Yellow!

Last night we had a belt testing at Dynamic Edge. Everyone did really well and it was cool to see some upper belt testing.
I was nervous before the test and during, (haha). I have horrible test anxiety; it gets so bad that I actually dread the test, whether it's pen & paper or physical. Even though I knew a lot of the material I was nervous and forgot things, but going ahead and doing the test got me over the initial hump of "oh geez I don't know if I can do this" and now I know what needs more work and what to expect the next time I test.

It wasn't as bad as I worked it up to be. It was hard, but it was fun and rewarding. It wasn't just rewarding because I got my yellow belt, though that is pretty cool :), it was exciting to see my fellow students and friends get their belts; it's something we all accomplished together. Also, getting to see my husband, Alec, test and get his blue belt was pretty awesome!
So, if you're able to train with others and test as a group I definitely recommend it, it's a great experience!

That's one of the things I really like about Dynamic Edge is that the instructors really encourage you to work together and really build a sense of unity and trust among the group. I think that really showed during the testing because everyone was encouraging, complimenting, and working with each other before and after.
All that to say I'm a yellow belt and I'm glad I overcame my test anxiety and did it!
How do you combat your nerves? I hope you don't let it stop you from trying something out!

A BOMB!!

One day I'm having a conversation with someone and we were talking about martial arts; then it turned to guns. We were talking about styles and how people will ask "If you put such-such against blah-blah, which one would win?" and how you really can't answer that because it depends on each person's skill in what they do. Then the person said "I'll tell you what can beat any martial art, my gun." So, he goes on for a bit about his gun and at the end of it he says "I mean, really, what can beat my gun?" I turn around to him and say "A bomb." To which he says "Wha?? I mean really who's gonna have a bomb?" "You asked what could, a bomb could."

What's the point of the story?
Sometimes people just get so crazy with an idea that they just can't stop and trying to talk to them becomes more difficult than it's worth and more time than it should. So you say something crazy just to get them to take a step back and listen. I feel that way training sometimes. You're just starting out and every technique someone's saying "What if they attacked me from behind?" What if they are further away?" "What if..." It makes me want to say "What if the attacker is an alien who beams you up to their planet and makes you fight on unicorns!"
That's ridiculous. It will never happen, but it does make you get out of your brain a little bit and make you see something for what it is. It's a technique, it's a learning step. Calm your mind and learn it; the rest will come later.
I'm not saying it's always bad to ask what if, but there's a time, place, and understanding of the technique that comes first.
When you're learning a technique and it's the first time you're seeing it I feel that you see it, do it, practice it, and have an understanding of how it works as is before you start asking "what if".
Also, take into account that it's a technique. It's a starting point. We all know the saying "You have to learn to crawl before you can walk" well, think of it like this before you can crawl you have to learn to sit up and before you can sit up you have to learn to hold your head up. There are steps.
If you can't do the technique or even remember how it looks you might be a victim of...what if. If we're not learning we might be asking what if too much and slowing down our own progress. We all want to run, but first let's hold our heads up.
We should also be considerate of other's time. When we don't let ourselves progress because we're asking what if all the time we are also taking away from other's time. If you feel it's really important to your training to know the hundreds of what if's, ask one what if question and then ask the others after the class or on an open mat night.
How do we study 'what if'?
First we understand the attack. If it's a grab, push, strike, etc. It's important to know what you're dealing with.
Next we understand the ideal response. Sometimes in a technique we're kicking in the groin because the person will double over which sets up for the next attack. That is ideal, but people have different pain tolerance and reactions so they may not be that hurt or react the way we hoped for. We may not respond the way that is ideal either.
After these two things we learn to modify. If you're learning the technique and you see how you can modify it you may not have to ask what if as much because you're seeing for yourself how to change it up.
What if can be important to training. We just have to know the time and place. Don't get hung up on "But we're not always going to get grabbed from behind..." Because true, not everyone is going to attack the same way, but we're building up and learning how to respond effectively in different situations.
So, fellow students. Don't get frustrated and please don't think that something won't work effectively just because you're not learning right away how to use it differently. I mean after all we're all learning to hold our heads up together, right?

YouTube

I'll have a new video going up on my YouTube channel hopefully within the week, have to talk it over with the hubby. We're going to show clips from class and I'll do one technique, (not well...) and we'll keep showing that technique in the future videos so everyone can see how it's coming along! Pretty excited about that. I think it will be neat see some progression!

I am trying to run through techniques and stances at least 15 minutes a day. It's not a lot yet I still have trouble doing it! I always feel so tired after work and that's my excuse on the days I don't go to class and on weekends I just feel SO lazy! If I want to get better and get my black belt I have to stop making excuses and practice outside of class as well. Some days it is easier than other days. I hope you all fight your excuses! What do you do to keep going and push the excuses aside? 

That's all I have tonight. I hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Are You Having Fun??

Is she having fun? Are you having fun? These are questions I hear quite often. I guess I don't express or show that I'm having fun in class, but I am enjoying myself and I actually do like going. What started as something to do just to get more time with my husband and get out of the house has become a welcome change up to my week. While I still mostly go to get time with Alec I've found I'm enjoying myself more than I did at the first class and more than I thought I would. I don't know if I'll ever be as crazy about martial arts as others in the class are, but I do think it's fun and I can see myself improving, even if it's just that I can remember the name of a technique!

