Our school holds formal testings (aka rank exams) every two months for those who feel they are ready to progress to the next belt rank. Many schools no longer do these testings nowadays and I fully support them and completely understand why they have stopped doing them. However, I will continue to hold testings and urge my students to attend tournaments whenever possible, both for the same reason. Testings are far more important than just moving up in rank. In all honesty, when it comes to my lower ranks, I know who will go up in rank before the testing is even held. For higher ranks, it’s a different story.

It’s easy to perform your techniques in a comfortable class of people you know and trust, as well as given multiple chances to do that technique just right after being properly warmed up and ready. It is not easy to perform these same techniques as you are standing alone (or with a few others) in front of a room full of students, family, friends and random people who you don’t know. To top it off, you have to do it right the first time. This becomes incredibly difficult! Think about it. You stand there alone, in front of a room full of strangers. In front of a judge or judging panel that have critical eyes staring at you. You’re nerves start to take over, you begin to sweat. You get a little shaky and clumsy as you’re heart rate sky rockets through the roof and your brain suddenly takes a vacation. Why is your body not working like you does in regular class?! Why can you not think straight to remember your next move! Why is your opponent punching and kicking your face repeatedly while you just stand there?! Why does this seem exactly like something that would happen in the street if you were attacked?! BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS IN THE STREET WHEN YOU’RE ATTACKED AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THE REAL THING!!! This is the real reason why we hold testing, this is why I push my students to enter tournaments, even when they don’t feel fully ready. The experience you gain from this is crucial! The chemical changes that happen in the body when you are attacked in the street that cause your brain to disappear and your limbs to suddenly move as if you’re borrowing a clumsy person’s body are the same effects students are subjected to when they are placed in an uncomfortable situation such as testings and tournaments. The more you participate in these events, the better your body becomes accustom to what your body is reacting too and how to keep it from entering these negative reactions, or at least being able to continue your techniques if it does enter these stages. Some people thrive on these moments, others take years to overcome them. This is why we still hold testings. For my higher ranks, they MUST be able to perform properly while under these conditions in order to pass their testings!

My advice to all of those who are testing in the near future or entering a tournament is this:

  • Learn from it!
  • Don’t get too stretched out! Do a light warm up and run through your material before the
    testing starts. Long stretches can slow your movement and lead to injury.
  • Take a moment to concentrate on your breathing, calm yourself the best you can before you
    begin, it will settle the heart rate and give you back control of your body.
  • Block out the people watching. Feel free to let their cheers boost you, but don’t get distracted!
    Most have no clue about what you are doing and will be impressed no matter how much you
    think you screwed up.
  • Don’t give up or show that you made a mistake! Own it! Make it seem like you did it on
    purpose. It only becomes a mistake when you stop and cuss under your breath!
  • When testing or tournament is over, feel the pride overcome you knowing that so few others have just done what you did. You are awesome!

I’d like to finish with a story about my first testing. Some of my students have heard this, as well as other “learn from my experience” stories from my past. The testing was to have a judges panel (I believe 4-6 high ranking black belts) including the president of our association at the time whom I had never met. All week long leading up to the testing I kept hearing horror stories and what not to do around the president. Don’t speak to him unless he speaks to you first, and be brief! Don’t upset him! Don’t be surprised if he calls you out to tell you how bad you are! Don’t look him in the eyes, you’ll turn to stone! You know, the normal freak out stories…that turn out to be true. Anyway, we had two large planted pots on the floor near the front of the room that had just been watered. Just before testing started they were moved to clear room for students to be seated until they were called up to test. After we lined up and warmed up, we all were commanded to move to the edge of the room and have a seat.

Being the overwhelmingly lucky person I am, I had chosen to sit down where the freshly watered plants once were. The carpet was drenched in water! And of course, I was wearing a thin white uniform. I stayed put, hoping and praying that the water dried up before I was called to test. The moment had come, I was called up. I wasn’t sure if anyone would notice. With the audience behind me, I stood up, yelled, “Yes Sir!”, and bowed before running out onto the floor. The second I bowed, the audience busted out laughing as they saw a dirty wet water stain on my ass! I still don’t know to this day how many people thought I wet myself and how many knew I had sat in water, but it was embarrassing either way! I ran through my Taekwondo form.

Then the judges, of course, asked to see the form one more time to prolong the agony! I finished my testing by going through my one-step sparring situations before finally sitting back down, with ego bruised. Embarrassing, right? But here’s the important part; that was the most pride I had ever felt in my life! I felt that had I nailed my material! That stain on my ass meant nothing! I, a 14 year old introvert who was terrified to stand in front of a group, had just given two big middle fingers to embarrassment in order to do what needed to be done. The feeling was invigorating! This was the first step of many that lead me to my passion!

That first step is a big one! It’s daunting, it’s nerve racking, it’s scary as hell, but it’s also a moment that could potentially change your life forever!

Good luck to all who are testing in October as well all other future testings! And for those reading this who have never tried martial arts, take that first step by entering the classroom! Who knows where it will lead you!