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Anf
Anf's picture
Training for 1st dan test

Hi all.

I'm not quite ready to test for 1st dan yet. I have a number of things to sort out both mentally and physically first.

One is my fitness and general toughness, or lack thereof. My next test is not for 1st dan, although I'm not that far off. But I don't want to struggle through it. So I want to train for 1st dan now.

I don't mean in terms of techniques. I know that's just a case of continuous improvement through diligent practice.

If folks here were testing me for 1st dan, what kind of things would be in the general physical part of the test please? Or in particular, if you were asked by a student for a set of targets to work towards outside of class time, what kind of things would you say?

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

Hi Anf,

Anf wrote:
I want to train for 1st dan now.

The grading test should always be the formal recognition that the candidate has been at 1st dan level for a while. No one becomes a 1st dan on the day of their grading; they became that because of their prior training. The test just formally confirms that’s the case. You are right to be training for it now.

As Confucius said, "Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure."

Well done for setting out to diligently prepare.

Anf wrote:
If folks here were testing me for 1st dan, what kind of things would be in the general physical part of the test please?

Grading syllabuses vary wildly. There is no uniform standard; nor should there be. Enforced standards may force the poor groups to be better, but it would also force the better groups to backtrack to the mediocre. Ranks are internal markers within a given group. You can’t compare them across groups.

My advice to you would be to train for what your group wishes to see for 1st dan. If that’s the training goal, you should specifically aim for it and train for it.

Anf wrote:
Or in particular, if you were asked by a student for a set of targets to work towards outside of class time, what kind of things would you say?

That would depend upon the specifics for that student. What techniques where an issue? What physical attributes were an issue? What done they need work on for the mental side of things? It’s impossible to give generic “one size fit all” answers. It depends entirely on the specific student.

I would look at what your syllabus demands and then I’d ask your coaches and peers how they felt you measured up against that syllabus. From there, you’d be able to devise an effective program of preparation.

All the best,

Iain

Anf
Anf's picture

Thanks Iain. Plenty to think about there.

Paul_L
Paul_L's picture

I cant really give you any advice but I am interested in finding out who your training is going, especially with regards to mental resolve. I don’t think that mine is bad, quite good infact, but I would like it to be better.

Anf
Anf's picture

Paul_L wrote:
I cant really give you any advice but I am interested in finding out who your training is going, especially with regards to mental resolve. I don’t think that mine is bad, quite good infact, but I would like it to be better.

My mental resolve is based entirely on constantly reviewing my current position against my personal goals. I have no loyalty to a particular style or anything, although I do love my main style and club. I think nothing of trying other clubs and/or styles, to see if they can help me on my personal path. My primary goals are to be fit enough and agile enough to be a fun dad to my two young sons, to stay healthy for as long as possible so I can look after my family, to have fun doing things I enjoy, and to lead by example to my sons to show that sometimes things are worth working incredibly hard for, and sometimes life knocks you down but you have to just get back up again.