A new group, a new style..

Over the years I've come to notice a different 'flavor' in the type of test we hold. From Cgn Natalie in 2005, to Collective Synergy, one of our biggest tests, to the old school Kjn Ernie Reyes tests of 200+ people (I have my opinion here if that/this is a good idea or not, but that's for another blog) - to a private test of a taekwondo school in Hamburg Germany with three testers lasting 2hours.. I've seen belts handed and belts earned, but the unique thing I've noticed about the Aim High testers and testing method is that each group as it's own 'style' it's own 'flavor'. The people make the home, and the testers make the test. The personalities and needs of the students make the test. A Blackbelt test will never be the same twice in a row, and it shows in this one.

We have a lot of younger testers, and powerwithin setting the bar high, as to not award junior belts and requiring the young ones to do the same expectations at the adults, all while dealing with the fall season of back to school, and their 'outside' lives.. (although I'm a firm believer that the outside life should scream martial arts in all that one does.. but that's for another blog..)

The biggest barrier I see in this group is mental negative thought. They NEED a strong support team, and I've hear chatter from their support team in the light that perhaps this isn't the testers year, now if I was testing for my first degree and mentally I wasn't there, and my support team thought maybe I should wait a year, then that screams failure. I'm worried for them. As a coach and instructor I will be the voice of positive, and action of 'yes you can' even when the tester thinks that they might not be ready. I believe that each poom belt will make it, earn it, and deserve it but it's going to be a bumpy road.

My 2nd degrees, I see two of them working their rears off, and they won't have a problem, but i'm worried for the rest. I think i'm going to come up with an individual plan, outline what is a 2nd degree, and develop a 'road map' (intel term) on their success..

set a goal, take action, change if it's not working, pay attention to deal, practice or in this case DO, DO , DO and then our goals will be had, mastery..

I'm excited for this year, but I also think it might be one of our biggest mentally developmental tests to date.. awesome.. challenge accepted.. let's do this..
-bkjn