How much should a student train for their black belt test?
That answer is easy. Hard. You should train hard. A black belt test (or at least a good one) is difficult. It’s designed to be that way. A black belt test isn’t just about demonstrating your knowledge, it’s also about testing your endurance, both mental and physical. So to prepare for this test you should probably practice a lot both inside and outside of class. Gotta practice to pass a black belt test!
What should I do?
It depends on the program you’re in, but for my black belt tests I made sure to train daily. At least 30 minutes per day. This included endurance training, daily cardio exercises, review of techniques, and memorization of my philosophical question. Even though I did that, testing was still challenging.
30 minutes a day sounds like a lot, doesn’t it? Maybe it is. But I did really want to pass testing the first time, so I made sure to study. Yes, study. Think about prepping for testing like prepping for a class exam. It’s essentially the same thing. Practicing and rehearsing information in order to improve your performance on the test. Like I said, studying!
But that’s the point. Training before testing will improve your chances of passing, but it certainly won’t guarantee it. The black belt test is about working hard, demonstrating your knowledge, and enduring the challenge. Kinda like taking a school test… except sooo hard!
A little scared? Don’t be! Think about it this way; if your instructor didn’t think you could do it than why would they approve you taking the test? If they’re a good instructor, they wouldn’t say you could take the black belt test! That would be lying, and lying is not something an instructor should do!
So how much should you train?
You should train as much as you think you need and then some. When I test my students I want to see how much work they have put into their training and their ability to demonstrate their skill, yes. The most important thing I like to see, is my students willingness to keep going. Like I tell my students: Show you care about the test, and you will improve your chances of passing your test.
Good luck future black belt!
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