours.