Going for Purple

I completed my "red tip review" in Jiu Jitsu class today, and I am scheduled for my purple belt test this Friday evening at 7pm. I'm confident I'll pass the test with no problems, and I'm looking forward to the next phase of training for my brown belt.

Physically my ten pounds of weight loss coupled with improved conditioning leave me confident I will get through the test without collapsing, but my main concern continues to be my breathing. I just get out of breath so quickly. Give me a minute and I get it back but sometime you don't have that option. My muscles are OK and I can go for hours with quick breaks to catch my breath, its just the burst activities that slow me down.

In tennis its not a problem because I get chances to catch my breath between rallies with the serves and fetching the balls. In normal classes its only a problem during sparring or grappling, and in grappling I can usually do fine anyways with using technique over strength. But reviews and tests with all those punches, kicks, techniques, getting up, going down... sometimes there is not a good chance to rest for 30 seconds.

I don't anticipate a huge problem this test because my green belt test was easy, but going for brown and black is going to be a different story and I'll need to get this breathing thing under control or its going to be a very long test.