Marilyn and me later went to karate. We went through what we needed to know for the upcoming grading. To achieve our yellow belt, we have to know 5 kihon kumites, 5 katas, and 5 kicks, as well as the associated punches and blocks. Today they had us walk forward while blocking, then walk backwards using the same blocks. Walking backwards is not easy, I almost have to re-learn all the blocks again.
All belt levels do the same kicks the white belts do, but are graded more severely. They are expected to have more perfect form than white belts. For example, a white belt punch is good enough if you keep your elbows in and punch straight. Higher belts are required to perfect this by getting their whole torso involved in a rotating motion. I can’t really explain it, you have to see it to understand. The same perfection of form evolves up through the belt levels in all blocks, katas, punches, and so on.
The Sensei said we would be graded the last week of November or the first week of December. After botching the walking backwards while blocking thing, I asked him when the grading after that would be. He laughed and pretty much implied I couldn’t weasel out of it that easy. The exam is two hours. You may or may not be granted another level. It’s up to the panel of Sensei and black belts. The black belts are there just to observe what you know and how well you know it. If you are not assigned a higher level, chances are you will be come next grading. It isn’t so much a grading, as it is a display of what you have learned so far. If by co-incidence you happen to demonstrate enough skill to deserve a promotion, then you will get promoted. In my case it will be from a white to a yellow belt. They don’t want us to stagnate so as soon as one achieves a higher grading one is taught new skills and katas.
I have to practice a lot at home. I really like katas because they use every single muscle in your body in a dynamic way plus you have to practice good balance and stability at the same time. It’s really a lot of work, but also a lot of fun too!