testnotes

Test Notes

Tests for Shaolin Kempo are much more intense, physically and mentally, than other martial arts tests I had taken and seen, such as the ones for TaeKwonDo. With TKD, if you showed up for class and for the test, you pretty much had the belt, and testing happened without question, every three months. Also, you had to pay for each test, in addition to your normal payment for classes.. Not so with Kempo.

Our Sensei, Joel Merriam, tests people only when he feels they are ready--that may take months or years between belt levels. He may test only one person at a time or several who just happen to be ready to move up. It's completely in his control, as it should be, and he will push you just beyond what you think you can handle. Since Joel receives no money for teaching class, he also asks nothing for testing. It is the student's responsibility to buy the next belt after it has been awarded to you by Joel and other upper belts who may help with the test.

Orange Belt--November 15, 2003

This was my first test for Shaolin Kempo, and it was a frustrating one for me. I had recently reinjured my bad knee, which has given me continual problems for many years. I broke it in high school and have managed to strain it many times since. I was so excited to show Joel what I was made of and that he didn't need to be easy on me, so to have an injury and to know he would HAVE to give me some allowances really ate at me. I didn't want him to see me as weak.

Tim was testing for orange with me, and Gaylen and Rick were testing for Purple. It was a big group to be testing at once, and it was a challenge,. When one of us would do something wrong, Joel would tell us somebody was goofing up, and then all of us who were doing it right would do something different. As I look back on it, it was extremely comical, but at the time, it was frustrating as heck.

Things to work on: footwork, lowering my stance, more power, more speed

Purple Belt--January 11, 2004

This was my first chance to let Joel see what I was made of, and I was definately put through the ringers. I remember going home and thinking--how does he know exactly how far to push me without me giving up or dropping from exhaustion? Years of experience, I'm sure. I have yet to talk during a test--which is strictly forbidden (or you do pushups or bows and toes), but I had a really hard time not laughing. So much of the test is psycholigical, but in the teachers' efforts to be hard-asses, it occassionally comes out in a humorous way--only because I know these men so well now, and I deeply like and respect them.

I wish I had a dollar for every time I heard Joel say, "Great, now do it the way I taught you" or "who do you think taught her that?".

Things to work on: still need more power, speed, and intensity, better half-mooning, pay closer attention to hand positions and other details

Blue Belt--May 4, 2004

It was just Tim and me this test--the two blue belts to be, trying to keep up with one another and outdo each other in Joel's eyes. Tim and I have come up through the system together and he's come such a long way. I no longer have to worry about him not having control, and we're pretty evenly matched in many ways. I really respect how much he's worked to learn and improve. Normally, it's like the two of us are on a special, exclusive team together, but testing day--dog-eat-dog, baby! Well, not completely,

We were definately doing our best to show each other up--it worked well to challenge us throughout the test, but there were also times when one of us didn't hear the instructions right, and the other (without talking) would motion what we were supposed to do, so the other wouldn't be embarrassed or get in trouble. It was a strange blend of teamwork and competition, and it further cemented our great "work-together" relationship.

This was also an incredibly long test. It lasted two complete classes over two days--3 hours total, and at the end, Joel said, "Okay, so when can you guys be back for the last part of the test?" Tim and I both did our best to just smile and say when, and then the instructors broke out in laughter. Nice! Gaylen's test for green belt didn't even last this long. By the end of the 2nd day I was quite glad it was over. Blue looks good on me, plus it matches my eyes. Good thing, because I think I'm going to be here a while.

Things to work on: power and speed getting better but keep increasing it, chinese foot maneuvours need work, concentrate on targeting in combinations and kempos

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