Time to Test
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| Thu, 07-20-2006 - 12:01pm |
Well, ladies, Master Jamie has said that the time has come for me to test for black belt. This test will be in October, so I have some time to get things polished and presentable. We know all of our requirements now, but some are very new. I really need to work on those things.
Weapons are my biggest concern. I enjoy the long staff, so have practiced with it, but I need to find out for sure which forms are required. Some are very new from the spring seminar with Grandmaster. I don't like sword much, thus, I haven't practiced it much - shame on me. I am going to schedule a private lesson to work on the sword forms with Master Jamie.
I know I'll be nervous, and that could be a good thing if I can use that energy well. I just want to do well, not make mistakes. Although they do allow for some because of the nervous factor from what I've heard, I would love to test and be mistake free. If not though, I will have to be able to get it back together and go on, something I've been working on.
I think two others will test with me, one other red belt for sure. I also think that Grandmaster may be present for our testing. He is usually visiting from Korea at that time of the year, but he has already been here this year so I hope not. If he is, he is, but that will certainly add to the nervous factor.
After all this time, it's hard to believe that this goal is so close. I am optimistic now, but I hope to be confident and ready by October.

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Ohmigosh Lori!!!
How exciting! I'm sure your instructor knows
Thanks for the vote of confidence, Miranda.
I said to DH that I wonder if anyone has failed the test, but I too think that when the instructor decides it's time to approach the subject of testing at the next test time that one is likely pretty much ready. I just have those "what if's" in my mind: "what if I forget_" or "what if I can't place the Korean terms with the right techniques" all those things. But I was going over one of the new things with the black belt who often teaches, on Tuesday evening. He said "you have to believe in your technique." Time for a little self confidence I guess.
Thanks. It's an exciting time, but I do have some work to do still. I'll have work to do even after the black belt testing of course, but this is a great milestone to reach. The black belt who teaches most of the time is a 4th dan black belt. He said it was like a relief for him when his passed his test for black belt (1st dan).
A fellow red belt tested in June; he's a 19, or maybe 20 by now, year old. Good young man, but still a "kid." The first class he was in after he passed his test, the glow on his face was nearly blinding. It was cool though.
I knew you had kids in TKD, but I didn't remember your daughter was black belt. Congrats to her. It's too bad that there's a teacher that is difficult. It shouldn't be like that if he is behaving in the manner that should have earned him his black belt. Although Jeff is about the only black belt that still come to class regularly at this point, besides the new one, all of the black belt teachers I have worked with in the past have been good teachers in their own ways. I have my favorites, Jeff being one fortunately, but none of them were a problem.
It was interesting once I was picking up my daughter and was listening in on one of the instructors talk about the levels of black belt and how the early ranks 1st and 2nd dan where the "immature" black belts and he gave examples of what he meant. Not only in their TKD experience but in their attitudes. I could really see what he meant because only a few of them but they do
~IslandGirl
School's out for summer!
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October will be here before I know it. I'm thinking of all the stuff I need to work on, Ohmigosh.
Thank you for your well wishes. I hope you're having a great summer vacation, BTW.
How exciting!!!
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