subgeek's Journal: likah isa [modern arnis]

i posted this over at my multiply page, but i thought i'd put it here too.
this evening i was promoted to level eight, likah isa. it's called "first brown" in english, but this is the belt that follows "brown," so it's actually the second one.

my test went OK. it wasn' t nearly as good as my last test was. but i guess i can't ace everything. i knew the material, i just got nervous. i think that was mostly because i wanted to do really well. it's done now.

things to work on:

• relax, especially when it's all stuff i already know. remember that my teacher would not tell me it was time to test if he did not think i was ready.
• although training sticks with a partner means not really splitting their head open with a crown shot, i shouldn't glaze over the motion entirely. i should still make it, just aim it not at my partner's head. ie. don't rush the entry to get to the good part. at least i didn't crack anyone over the head.
• although i was told my anyos (katas/forms) were "very good" i should still work on "making them more fluid." this really means practicing forms more often.
• when doing tapi-tapi (counter for counter stick sparing), don't let the feeling of urgency overwhelm my good sense of technique selection. this is really the same as relaxing more. if i retain a relaxed mental state, the physical training will do its part and i'll be fine.

the consensus seemed to be that i did pretty well, but i know i could have done much better. that's the part that is disappointing to me; i know i did not do my best.