So who just made 2nd degree black belt? - Page 7

frau kaleun · 11-12-10, 10:22 PM

OH THAT'S RIGHT I DID.

Am home after celebratory dinner, did my presentation for sensei and a couple invited onlookers (family, friend and fellow student) and was duly promoted to the rank of Nidan (= 2nd Dan).

I was allowed to put together my own presentation so I chose one sword kata and two other (unarmed) kata, all stuff that I either learned or fine-tuned while working towards this promotion. But a couple weeks ago it occurred to me that, technically speaking, none of these kata are 2nd Black material, they're just things my sensei decided to work on with me over the past couple of years. So I started playing around with some of the actual techniques that are required at this level, and ended up stringing them together in one long presentation.

I previewed it for my sensei a couple days ago when I was finishing up my last pre-promotion session and he was pretty knocked out.

"You made up your own kata? You made up your own kata."

"Well, yeah, I guess so, but the transitions still need some work..."

"Get out of here, go home, I have nothing to add, you're ready. You have seen the big picture. YOU MADE UP YOUR OWN KATA."

Turned out I was the first student he'd ever had who made up a kata all on their own just cuz they felt like it. I did some more fine-tuning on it and I have to say, it turned out pretty good. So, yeah, I'm awesome.

11-12-10, 10:22 PM	#1
frau kaleun Rear Admiral Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Skyri--oh who are we kidding, I'm probably at Lowe's. Again. Posts: 12,706 Downloads: 168 Uploads: 0	So who just made 2nd degree black belt? OH THAT'S RIGHT I DID. Am home after celebratory dinner, did my presentation for sensei and a couple invited onlookers (family, friend and fellow student) and was duly promoted to the rank of Nidan (= 2nd Dan). I was allowed to put together my own presentation so I chose one sword kata and two other (unarmed) kata, all stuff that I either learned or fine-tuned while working towards this promotion. But a couple weeks ago it occurred to me that, technically speaking, none of these kata are 2nd Black material, they're just things my sensei decided to work on with me over the past couple of years. So I started playing around with some of the actual techniques that are required at this level, and ended up stringing them together in one long presentation. I previewed it for my sensei a couple days ago when I was finishing up my last pre-promotion session and he was pretty knocked out. "You made up your own kata? You made up your own kata." "Well, yeah, I guess so, but the transitions still need some work..." "Get out of here, go home, I have nothing to add, you're ready. You have seen the big picture. YOU MADE UP YOUR OWN KATA." Turned out I was the first student he'd ever had who made up a kata all on their own just cuz they felt like it. I did some more fine-tuning on it and I have to say, it turned out pretty good. So, yeah, I'm awesome.