My daughter has asked me to pose a question to all of my friends here on Askville?

My daughter has asked me to pose a question to all of my friends here on Askville... She has a black belt testing for Taekwondo coming up, and it has got her spooked. She wanted me to ask everyone for their suggestions on how to clear her mind and calm down in preparation for this test. Anyone?

Thanks a lot in advance for your input! (o: Asked by BearMom4MissesOldAV 49 months ago Similar questions: daughter asked pose question friends Askville Amazon > Askville.

Similar questions: daughter asked pose question friends Askville.

4-count breath, exhale focus, subvocalize, visualize and *rest* First the generic advice: It's called a 4-count breath. Inhale for a slow count of 4, hold for a slow count of 4, exhale for a slow count of 4, hold for a slow count of 4, repeat. It's physically impossible to get nervous beyond a certain point if your breathing is under control.

I'd suggest that she use this anytime that she starts to get nervous between now and the test, and on the actual day as needed. During the form itself, breathing is generally dictated by the movement. (If she doesn't know what that means, don't worry about it--now is not the time to try to learn.) In any case, as she's actually doing the form, if she's thinking about the breathing at all, it should be to focus on the exhalation.

The inhale will take care of itself. If at any point she gets short of breath, same thing -- focus on getting all possible air out during the exhalation; let the inhale take care of itself. I find that if I make it a habit to say aloud, or subvocalize, the name of the form immediately before I start, it helps to "hook" the correct movements to the name in a way that I don't have to think about.

Then, when test time comes, I can subvocalize the name of the form right before I start it, and voila -- the body wants to do the form. Another forms strategy for killing the jitters is to sit back, relax, and visualize my way through the form, from beginning to end. There's something different about that, as opposed to actually doing it, that gives an added dimension (although it's definitely not a substitute for actual physical practice).

On this last bit, I'll speak directly to your daughter if you don't mind: This is the most important thing I can tell you: two days before your test, you are as ready as you are ever going to be. The only thing left to be decided is whether you'll be refreshed, relaxed and ready when test day comes, or whether you'll be tired and scatterbrained from last-minute cramming.So on the day before the test, do not practice. *Rest.

* Relax. Eat well. Trust your unconscious to be assimilating all the material you've practiced.

Martial art is not something you cram for anyway, it's something that you *are. * If you've put in the mat time and you're ready, then you already are a black belt on the inside, and the test is just a formality. I hesitate to add this, but it needs saying.

There is one thing worse than failing a black belt test -- passing a black belt test that you should have failed. If you're not ready, then having your teacher tie a black belt around your waist will only make it worse: you'll still be a brown belt on the inside, only now you'll be a brown belt who has to pretend to be a black belt. If you don't pass, thank your teacher for having the honesty to fail you and keep training.

The real benefit is in the training, not in the cloth you tie around your waist. I won't wish you good luck; if you're properly prepared, you won't need it. May you fight like you trained, and Godspeed.

Sources: A decade and a half in the arts CannyYarnCap's Recommendations The Way of Kata: A Comprehensive Guide for Deciphering Martial Applications Amazon List Price: $24.95 Used from: $14.05 Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 (based on 19 reviews) Five Years, One Kata Amazon List Price: $39.95 Used from: $37.99 Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 (based on 6 reviews) Good material on forms, stuff you should spend a lot of time with -- but *after* the test..

Total Preparation, adequate sleep, positive thoughts If she is prepared in mind and body, all will be well. Ask her if she has been dreaming about the test. I find that when I have to prepare for a stressful event, if I run over what is required each night before sleep and each morning before rising, I have no problem.

Especially physical things. It is like the pathways to the answers are so well carved, that when I am stressed the answers come to the surface on their own. Also, not many teens get enough sleep these days.

Tell her to cut off the TV early each evening and spend some down time listening to music or reading before going to bed a little earlier than usual. It is amazing how much better equipped she will be when the test comes. Finally, she should practice positive thinking.

Rather than seeing the test as scary, see it as exciting. Visualize succeeding rather than failing. Think about how hard she has prepared.

And remember that pass or not, she will learn something about herself...and that is what this is all about in the long run. Good luck! Sources: Personal opinion .

Focus BearMom4 & daughter- I don't know the age of this daughter, but I can tell you about mine. She was almost 9 when she tested for her blackbelt. She had been testing in front of large groups of people, but she felt particular pressure for blackbelt.

This is a much longer test, and her Master made sure everyone knew this was going to be a very hard test. She had psyched herself out - wondered if she was ready.... I helped her "break it down" - just focusing on the one challenge at a time. She agreed she knows her combinations and forms.

She knows her kicks, she knows she can break boards (and bricks) so instead of thinking of the who testing, she concentrated on the individual parts, and took each one on, knowing she knew what she was doing. Mine is now a first degree, and realized that the blackbelt test was hard, but, she trained hard, and was ready. She had to just do her best, and trust herself that she had earned all the belts leading up to her blackbelt, and she had to just do what she had trained all that time for.

BTW, it was her goal to be a blackbelt by the time she was nine. She really enjoyed working hard and accomplishing her next belt. Good luck BearDaughter - you will be a blackbelt soon!.

Good for her! First of all, I know how it is to be spooked or frightened. You just remember one thing.

You would not be testing for your black belt if you had not earned it! Your teacher knows that and you know that. Clearing your mind, that is hard for me, but you might want to listen to some very soothing music, like Enya or something like that.

Take deep breaths and when you exhale, just blow out all of the negativity in your mind! You know how to calm yourself down probably better than we know because of what you have been taught. Use it Grasshopper!

:))) I just could not resist! :) GOOD LUCK and may the force be with ya! :) Sources: my opinion LglSec's Recommendations An Herbal Guide to Stress Relief: Gentle Remedies and Techniques for Healing and Calming the Nervous System Amazon List Price: $12.95 Used from: $0.01 Average Customer Rating: 4.0 out of 5 (based on 1 reviews) Natural Meditation: A Tibetan Buddhist Practice for Clearing the Mind and Opening to Effortless Awarness Amazon List Price: $19.95 Used from: $7.70 Average Customer Rating: 4.0 out of 5 (based on 1 reviews) Emotional Clearing: An East / West Guide to Releasing Negative Feelings and Awakening Unconditional Happiness Amazon List Price: $15.90 Used from: $4.49 Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 (based on 17 reviews) .

Don't stress... believe in your ablity do not stress, if your daughter is as good as we know she is then practice her problem areas and know she will do well... the lesson is in the journey not the destination .

I don't want to know when I ASKED my Askville question, I want to know when someone last RESPONDED. " "Has anyone on Askville ever asked a question in Gibberish? " "What's your favorite question asked on askville?" "What question gets asked the most on askville?

Which question are you sick of seeing repeated? " "Who asked the first ever question on Askville?" "To all of ASKVILLE ~ "what was the very first question you asked? " I hope everyone answers.

Please pass this question on" "What is the "worst" question you have ever seen asked on Askville and why is it the worst?" "What is the #1 question asked at askville? Is it this question? " "Has a question ever been asked on Askville which wasn't anything more than a question mark?" "What was the first question ever asked in Askville?

I don't want to know when I ASKED my Askville question, I want to know when someone last RESPONDED.

" I hope everyone answers. Please pass this question on.

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