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The level exam is over. It both went better and worse than I expected -- better, because even though the low bit of my back was all tweaked, swollen and irritable, I managed to work out whatever it was that wasn't letting my low stances work. So stances went well, as did fundementals. (And of course I aced the orals, but then I also made more of a point of studying for them than did some of my more confident classmates.) I did blank on a bit in one combination, and while I more or less got it on the second try, I still substituted a punch for a palm push. And of course, my front sweeps were cruddy (but better than they've sometimes been) and I didn't do back sweeps.
Worse because I had the first serious asthma attack I've had in quite a bit. Really, most of the time I don't even really remember that I have asthma -- I take my singulaire, and occaisionally I get a little shorter of breath than I should during wushu, or with sudden temperature changes, bit it's not a big issue. I didn't even figure out what it was -- I couldn't catch my breath, but I figured I must have been more stressed than I realized, and heck, wushu is hard. I really struggled the last couple of combinations (I hope we aren't graded on speed) and it wasn't until I staggered of the mat after I was done and still couldn't breathe that it occurred to me what was going on. Yigh! Luckily, I've been carrying albuterol with me (mostly because there are a couple of kids who have asthma and don't always remember their inhalers) so other than being kind of scary it wasn't a big deal.
She did ask for my uniform size, which I like to think is a good sign, but then she asked most people, I think. Craig's confident that we both passed, I'm... waiting. But mostly I'm relieved. For some people, it's about what their score is. I'm certainly not indifferent to whether I pass or fail (though I kind of wish I was) but at the moment it's really clear to me that for me, anyway, getting through it is winning. Not dropping out is winning. And not doing myself substantial injury during the test is definately winning. (My chiropractor, who does not have much faith in me, had me set an appointment up for Monday. Which I can cancel on short notice, though my back is still pretty trashed -- just, if anything, less trashed then before.)
Worse because I had the first serious asthma attack I've had in quite a bit. Really, most of the time I don't even really remember that I have asthma -- I take my singulaire, and occaisionally I get a little shorter of breath than I should during wushu, or with sudden temperature changes, bit it's not a big issue. I didn't even figure out what it was -- I couldn't catch my breath, but I figured I must have been more stressed than I realized, and heck, wushu is hard. I really struggled the last couple of combinations (I hope we aren't graded on speed) and it wasn't until I staggered of the mat after I was done and still couldn't breathe that it occurred to me what was going on. Yigh! Luckily, I've been carrying albuterol with me (mostly because there are a couple of kids who have asthma and don't always remember their inhalers) so other than being kind of scary it wasn't a big deal.
She did ask for my uniform size, which I like to think is a good sign, but then she asked most people, I think. Craig's confident that we both passed, I'm... waiting. But mostly I'm relieved. For some people, it's about what their score is. I'm certainly not indifferent to whether I pass or fail (though I kind of wish I was) but at the moment it's really clear to me that for me, anyway, getting through it is winning. Not dropping out is winning. And not doing myself substantial injury during the test is definately winning. (My chiropractor, who does not have much faith in me, had me set an appointment up for Monday. Which I can cancel on short notice, though my back is still pretty trashed -- just, if anything, less trashed then before.)
