passed exam! :)

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[dalen7]

Taking a break between seminar classes and wanted to quickly post that I took my 4th test in two years [3rd Kyu] and passed! [pulled off Koshinage without a problem, and interestingly the technique the uke used was a different version which was closer to the ground.]

I have a lot of thoughts/reflections on my two year journey - reaching the goal I had set out for myself. [might sound strange setting a goal for green belt, but I might expound on it later... aikiweb has a blog area I believe. :)

Anyway, off to eat and rest a bit... :)

p.s.
Thanks to all of you who contributed to my koshinage thread and helped to get me used to taking ukemi through your quite detailed descriptions! :)

[Voitokas]

Congratulations! Next goal?

[jason jordan]

Dalen,
Congratulations man. I am always happy to hear of people progressing....Don't stop now.
Ganbatte Kudasai!!

[Linda Eskin]

Yay, Dalen! Congratulations. I know you put a lot of practice and thought into preparing for your test. Good for you!

Linda (current goal: 6th Kyu ;) )

[dalen7]

Congratulations! Next goal?

Thanks for the Congrats Jeremy - feels good to have reached what I set out to do.

As for the next goal, as it concerns Aikido, a bit hard to formulate in words, [or rather in a few sentences], but I hope to get to it in a blog sooner or later which summarizes my two year journey in Aikido here in Hungary. [it wasnt all technique, a lot was on the spiritual side as well...] :)

Dalen,
Congratulations man. I am always happy to hear of people progressing....Don't stop now.
Ganbatte Kudasai!!

Thanks Jason, Im clarifying my future goals now that I have reached this step... :)

Yay, Dalen! Congratulations. I know you put a lot of practice and thought into preparing for your test. Good for you!

Linda (current goal: 6th Kyu ;) )

Hey Linda!

Yes, most definitely did... and there is a little story to tell which is quite interesting in regards to a last minute surprise with the test... but I will have to wait to share. :)

-----------------------------------------------

Thanks again everyone for the congrats... time to eat, crash, then go for some more training tomorrow... and then rest for a week. - lol

Peace

dAlen

[ninjaqutie]

I am glad that all your hard work paid off!

[dalen7]

I am glad that all your hard work paid off!

Thanks Ashley!

It was kind of interesting seeing that many of the techniques we dont cover in the dojo, so I had a couple of private lessons to try to prep for the test... only to find out an hour before the test that they were not 'correct'. [...the visiting Sensei who would be testing me... who is 3rd Dan... told me this, so I made the best effort to relearn 3 techniques in an hour.] - and it worked, Im glad my mind was able to adapt to the change, as a couple of the moves were just totally different altogether.

Anyway... nice to have reached this level, in that I do feel comfortable with Aikido now and it makes sense on many levels - both technical but far more important is what I have learned on a spiritual level, as it were. [the whole set up in a foreign country, not knowing the language, etc. already set it up as a challenge to begin with in which to learn and grow.] :)

Someone asked what my next step was, really its refining what I know, as well as trying to consciously implement the spiritual aspects that I have gained insight to along the way.
[as well as perhaps adding some new techniques if I decide to try to continue through the ranks while here in Hungary.]

The one limiting factor is the amount of time we do focus on training techniques in the higher kyu ranks. From 4th and 3rd kyu many of the techniques we either never practice or seldom practice. - This definitely makes training a challenge. [my 4th kyu was solely passed by training with my kids by watching a tape of a private lesson I paid for.]

So, in a way, I will need to see how things continue to go at the dojo, and then if/when a move takes place re-evaluate the options.

[its not for lack of talent, our instructor is talented, however his time appears to be limited as he is only at training once a week, and recently not even that often.]

Peace

dAlen

[JO]

Congratulations on your exam. Sounds like your in a sub-optimal situation but making the most of what you have. You should really bring up the lack of instruction of the exam techniques with your sensei. Even with limited time, it's ridiculous to be preparing an exam almost exclusively with a video tape.

[caelifera]

Congratulations

[dalen7]

Congratulations

Thank you Christine! :)

Congratulations on your exam. Sounds like your in a sub-optimal situation but making the most of what you have. You should really bring up the lack of instruction of the exam techniques with your sensei. Even with limited time, it's ridiculous to be preparing an exam almost exclusively with a video tape.

Yes, I agree and hope to find a way to tactfully address it.

I was hoping that others, who speak Hungarian natively, would try to address this issue first with the instructor as it can be difficult enough to express clearly ones concerns, without igniting the ego, even when speaking in ones native language...

However this hasnt happened yet, and I have heard various people express their concerns about this. It seems, that in the attempt to be polite, the issue kind of festers... [obviously this leads to bigger problems in the future, such as dojo splits, etc.]

Truth be told, it seems to be part of the culture here to keep your opinions to yourself and stay polite on the outside.

What is needed is the realization that an opinion can be expressed, without making it personal. - i.e., not striking up the ego... which I seem to do when speaking to people in my own native tongue, let alone trying to communicate in a foreign tongue. :D
[though not intentionally... luckily, my wife is a good translator for me and feels which parts might be taken the wrong way and can shift it to mean what I meant it to.] ;)

But anyway, thanks for the congrats!

Peace

Dalen

[Ron Tisdale]

Congrats! Try to keep training, even if you don't test.

Best,
Ron

[dalen7]

Congrats! Try to keep training, even if you don't test.

Best,
Ron

Thanks Ron -

Most definitely will try to keep practicing! :)

Peace,

Dalen

[RED]

Cool, man.Two years for 3rd is a good pace!
*toast*

[dalen7]

Cool, man.Two years for 3rd is a good pace!
*toast*

Thanks Maggie! :)

- dAlen

[Larry Cuvin]

Congrats Dalen!

[dalen7]

Congrats Dalen!

Thanks Larry! :)

- dAlen