Tuesday, November 19, 2013

The Real Preparation

So here's the thing...

A few weeks ago after a class, Sensei sat down with me and handed me a folder of information and some potentially scary requirements. We talked through the contents of the folder. He asked if I had any questions. Then he looked at me, he smiled, and he said... "Any questions?"  

I had none. I just wanted to get started on that list.

But here's the thing I'm realizing: That list of requirements is the easy stuff. I  know it sounds a bit crazy, just go with me on this...

Right now it's a list of things to do. In about a year it will be a list of things that I've done. It will become a list that represents character. Which makes it a really cool list, but... Still just a list. 


And while the list is still a list, I... will hopefully be a Black Belt. But getting a black belt in our dojo is much more than checking off items from a list.

My head has been so full of thoughts about what this all means. I know that for me the mental and emotional part of this process is very consuming. And while I can't say, at this stage, what getting my black belt will mean to me. What I can say is that my journey to black belt is a really big deal to me and I take if very seriously and will approach it with a great deal of heart. 

And even though I can't really nail most of my feelings down with words and sentences, there are three things that I know for sure: 
  • Our dojo and my Sensei have given me a platform from which I can strive to be something more. I get to be part of a community with big ideas for positive impact and positive change.

    This motivates me.

  • I get to be a part of a movement that is revolutionizing what it means to be a Black Belt, redefining standards of character.

    This excites me.

  • I get to be one of the first students to take on this challenge under our Sensei.

    And that is an honor.

Now, I hope you're not bored yet because I want to take a minute to say how very glad I am to have such a supportive dojo family to be in this with me. And my friends, family, running and cycling buddies, thanks for embracing the mileage. Figuratively and literally. :) 

And to that end... I've added a link to the spreadsheet I'll be using to track my progress. So if you see me slacking, you better tell me to drop and give you 50 :)


Thursday, November 14, 2013

Here it Comes

My Black Belt Test Begins on 12/01/2013 



So I will be starting my Black Belt test on December 1st. I'm getting started with the preparation work now because... Well because I'm really excited and because I want to be ready. So here I'm just going to lay out the requirements. I have to start with that because I'm still getting a handle on what this means to me intellectually; I'm still processing what it means to me to be at this point in my martial arts training.

So... Over the next 12 months (starting on December 1st), I will...



Requirements:

  • No quitting (that's not gonna happen!)
  • 50,000 push-ups and crunches 
  • 1,000 repetitions of kata (I will focus on Kusanku)
  • 1,000 rounds of sparring
  • 1,000 mile journey (I've decided to bump this up to 2400 miles)
  • 1,000 acts of kindness
  • 15 minutes of daily meditation
  • 6 books completed
  • 1 personal goal (1/2 Iron Triathlon - June 8th)
  • Weekly journal entries
  • 12 video blogs
  • Empathy training
  • Seek out a Master (Kyoshi Marilyn Fierro)
  • Community service project
  • Memorize the Black Belt Pledge
  • Essay on What a Black Belt Means to Me
And I'm adding a few more for myself:
  • The additional 1,400 miles
  • Conquer 3 personal fears (ride a horse, scuba dive, _____)
  • Break 1:46:00 for 1/2 marathon 

I have a spreadsheet that I'll use to track my progress and I'll be looking into how to share that here. I have a couple of awesome running buddies that will keep my weekend mileage up. We will be running a 1/2 marathon every month and two of us are doing CIM here in a few weeks. I also have a few cycling friends who promise to help keep me motivated and drag me out for some long rides. 

Basically, what I'm saying is, I'm planning. I'm ready to get this thing going. So... let's go!