Testing… Testing… 1, 2, 3

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Testing… Testing… 1, 2, 3

So you’re considering testing for your next rank?  Congratulations!  My first Krav Maga test was one of the best experiences of my life – passing is an accomplishment that I will always be proud of.  As I was preparing for my test, I got a ton of advice from those who have gone before me, so I thought I’d do the same.  The following is what I did to ensure that I had a successful test experience. It is not required, nor is it necessarily right for everyone.  Feel free to take what you like, and just leave the rest. 

I trained my @$$ off

About 3-4 weeks before my test, I started training at least 4 days a week.  Sometimes I trained multiple times a day.   I knew the test was going to last longer than just a couple of hours, so I wanted to make sure I was   increasing my endurance.   That being said,   there is definitely such a thing as over-training!   The  goal is for training to be  sustainable.   If you  are going to want to “take a break” after the test because you’ve been hard-charging up till the point of the test, then you probably need to back off a bit. Sustainability is the name of the game! 

I chose my partner in advance

I knew that I would likely be with the same partner the whole day, and I had heard that having a good partner goes a long way to making YOU look good.  I wanted to work with someone who was approximately my size and was about as strong as me so that we could work at full force or speed without hurting each other.  I picked Genieva Croley (if you haven’t met her yet, she’s practically perfect in every way). 

This is me and Genieva sparring a loooong time ago.

Genieva and I practiced the techniques we would be tested on together so that we would know how the other person worked.  I can’t recommend this enough! If you and your partner want to practice together during a private lesson, just email us at lionskravmaga@gmail.com to set up a time. Private lessons are the absolute best way to prep for a test, because you get immediate feedback on exactly what you need to work on.

I  gave my body everything it needed

About 8 weeks before my test, I got bursitis in my left shoulder.  I knew that I wouldn’t be able to do the test without complete range of motion, so I went to the sports doc immediately in addition to talking to homeopaths about natural treatments.  And I ROCKED those treatments.  I drank so much water (with a few drops of apple cider vinegar), I took a handful of supplements 3 times a day, I took ibuprofen prophylactically, I drank protein shakes twice a day, and I did all the rehab strength and stretching exercises that the sports doc recommended.  I did E V E R Y T H I N G !!!  And guess what?  I got better fast!  By the time of the test, I was fully healed, and my body was nourished and hydrated and ready to go! 

I got the best snacks!

I knew I wasn’t going to have a chance to eat much during test day, but that I’d be burning calories like a madwoman! So, I brought bite-sized snacks that I could run and grab quickly between rounds.  I brought things that I knew that I would like, that wouldn’t cause inflammation (low sugar, no gluten) so that I wouldn’t cramp up, and that wouldn’t make my stomach get upset.

I also knew that I would be sweating . . . A LOT! I needed more than just water to drink since I would be losing electrolytes.  Personally, I love coconut water, so that’s what I brought.  Others brought KSP or Nuun tabs (#BERP!), Gatorade, or Pedialyte.  When my grandfather was working his summers off laying asphalt in the searing Texas summer heat, he would bring a jar of pickle juice to replace his electrolytes. Whatever floats your boat!  Just make sure that you have something to replenish your electrolytes!

Also, bring some kind of caffeine. Trust me. When you’re flagging towards the end of the test and the instructor announces it’s time for Groundwork, you’ll be thanking your lucky stars that I reminded you to bring a little back-up of caffeine!

I took it easy

Yes, I know I just got done talking about how I trained my bonbon off, but about 3 days before the test, I stopped.  I took three days off before the test to make sure that my muscles were fully recovered.  I did some very light mobility & stretching, and I still took my dog for a walk, but I didn’t do anything strenuous.  I made sure I got plenty of sleep and was drinking LOTS and LOTS of water to flush any toxins out of my system. 


I hope this is helpful for you as you prepare for the upcoming test!  I can’t wait to see the smiles on all of your faces when you find out you’ve done it! You made it all the way through! It’s an incredible feeling!  

While I have you, here are a few housekeeping points: 

  • Your permission to test form must be signed by Jason and turned in 1-week before test day. The permission to test form can be found at the front desk.
  • On test day, you must wear a Lions Krav Maga T-shirt. If you are planning to bring more than one shirt, make sure they are Lions shirts.
  • 16 oz. boxing gloves, shin guards, mouth guard, mat shoes, and groin protection are required. We also recommend hand wraps.
  • Do NOT wear your groin pro on the outside of your shorts. It just looks silly. If you are wearing leggings with your groin pro on the outside, make sure you are wearing leggings that are the SAME COLOR. Otherwise, in all the pictures it’ll looks like you’re wearing your underwear outside your pants.
  • The cost of the test is $59.99 and it’s due upon registration — 1 week before the test!!

Check out this video about one person’s experience taking the Orange Belt Test!


Good Luck, Test Takers!!

Lions Krav Maga Austin TX

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