And here we are my friends. As so aptly named, we are getting on our last leg on the Path to Black Belt.

Cho Dan Bo Test #2
This was last night and I swear to god I thought I was going to die halfway into it. The physical requirement for the test is called the “power drill” (renamed from the dreaded Suicide Drill as some parents have taken offense to it). This test of endurance is comprised of 100 kicks, 10 push ups, 10 sit ups, 80 kicks, 10 push ups, 10 sit ups, followed by 60 kicks, 10 push ups then 10 more sit ups. Essentially 240 kicks, 30 push ups and 30 sit ups. There are no breaks and absolutely no stopping. After enduring that most grueling endeavor, it is on to the easy portion of it all, kicking combinations, footworks, self-defense and forms followed by breaking. As far as tests go, it wasn’t my worst, but certainly not my best. Then again, I doubt many people can perform after essentially wearing out your legs.

So, here I am having survived all of that (barely). Getting ready for my black belt test. Here’s were it gets fun people. Tomorrow at 6 am I start my training for running. 13 hours later I start my training for the test itself. There is so much to do its not even funny.

1. Get my cardio up good enough to run 3 miles followed by jumping rope for 5 minutes
2. Learn 1 new form while cementing the rest of our curriculum into my noggin
3. Create an original weapons form for competition and testing
4. Most important - Stay healthy.

The idea is to get up tomorrow and hit the gym. On the list of things to do are 35 push ups, 5 minutes of warm up walking, run training (36 minutes total of 1 minute running, 2 minutes walking, repeated 12 times) then 4 pull ups. I’m following a running plan from “The Beginning Runner’s Handbook” that is designed to get you in shape for a 10k in 13 weeks.

I’m putting a lot of faith into it because running is something I hate to do. The book itself foes a great job of talking about pretty much so everything that has to do with running. From shoe and clothing selection, injuries - common and not, and o whole bunch of interesting topics like hitting the wall and many others.

Tomorrow night I also start learning my new form along with creating a new one. I’ve needed to create a new weapons form for a long time as there is another tournament in November down in Miami. I’d probably compete in 2 divisions. Traditional open hand forms and Traditional Weapon Forms.

Random - there are a few of the other adults at the school I’d like to see try competing at a few of these tournaments. I think they would do well and would enjoy the competition because besides what they see at the school there is nothing else in the martial arts for them to experience. Going to one of these tournaments is a great way to not only get the rush and excitement from competing, but to learn how others do movements, ideas for starting forms and so much more. Anyway, that is a little of what is going on. Later kids.

P.S. - The title references the level/belt tests that you go through on the way to black belt. You start as a White Belt/12th Gup. Every time you get a new belt the Gup decreases.  I don’t know why, that’s just how it is.