Well its been and gone but it was one hell of a day.  I was really, REALLY buzzing for this grading.  All of the training I’ve done over the past 50 days has really paid off in spades.  Although I still got tired – oh hell I got tired – I never ran completely out of steam.  It also took a lot more to get me tired and I kept on hitting over and over.

When I got tired to the point my skill was flaking I’d quickly recover if I slowed a little and caught my breath.  In the last grading I was on the verge of death and no amount of rest helped.

Its true what Ross Enamait says – “Conditioning is King“.

The Format

I can’t remember how long it lasted but we had a few general areas to cover (I was grading for orange belt).  We did a general warm up and ukemi at the start.

Then we went onto drilling realistic scenarios with defences and coutners to them.  Such as:

  • “punch-clinch-tani otoshi-mount-escape-reverse guard”
  • “Mai washi geri-block-ouchi gari-mount”

While doing them they were looking for realism on the part of the attacker as well as the skill and effectiveness of the defender.  Had to use kiai and atemi correctly as well as execute the moves effectively.  AND they wanted variations on the moves – not just a scripted move.  So where it may seem scripted above you’d be expected to show 2 different guard reversals, 2 different mount escapes, different clinches, etc.

We then had some quick kumite rounds in which we focused mainly on standing and striking.  By far the best one at this was one of my grading partners who used to do wado ryu karate.  John pretty much destroyed the my other partner (also John)!!

After this we did more skill testing on wrist locks, chokes, etc.  Then we did grappling and went through multiple rounds of rfighting trying different techniques all the time.  These were quick-fire rounds that were relentless and not even a second to breath was allowed.  Then we swapped partners and did it all again.

I think it was a 2hr grading but they also take into account your club participation (I’d done a seminar and grappling comp since the last grading).

I really like the gradings – on so many levels.

  1. Its a test of yourself – mind body and soul.  Its not just a grade to pass its a step on a long journey.  That sounds really naff, I know – but seriously when you make the grade and take another step it feels amazing.
  2. You learn loads.  The senseis will gives pointers, advice, etc after you’ve done a set/series/fight.  Telling you where you need to polish up for the next grading or telling you a variation worth knowing for the next time round.  Having about 3-4 high-level senseis all in one place testing, offering advice, guidance and encouragement is a great opportunity.