Shodan test afterward/report

This whole week I pretty much had nothing else on my mind. It was good that I was sent to a tech training class for Windows 7 as I had to pay attention to that and do some work on the class. Thursday that was over and Friday I was back to my regular job. I did no extra workouts besides a light skills session in my brothers dojo Thursday evening.

Friday night I went to an old Italian place here in Tucson that is really good so I could carb load. I also cut off my coffee consumption by noon that day so I could get some good sleep. Stayed up watching a movie and crawled into bed around 11pm or so.

I woke early Saturday morning as my dog was barking. I told him to shut up and crawled back to bed for a bit. Got up at 8:30 am or so and made Coffee and my light breakfast.

Packed up my gear bag and this time brought a bottle of Recharge(think Organic Gatorade).

My brother picked me up around 10:30 so I could get ready early as I had to take a written test/essay as well.

The other 1st Kyu came and he brought some Goo which is this high energy concentrate that some Hikers take. We each took one. As I filled out my written test I thought of my training and that this is really only the beginning. There are some many things I want to work on and improve.

We got lined up and Sensei put the Shodan canidates in our own line in the middle of the other Brown belts and the lower belts behind.

We did the usual Warm up and the Kihon. We took a break for water and I drank some Recharge and some water.

Then we did lots of Sabaki drills.

Then we did all the Enshin kata with the lower belts dropping out as we went higher.

There was another break to get out the mats and put on shin pads/gloves for those that wanted to use them.

We all lined up.

Sensei brought up some of the lower belts and had them fight each other a few rounds changing partners.

Then M and I took our spots on the mat.

My first opponent was Iron Cast Knight. He comes at ya like a freight train so you want to get out of the way and take him down. We traded alot of shots and I got a good sweep on him.

Then I fought a guy who use to do Muay Thai and has only been with us for 6 months or so. He is good with his hands but still uses a Thai like roundhouse which is easy to use Sabaki on. I spun him into a takedown.

Then was big J or the Bear. This guy is one of my good friends. He is 6'4" 280lbs. Big guy. I used Ashi Dome on him and came in with Gedan Mawashi Geri and then Punches.

Next was Senpai Nidan. I love love sparring this guy. It is like a tornado of kicks and we try to set each other up for Ura Nage or Makikomi Nage. He did get an Ura Nage on me but I pulled him with me.

Then I spared M the other Shodan Canidate. He likes to retreat back alot so you gotta push him. I started right away with Nihon Zuki with Jodan Mawashi geri to Chudan Ushiro Mawashi Geri and I got my heel in his kidney.

Next it was Senpai Nidan again. Same thing but this time I got a great Uchi Momo Geri that lifted him off the floor and he fell back.

I am trying to remember as much as I can but I can't remember each fight.

The one I will never forget is with Sensei. The guy may be 62 but he hits harder that alot of people I have ever sparred with(Medguy hits damn hard too for the record!)

Anyway. Sensei and I played the Sabaki Game and if I got a shot he got 2 in. I have his knuckle prints on my chest. 2 or 3 rows of them. Those shots were hard.

Then he had just the canidates stand in meditation. I could hear stuff but was concentraing on my breathing.

Then he asked us if we wanted to fight more.

Big loud OSU! from both of us. He said good,but you don't have too. "Take off your belts"

He walked up to me and wrapped my Temp Black Belt around my waist and as he did he reminded everyone that this is only the beginning of our journey. Then he told me to tighten stomach and hit me with the hardest Shita Zuki I have ever taken(thank you ab wheel!!!).

Then we did the end ceremony as usual and lots of the students thanked us.

We went to lunch with Sensei and his wife(she got pics I can post up later...)

Now I am feeling the bruises and swelling...need some more beer. Stat!

Anyway just wanted to let you all know how it went.

I can't thank everyone here enough for your wisdom,insight and comradeship over the few years I have been here. K4L really changed my life for the better.

There are a few I want to personally thank.

Medguy- always opens his heart to discuss knockdown and training and one of the best guys to train with.

Sensei GJEC-always honest and helpful!

PowerOfOne- We had a great time this last year at Sabaki and I hope to see him again in the near future. Always there when I need an ear for Karate geek talk.

My partners in training log crime,

Sandman,Hangtime,DD,Meguro,Ros,Monty,Fred.

You guys always have great tips and lots of support.

Big thanks to Dent and TMD for guiding me along in the early days of my K4L posting.

It is only the start so lets get onto Nidan training!!