How to prepare for a karate test?

Question

Physically. I know sleep amount and drinking water is importan and not over exercizing that day is important, what else?

Answer 1

Disclaimer: Everyone is different, what follows is just my personal philosophy.  Ultimately you need to find a way to prepare that suits you best.  I know some people that like to train every single day leading up to the test.  Personally, I feel that lends itself to injury.  If you just train hard and consistently, I think it's fine.

Having just tested for my Shodan, here is my best advice:

First, it depends on how close you are to the test date.  If you have plenty of time, like a couple months, just drill your basics and kata as much as you can so you feel confident.  Obviously look for ways to improve by having higher ranks watch you and give advice.  Make sure to train hard though and push yourself to build up endurance.

As you get closer, like two weeks or so, don't worry about trying to correct big things, and just focus on one or two small problems that you can reasonably fix leading up to the test (for example, I worked on not lifting my heel and trying to relax my upper body).

The day before the test I wouldn't do much of anything but rest.  Chances are you won't make any huge improvements the day before the test anyway, and it's best to be rested.

The day of the test, don't view it as anything special, just as another form of training.  Obviously show a lot of spirit, focus, and energy, but when you're up there just trust yourself that you're doing things right.  You'll have butterflies obviously, but if you can just get them to fly in formation you'll be fine.

Like I said, trust yourself and trust that you've been training properly.

Answer 2

I would work on my cardio and see if you can not develop that a little more ahead of time.  That way you avoid running out of gas or not being able to perform up to par just because you got tired and winded.  In traditional martial arts you would test a student over a few or several hours and try and break them down somewhat mentally and physically.  By doing that you see the essence of what they are made of as well as how well they think, perform, and execute that which they are responsible for when tired, winded, or fatigued.  If your test is an hour long be able to handle an hour and half doing things with good speed and power. In the old traditional way of testing it was not unusual for tests three or four hours with only a few short ten minute breaks in between for higher belts and  black-belt testing would be several hours long.

You can do this by practicing your katas more without any rest in between doing them; doing more in the way of your basics with less rest than what you normally do now as well as doing some running or jogging the month before you test to get that cardio up to a higher level.  Good luck on your test!

Answer 3

depending on what your being tested for and how much time you have.

best advice i can give you is know your stuff and be confident that you know your stuff, dont second guess yourself.

personally I'm going for my sandan next year and I'm currently drilling myself learning everything backwards and forwards and in every direction as well as opposing sides

Answer 4

Train and focus. Is there any other way? I was under the impression that you should be constantly preparing and training as a martial artist...

Perhaps I'm too old fashioned.

Answer 5

its really not that hard. all you gotta do is know your stuff.

Answer 6

do light training the day before. Your body need a good rest to be ready for the test. Go over your grading requirements over and over again lightly, and also in your mind. To the point where you have no doubt on what you need to do. (don't stress yourself out though). Eat a lot of carbohydrates the night before (like rice, or bread, or spaghetti etc).

On the day. make sure you eat something 2 hours before the grading. sip some energy drink (something with sugar) as you come out, or 5 minutes before you come out to do the test. sugar will work fast in your system, but there is an after effect if they are not being used. Your blood sugar level may be lower and you may feel tire. That is why the carbohydrate from the night before will be your main fuels, and the energy drink is just the bonus or the extra insurance.

Mentally, think that, you have been training for this, you have done it many times in the past few weeks, there is absolutely no reason why you can't pass or do it well. So, believe  that you can do it, and treat it like your training session. That way, you won't feel nervous and your mind is at ease.

Don't forget warm up and do stretching, 30 minutes to 60 minutes before the test. Don't waste too much energy.