There are many misconceptions about the Power Weekend. Having survived, I mean, enjoyed a couple, I'm finally getting the idea.

There's nothing new here. Nothing that KJN and the instructors don't tell us again and again. But another telling can't hurt.

The technical requirements are largely met at the time of testing for your Power Belt. You have to know all the 1-steps, forms, self-defense, combinations, and nominal fitness requirements before you begin the 8 or so weeks of special training leading up to the Power Weekend.

The Power Weekend is to test the following principles of Black Belt: Self-Control, Perseverance, Integrity, and Indomitable Spirit. I've tried to convince KJN that they should test Courtesy and Modesty instead but so far she's failed to see the merits of my arguments.

So, it's really simple. You do all kinds of stuff to make you really, really tired. No, I mean really tired. And then they give you stuff to do that forces you to focus, concentrate, and perform at your best. Now that wasn't so hard, was it?

To get the best from the experience you have to surrender to it, embrace it, welcome it. You can't save yourself. You have to put out. Give it your best shot all the time.

This weekend will give you a unique experience and opportunity. A near death experience in a loving, caring environment. I'm only kidding. Sure I am. It only feels that way.

But for most of us, who have never experienced war, been refugees, or joined the military this will give a singular opportunity to test yourself. While this may be the greatest test of mettle that some of us may face, in terms of the real world, it's a small thing.

But...It is still an astonishing achievement. You can tell your family, you can tell your friends, but unless they've been there, they just don't get it. I can't tell you how proud I am of my team, of those moments of epiphany when they thought they couldn't go on but then discovered that they could. You had to be there.

Another thing that the instructors will tell you but you won't believe until you've felt it is that this is a team effort. They'll tell you and you won't really believe them. Simple little things like no one is finished until you're all finished. You'll all have moments when you can't go on, when you forget stuff you've known for years. That's when the team that you've forged pulls you through.

In our last grading, just before we were going to be tested on our one-steps, one of us said that they had completely forgotten them. They just weren't there. I said that it didn't matter that they had forgotten as long as we knew them. And we did.

Now I should also point out that even as the team is responsible for achievement, the team is responsible for underachieving. In layman's terms, that means that if one of you messes up, you all do push-ups. It's the instructors way of subtly encouraging group responsibility.

The instructors who guide you through the weekend do a wonderful job. You may not always think so, but it's true. Trust them. In some sense they are part of your team. They want you to succeed. They understand. They've been there. They won't ask you to do anything you can't do but they usually demand that you do some things you don't think you can do.

On the other hand they're the guardians at the gate. Once you pass the test you will become part of an elite club. Some estimate that out of every 1000 people who start the martial arts, only one will make it to Black Belt. That's a little higher in better clubs but the idea remains the same. They're maintaining the integrity of their achievement. They'll kick butt when they need to, and offer that word of encouragement when you need it. All they ask is that you give 100%. It's really very simple.

The instructors work very hard at this. Ms. Downing, the iron fist in the velvet glove, Mr. Tran who smiles, and means it, as he tells you to do the impossible, Mr. DeSantos, always there and giving energy to the group, Ms. Zinga who's as gentle with us as she is on herself, and of course, Ben, voted best in the difficult role as 'gadfly'. And all the others who helped us achieve our potential are to be thanked and congratulated. Well done.

KJN's role here is that of judge and examiner. This is where you prove to her that her efforts over the years were not in vain. When she makes you a Black Belt her name and reputation are tied to that certificate. She does not take this lightly. Do I have a gift for understatement or what?

So how do you prepare for this event? Here are some simple tips.

1. Start early. You can't cram for this stuff. If your power weekend is a year away, start today, yesterday would be better.
2. Run. 3 times a week. With your parents or wife or kids. With your friends. With your dog. Include some hills. Do some sprints.
3. Skip. Start with a hundred. Work up to 10 minutes. Then try to create your own fancy moves. You can dance and skip at the same time.
4. Pushups. Start with 10. Increase a little at a time until you can do (are you ready for this?) 4 sets of 25 with a minute break between each one. Same kind of thing with the sit-ups.
5. Get KJN's permission to do some of the special Saturday training for Black Belts before it's your time to go.

1. Know you curriculum. Review all your forms, combinations, 1-steps at least once a week.
2. Buy your own weapons.
3. Practice facing in different directions, blindfolded (remember safety!), balancing a cup of water on your head, in the water, on the beach.
4. Start working on your musical form. Find some music that you love, cause you'll be hearing it a lot. Talk to the instructors. They love helping with this stuff. Be creative. The musical form is your chance to shine. To show the stuff you're good at. Be creative. This is also about attitude and theatre and humour and entertainment. Wow the masses!

It's all about attitude. Be positive. Help the lower belts. Listen to what your instructors tell you. Pay attention. Focus. Be sharp. Be proud. Make each kick your best kick. Know that you could break a board with every punch. The classes are so short--make the most of them. Yell loud and often.

Don't quit. If you're hitting the bag for thirty seconds, don't stop at 25. You can make it.

If the instructor asks for 10 push-ups 'on your own', try to sneak in an extra couple.

If the instructor says you have 5 minutes to practice your forms, see how many times you can do it in the amount of time you have. I don't think the instructors will mind. When an instructor asks for 25 crunches, they may complain if you do 15, but I've never heard them complain about someone doing 30 in the allotted time.

If you push yourself, they can see it, they appreciate it.

Show leadership. Act like you want to become and it will happen.

Winston Stableford

10 November 1999