Frustrated...

Okay, so not sure how to start this out...
But I will warn you...it's going to be a little harsh...

No offense, but if you're going for your Black Belt, then act like it in class. Seriously.

We are the senior belts in class. We should be leading the class. Not following it.
I am so tired of being one of 3 people constantly sound off, or putting some meaning, some intensity behind the moves. Does that mean go all gung ho? No, that's not what I'm saying. What I'm saying is, is MOVE. Make some NOISE. SOUND OFF. Don't just flop your hands and feet out in the air. If you're going to try to hit pads, HIT THEM. When we're standing in line waiting for our turn to do whatever, don't just stand there with your hands on your hips-MOVE. Stay in motion. Practice the move while in line, see if you can figure out how to make it better so when it's your turn, you can test it and see if it works or not. And then go focus on another detail. When you're doing boxing or kicking, if you're not kiyupping, the people around you should at least hear you breathe. Create the energy guys. It's not up to just our instructors to create energy in class. It's ours. And we've been doing this long enough that we should know how to do it and do it without being told.
I'm really, really, really tired of feeling like I'm the only one putting forth effort. I'm not saying no one else is trying, but I am saying that it certainly doesn't feel that way half the time. C'mon guys, prove me wrong. Show me that you want this. Show everyone you want your Black Belt. Show them that you deserve it. They're watching us. It's up to us to create the desire in the under belts to want to go for their own Black Belt. And not that I'm trying to sound stuck up, but we're supposed to be better than the under belts. We've had more training, more practice, more experience. If not, it'd be like us being just as good as KJN or SBN or BSBN. That would be terrible, for both of us. It demoralizes me because why bother? If they're a 5th degree BB and I'm not even a 1st, then why try? And it dishonors their level, because they see people who are testing for their 1st degree who are just as good as them. They need to be better than us. They are. And we need to be the same way with those under us.
One of the instructors said once (when he was referring to my kicks) that my kicks need to be so good that when the people who are lower than me see my kicks, they need to say, "I my kicks to be as good as hers. I want to look that good." I don't know if I'm there, but that quote is what I think when I'm doing my kicks, forms, etc. That's what pushes me to do better than last time.

Yes, there are some things that are a real challenge, that are constantly a struggle. I get that. But that's not the time to give up or not listen. It's the time to focus on what's being taught by the instructors and pay attention to what you're supposed to be doing. If you have a question, ask. But then you also have to listen to the answer and apply it. They want to see us improve just as much as we want to see ourselves improve. That's why they teach. Not for the ego boost of telling other people what to do.

If you're tired in class-IGNORE IT. Seriously. Fake it till you make it. Keep moving. Don't think about how tired you are. Don't walk off the floor. Don't sit down. Keep moving. Change the way you breathe. Focus on how you can be better. And when you're not in class, work on your cardio to improve it. 'Cause I guarantee you, if you keep training at this level, you're not going to pass testing day in October. You're going to die in the first hour and a half.
I do NOT want that to happen. I have worked too hard and too long to lose it because I didn't train at the proper level when I had the chance. No. I guarantee you, I will NOT let that happen. I WILL get my Black Belt.

I know this sounds harsh, and I might get in a bit of trouble for sounding too harsh. But guys, we need to step up. LEAD the class. Make them want to be at our level. I remember when I was a yellow belt, green belt, blue belt, I really wanted to train for my Black Belt and I looked forward to my test because I saw how hard those testers were working. How they were serious about learning the necessary skills. How awesome they were because they put forth the effort to make every kick, punch, strike, block, combination better than the one before. We need to do that too guys. It's not too late. Let's start training today like our testing day was tomorrow. We need to show everyone how bad we want this. How hard we're working. It's not an easy test. It's not supposed to be. It's supposed to be hard, and a challenge, and demanding. Because if it weren't, then why would you want to do this?

I heard someone say once that the only way to have victory is to have an obstacle to overcome. The only way to win is to beat the opposition. What's your opposition? Cardio? Find a way to improve it. Grappling? Find a person better than you and ask them if they'd be willing to let you practice with them. Sparring? Same answer.

Right now, my biggest struggle is my attitude (Obviously, judging by this blog). So I'm going to have to remind myself to CHOOSE to have a good attitude and to have patience. It's not easy. But if I allow myself to go through this challenge and learn how to overcome my obstacle, then I will become a better person, a better martial artist.


You can do this. Be confident. Believe in yourself. Don't be afraid of the challenge. Don't be afraid to try something new or hard because it looks insane. Give yourself a shot. And usually, it's not as bad as you think.

If I stepped on your toes by writing this, I can't say I'm sorry. Because in all honesty, I'm not.

Again, believe in yourself. You have it in you to be B.A. Let it out. Be aggressive. 'Sides, where else can you hit something really hard and it's okay? Or to break something and have everyone cheer for you instead of tell you that you need to fix it or buy a new one?