This time I wanted to post while the experience is still fresh–as in, just a few hours ago. We had to be at the do jang at 8:30am (which is very early for this nightowl) for pictures and announcements and to take our Taekwondo Pledge (which basically states we will only use our powers for Good). Then the testing started. Lots of testing. 5 hours of testing, total, only the last 40 min. or so of which was my belt group. Lots of time to get stiff (I kept stretching) and NERVOUS.
Particularly nervous-making was watching the recommended black belt test, the one I took last time around. Grandmaster Yoon really DOGGED those poor folks! Partly because a few of the kids didn’t have a great attitude, I suspect, but the whole group suffered for it. In total, I believe they had to do three hundred back-spinning kicks… and this was BEFORE they broke their boards! So yeah, we were getting pretty nervous waiting to test for our black belts.
We were last. Apparently this is always true, but I hadn’t know it before. We started with forms (besides koryo, we had to demonstrate several random forms as they were called, to include taeguk sah jang and taeguk pal jang). Then kicking combinations, which went on and on and on until we were getting good and winded. Then the free-sparring, followed by two-on-one and one-on-two sparring. (pant, pant) Then came the dreaded board breaking: 3 stacked boards with a back kick. No, this is NOT easy, and I didn’t do it on the first try. Or the second try. Or even the third try. But then I heard that wonderful “crack” and it felt like the easiest kick of the bunch. (I have a few bruises to show for the unsuccessful ones!)
Then we lined up again and I thought we’d be doing one-step sparring, but no, Grandmaster Yoon wanted us to do another break: kicking combinations down the floor, with a reverse-turn roundhouse break at the end. Also NOT easy, and it took me 3 tries (yep, kicking the length of the room each time, pant, pant) but I broke that one, too. Hard to describe the rush of relief I felt!
After that we were spot checked on Korean terminology and a few of us (including me) were asked to explain what getting a black belt meant to us. I may have sucked up a little with my answer. <g> But I was also perfectly honest! Taekwondo has taught me discipline, focus, self-defense, confidence, stamina and flexibility. (Really–I’m more flexible than I was at age 20, simply because I keep up with it.)
And then we were presented with our BEAUTIFUL black belts! Every single black belt still there congratulated each one of us, and it felt wonderful. I’ll admit it, I’m feeling a little bit full of myself today!
Oh, and in case you’re wondering, yes–I definitely plan to continue. My goal now is to reach 3rd Dan (3rd degree) black belt by the time I turn 60. Wish me luck!
Yes it was very hard, exciting and exhilerating (excuse spelling) for me too!!! My test was over the course of 6 weeks, I had to write a 10 page report on what a black belt meant to me. Also had to do 3 different breaks, one including a wheelkick speed break. Which i tried like 15 times. . . .-_- but i did it!!! And we had to do the all the forms perfectly to my teacher’s satisfaction. Snap it, solid, eye contact etc. -_- phew! lol. There was a lot that we had to go over in different techniques in self defense, and the free sparring was just like yours actually. It’s exciting to read about another person taking their test, even though this is from a yr ago. Congrats
By: Christina on June 7, 2011
at 2:38 pm
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By: Christina on June 7, 2011
at 2:39 pm
Hi, Christina! Thanks for sharing your own black belt test experience. I’d love it if other TKD enthusiasts would weigh in here! I have my second credit test toward my 2nd Dan belt this coming weekend, and I’m already getting nervous.
By: Brenda on June 7, 2011
at 8:51 pm