I think what makes going to Dynamic Edge enjoyable is the people. From instructors to other students everyone just has a good time and they're really encouraging. I think that's important to find when you're training with others. There are nights I show up after work, (and I walk to the school most nights so it's an hour walk!), and I really don't feel like doing anything, but once the class gets going I start feeling better. I'm not saying that I'm 100% motivated the entire time, I mean I'm not a robot! But even on those nights when I'm not feeling it, just being around the environment makes me feel better and gets me a little more motivated.

So, to sum it up. Yes, I'm having fun. Do you have fun with your hobbies? What keeps you motivated?

Until next time!

 

Kenpo Seminar

To start things off, the youtube channel is up now and Alec has the first video up. Here's the link!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=dGgHIU1rOJk

Moving right along. Yesterday I had my very first Kenpo seminar. I knew it was review for the testing and that there would be a lot of things that I haven't seen before, but I still wanted to check it out. 

When yesterday morning came though it was a different story. I honestly, didn't want to go. It was my day off and the thought of biking up to the school and doing karate for 3 hours sounded about as appealing as, well, going to work. But I told myself at the start of this project that I wasn't going to get in the way of myself and I told Alec that I would be there and I wanted to keep my word. It ended up being a good experience and by the end of it I felt a lot better about just getting out there and trying new things. There were, (and still are), a lot of things I didn't know, so I got lost several times, but it did give me a chance to learn some new things as well as go over things I have learned. 

There are some things that are harder for me, like the stances. I don't like the stances. Mainly because they're uncomfortable and I feel that I would be easily off balanced, which is contrary to their purpose. I talked about that with Alec over lunch and when we got home he worked with me a little bit on it and while I understand how it's supposed to be, I'm obviously still doing something wrong because it feels unsteady. With the comfort issue I realize that it comes with time. The more I do it the more natural it will feel and maybe the more balanced and steady I will feel. We'll just have to see because it's not something I can know right now.

I'll keep practicing and let you know what I think about that particular problem in a few weeks.

If you're doing martial arts or just trying something new, what are things that you find difficult? Do you give up on it because it's "too hard" or do you keep going because you want to get over that hump?

I'm tempted to give up at times, not with martial arts, but with other things that I find difficult. Once I really think about it I realize I don't actually want to give up; I want to see it through to the end just to prove to myself that I can do it. If you're finding something difficult I encourage you to stick with it. Just think, right now it may seem hard, but in a few weeks/months you may look back and think "Really? What was so hard about that?"

I look forward to the next seminar. Who knows maybe I'll be able to follow along! And of course I'll let you know! :)

Last thing. It's not about me, but it is karate related. Alec went from being an orange belt yesterday to a purple belt! Pretty cool, huh? I've never actually seen someone get a new belt before, so that was a neat experience. I look forward to seeing others progress in the system as well.

My challenge to myself and to other's is to stick with it, even when you're tired, or it's hard and to be an encouragement to those around you. When you're encouraging your friends and fellow students you start to feel better too! That's all for now!

My name is Beckah and I'm working on a martial arts project. I have no martial arts experience; so I'm writing this blog and making videos to chronicle my experience as a beginner in martial arts. The goal in doing this is to show others how it looks when you first start martial arts and then how you look months and years after doing martial arts. At first you might not be confident in your ability to do the techniques, at least that's how it is for me, but as you progress you gain confidence in your ability to execute your techniques. Well, that's what I'm hoping for anyway! This is a definite 3 year journey for me, as my personal goal is black belt.

I hope that by doing the blog and video logs it will encourage beginners to stick with their martial art. 

I'm currently studying American Kenpo Karate and that might not be your style, but I think we can still encourage each other to continue on in our learning experiences. If you've taken lessons before maybe it will inspire you to pick up on your lessons again.

So, now you know why I do this, but maybe you wonder how it came about.

It started with a conversation my husband, Alec, had with his instructor/boss, Theron. Theron told Alec he wished he could show students and potential students how they would look in three years if they just stuck with the program, like looking through a window at themselves. Later, Alec met me for lunch and was telling me about the talk they had. From that conversation is where project Experience the Rainbow was conceived. I had the idea of getting a new student with no prior martial arts experience and making videos of them for three years and showing students how it looks starting out and then how they look a little ways down the road. Alec liked the idea, but then posed the question of "Where do we find that student?" I said I would do it. I want to get in shape, be more active, and spend more time with my husband. This project is the perfect way to do all those things. I will be completely honest in saying I'm not a die hard martial arts person, I started this mostly as a way to spend time with Alec. Now that I've been going to the Kenpo classes I find that I'm having a lot fun doing it. So, it's a fun way to spend more time with him.

What about the name? I decided to call this project Experience the Rainbow because of the different belt colors. I'm not sure why there are so many, but it made for a great name! In another post I will be sure to get a picture up!

I have a lot of questions about karate and other styles, but I think those will be left for the next blog, as this is only an introduction. We are also working on getting a Youtube channel up so we can show my monthly progress. It's on the way so be on the look out at Karate Beckah on Facebook.