I started preparing for the brown belt three months before I was due to graduate on Saturday March 20th. I started out running 3-4 times a week. I had a route around the neighborhood that was approximately 2.5 km. If I was lucky, I could lure my mother along (she was out of breath all the way though). The first few times it was hard and I didn't really care because of the bad weather and a lot of snow and ice. But after a few weeks, the motivation increased, I wasn't quite so tired after the trip anymore, and I wanted to run.

I'm not a big reader, so the syllabus was very hard to get through. I tried to read a few pages a day after Christmas until graduation and had high expectations for my abilities during the skiing holiday - but it was not a good choice. But I had to bite the sour apple. (At this point my dad had read through the syllabus about 4 times I think).

The physical test went well and I passed it within the set requirements. However, I must remember to start the race at "my right speed", which is 13.6 km/h. Then the day came, after I had passed the physical test, when I had to complete the three stop tests. It was the first time I had to sit for this exam and I had become a little nervous about the previous mock test. It was something completely new for me, but I had to take it as it comes. The technical test and task-fight went really well, whereas the oral test lagged - so I guess I have to do like my father there - read the syllabus many times and practice a lot more. But the feedback from Kimu Sensei was that I had passed all the tests as a Jokokidz on the "border of death", but absolutely would not have done it as an adult, and therefore had to go to the final "go crazy" pillow fight after the spring tenant tomorrow.

We were up early as my father, despite a lot of study of the syllabus, had to take a re-examination to pass. I did everything to be on throughout the camp and even thought it went well. When you stand there and are tired after 5 hours of training camp, I turned my head off. I didn't think about how tired I was or how nervous I was. I only saw the pillow in front of me. The pillow fight was tough, but if I quit I would be disappointing myself and would not accept defeat. The cheers of the many spectators helped me through. But I have to admit it was nice when Kimu Sensei called the end.

I was happy and proud when Kimu Sensei said that I had passed 3rd kyu Yakami Shinsei-ryu and 2nd kyu Kodosoku-kai Gensei-ryu Karate-do – I was correct glad.

I have learned a great deal from graduation. It is important that you prepare well by running training - you must be in good shape. I have to practice much more in the syllabus and will do this frequently until the upcoming graduation – you cannot start a few weeks before because there is so much to remember. I can see that I should have read it through many many many more times.