And I'm back at work this morning.  Since I have about a half hour before I start, here's the rundown.

I left straight from work and got to the dojang at about six.  I've been fighting a cold since Tuesday, so jazzed on dayquil, Sudafed, green tea, and Halls Mentho-Lyptus, and having had a sandwich and a salad at five, I arrived ready to face the challenge.

I took about a half an hour to warm up and stretch before the test (getting injured during the test would be so not cool), and at six thirty, I was told to line up.  I had to read my essay aloud, which was the easiest part of the test.  Then I was quizzed on Korean language pertaining to taekwondo.

After that, I had to do pyramid exercises (ten jumping jacks, pushups, and situps, then nine, then eight, etc.).  Then, ten each of block and punch, and block punch and kick combos in varying stances.  Then he had me do five each of all of the kicks.  From there, 100 punches, 100 front kicks, and 100 round house kicks.  The next fifteen minutes was him calling out combinations of kicks (roundhouse kick, roundhouse kick, axe kick, then roundhouse kick, back kick, back hook kick, etc.).  By about this point, I remembered why I had long ago stopped using Sudafed before class: it dehydrates you. 

Then I was called upon to do Taegeuks one through eight.  I somehow managed to do them all crisply and correctly, probably better than I've ever performed them, which worked out well, given that I was testing.  After that, one stap sparring. 

Once all of the technique and forms were done, I had to do breaking.  First was two, one inch boards together that I had to break with a knife hand.  Then I had to do jump-axe kick, jump roundhouse kick, jump side kick, turning roundhouse kick, and back hook kick breaks.

Lastly, sparring: Three high belt and one blackbelt student, each for two three minute rounds, WTF style sparring.  Pretty much played defense, taking shots here and there when I could. 

After the test was done, I got to have some water and a power bar while he graded the test.  Fifteen minutes later, I was told that I had passed.  Now all the paperwork and my testing fee (I'm broke for a week between that and car insurrance) goes to the Kukkiwon.  I was presented with a black belt and a black Dynamics uniform.

Thus a long cherished goal is achieved, long overdue, but as they say, better late than never.

Daniel