Since it’s been a while (again), I should tell you where I’ve been. For the last six to twelve months or so, I’ve been training intensely for my Krav Maga black belt test—a routine that largely consisted of endurance training (running), weight lifting, and tons of reps. Finally, on August 10, I passed my black belt test. Though the accomplishment still feels incredibly surreal—I still can’t comprehend how I survived the test—this isn’t an achievement I take lightly. I have taken the time to celebrate and acknowledge that I put in the work to earn something not many people will accomplish in their lifetimes. I’m not one to comfortably pat myself on the back; I tend to require validation from others to confirm my talents and “worthiness.” So, to have something I know I worked towards and can now physically hold in my hands is a satisfying, tangible level of success.
For anyone curious about the test, or actually training in Krav Maga in general, I’ll describe the test as best I can without giving too much away. Krav Maga is a reality-based martial art developed by the IDF that combines elements of MMA, judo, BJJ, karate, etc. It’s entirely designed for survival in reality settings, not at all for competition or performance. For that reason, the finer details of the test are kept secret from the individuals testing, to keep them as on their toes as possible. You need to prove you are ready for any scenario.
The test itself is approximately six hours, with short breaks throughout. The first part is a sequence of demonstrations of every single technique we’ve learned, starting from level one through level three. This seems easy, but it’s actually the hardest part, because everything must be pitch perfect. Following this, there are some conditioning exercises and some sparring, followed by running about a mile with a weighted bag while fending off attacks from classmates.
Admittedly, things get a bit fuzzy as I remember when I reached a point essentially where my soul left my body; I had to dissociate from the exhaustion to be able to endure the rest of it. There are several sections of defending various attacks (some with weapons, some not) while faced with an impediment of some sort (weighted vest, elevation mask, etc.). Next, more running with weighted bags and more sparring, but this time, live sparring, not kickboxing. Live sparring means anything goes, fight until elimination. Not my strong suit, as a people pleaser!
The rest of the test was largely more of the same; repetition of attacks over and over again. At some point, it was less about me proving that I knew the techniques but more so showing that I would not give up. But what is any art, if not practice, repetition, and perseverance? Our final stretch involved a cooperative effort of pushing/pulling a weight a large distance, and as soon as we got back to where we started, the test would be over. It seemed so simple a concept, though in practice, it felt impossible given how far I’d pushed my body that day.
Finishing your book can feel completely impossible. Sitting down and getting any bit of writing done might feel impossible for many writers. But it starts with practice, repetition, and perseverance. When my black belt was tied around my waist for the first time, I knew my work was not done, and it wasn’t perfect (believe me, we’ll be discussing it). But I know my hard work earned this major milestone—every morning I got up early to run when I desperately didn’t want to, every evening I stayed late to practice the same techiques over and over again. Your work might not be perfect, but if you don’t put in the work to start with, you’ll never see the results.
So, that’s my takeaway for now. I’m taking some time off training for my body to recover and to focus more on my business. However, in the coming year I would like to get back into black belt training to advance my skills, perhaps towards a first degree, second degree, etc. I’ll be getting back to weekly content that will hopefully be interesting to you. If you’d like to hear more about my experiences with Krav Maga, please hit me up on my contact form and sign up for email updates to stay in touch!
Images by Alex Baker/Spar Self Defense.
Hanna Etu 