Today, I went to the main dojang to test for 3rd Dan Black Belt. There was a black belt meeting at 9:30 a.m., so I had to leave at 5:30 because it is about a 4 hour drive to get there. I was grateful to have my assistant instructor and friend to ride along and support me for my test. My test didn't begin until 4 p.m., so I helped students practice forms, while waiting for their tests to begin. Also, judged the blue belt test. Had 4 really good little boys to judge and they all did really well until....this is something I think is really important. A lot of today's society is so focused on "me,me,me,I,I,I" we forget the really important, simple things in our lives. I asked each one of the kids, "When is your mom/dad's birthday?" They all stood their with blank looks on their faces! 
I said to them, "If they are here, go ask them! Hurry!!" They ran back and asked quick and gave me the answers. I asked them, "Why is it important to remember their birthdays?" Not one of the kids knew what I was driving at, but one of the adults answered, "Respect." I added, "Would your parents ever forget your birthday? No. So, please remember their birthdays." Then I gave them all 10 push ups. Grandmaster Jung was very disappointed that they didn't know the answer to that simple question and gave a little lecture to elaborate a little more on it, then went back to the table and retrieved a large black marker and asked one boy,"When is mom's birthday?" The boy told him. He rolled up the boy's sleeve and wrote her birthdate in big print on his arm. "There now you remember for while, I think." I think I will remember that one for our next test BH! We can't take for granted the important people in our lives. Another question, "Have you told your parents thank you for bringing you to TKD?" All answered, "No." My goodness, students! Who is driving you there, paying for tuition, watching your test, etc? After the blue test was over, Grandmaster Jung said to me, "Very good question. Mommy and daddy birthday very important." I was very happy with his comment.
Well, the day went on going through a couple more tests, GM Jung always has lunch brought in for the black belts who help with test and today was some very good Chinese food. I wasn't sure if I should eat or not. I usually get the jitters before test, but it didn't seem to bother me today. Even if I'm not testing and I go there to help judge or lead tests, I always get the testing jitters! I think it is just a conditioned response. Like I need to be "on" or something.
There were some people testing for temp black belt in a group ahead of me, but when they started calling out names and said my name, I didn't have time to get nervous. That was a nice benefit. I thought I was doing pretty good. Slow motion everything in DEEP riding horse stance. Forms. Combo kicking. Sweaty in 2 minutes. I have been having some knee pain lately, but worked the best I could with that. I was giving everything that I had and then some. I may have been putting a little too much into it. I have had a couple heat strokes, not related to TKD, and I was getting close to having another one. My face was beet red and I could feel my pulse in my skull. Every second that there was a break in movement, I inhaled deep and continued on. Grandmaster Jung, who was leading my test, must have noticed because he had me step off to the side for a "break". I sucked down a whole bottle of gatorade in about 20 seconds and then went to the water fountain and guzzled some more. I had drank a lot of fluids the last couple days and today, but it didn't seem to matter. It seemed very warm in there too. Started back up again doing jump front snap kick to stomach (touching), jump roundhouse kick to side of face (make hair move), jump side kick (stomach), jump hook kick (face/try to touch nose) then punching at face (touching upper lip) That is where you really have to trust the person you are with. I was best at roundhouse, hook and punching. Fun actually. Then free sparring with black belt lady, then 2 black belt men. I got some good shots in there. Then board breaking...that was a little tough. The boards were very hard and knotty. Thumped my big toe on it doing roundhouse kick breaking technique. Broke the board, not the toe. Thank goodness. Then the judges asked several questions. We also have to write an essay on a topic important to us in TKD. Asked me, "What are you good at in TKD?" I said, "Teaching, sir." I hope that is true. Then grandmaster asked me a couple questions about my dojang. Grandmaster, by the way, will be contacting me about visiting our school in the very near future. He is very excited to see our school and I hope to make a good impression for him. Then, the test was finished. Got hugs and handshakes all around. I did it. But, a cold shower never felt so good! Won't know about if I passed for a while. Patience is part of it. No instant gratification. It is worth the wait. Even if I don't pass, I will know that I gave my best and that my students will see that black belt test is very hard and you have to work very hard to get there. I know that none of my students would think any less of me, either.
Tags: Testing Dan Dojang Sparring Breaking Forms
