I have finally come to a decision- I have decided to finally try for my 1st Kyu (brown belt).
About a year ago, I really wasn't sure if I was any where near ready to even think about trying for my next grade. But now, I feel I am.
Certainly its been a gradual realisation- For the last two years, I have felt that I had almost platoed in my training. Its been three years since I last graded after all.
I believe that both blue and brown belts in most martial arts with a similar grading system to Aikido are called 'sticky grades', 'sticky' meaning that you stick at these levels for a while. Not a bad thing in my opinion, it should take you years of training to achieve 1st Dan.
No, I think I definitely ready, or as near as I will be at any rate. Training on the whole has been good, lots of things have come together all at the same time, my kata is improving, as is my free practice. So maybe the learning curve is shifting again rather than staying still.
I also feel 'different'. Not sure how to describe it really, more like a new harder shell has developed through consistent training and I could take anything thats thrown at me. I guess thats why I feel ready, ready to learn more at the next stage of training- my next grade.
