Fighting Mad

I tested for Cardiokickboxing Instructor yesterday through a national fitness organization that certifies aerobic fitness instructors. I have no idea if I passed. I won't know for at least 4 weeks. I left with a desire to just put it behind me. I'd studied, I'd stepped up my workouts, I felt prepared going into it. Why, then, the resignation, the apathy?

I view fitness as one of many components in a healthy lifestyle. A positive attitude is another. Yesterday's experience was anything but positive. The course participants were positive, at least we tried to be. It seemed as if every possible chance to cut us down, to ridicule, was taken by the lead instructors. Don't get me wrong, I was never the direct target of this negativity. It was simply pervasive throughout the day. And some participants caught it directly.

We started half an hour late, and this was going to be a long day, we were very much aware of it. Specific questions were simply not answered. Some participants were made fun of, laughed at, made sport of. And the weird thing was, that the room full of potential certified instructors weren't laughing. We were confused, trying our best, not understanding what the hell was going on.

One particular punch was demonstrated in a bizarre way that I've never seen. We were told that we had to roll our shoulders in an exaggerated windup prior to throwing an uppercut...or we would fail. Over and over, we attempted that uppercut. I must have thrown a thousand. I don't know if I got it. I really don't.

When the written test came around, the monitors talked while we took our hour long, 100 question test. Their children were in the room. They gave us hand written (HANDWRITTEN BY THEIR CHILDREN) evaluation forms to fill out.

I was in disbelief when I left. I left a few words on my evaluation form. I won't let the certification body know what I thought until after I get my letter. I don't trust the monitors. I'm pissed, I'm disappointed. I'm also so very, very tired. 9 hours with at least 4 hours spent throwing punches and kicks.

I hope they passed me. I know I'm good. I know I can teach this class safely and effectively. I just don't know that they can. Damn it!