I passed this morning, Thursday
I had the option of testing this morning, this evening, or Saturday. Since I'd drunk Starbuck's after class last night, I couldn't sleep. Throughout the night, I kept going through all of my forms, kicks, wrist grips, hand combinations, ad nauseum. So, I decided I might as well put an end to the agony.
Not everyone in the group was testing. Some people were attending class - testing and class were combined. Some of the red belts were testing along with two of us green belts. Oh my. None of the red belts passed that I know of. I don't know how many were actually testing. I'm about 100% sure it was just us two green belts who passed (we were the only ones called up to receive our stripes). Let me tell you why the red belts did not pass. When we do stepping kick combinations or punch/strike combinations, etc., we are asked to turn at some point. When we turn we are supposed to be in a front stance, a good one of course. Can you believe it? Some of the red belts did not go into a front stance after they turned. Thank God I was in one! Master R was not happy. I don't blame him. It takes only a few second of focus to go into a front stance. It should be automatic.
The physical workout was light - just jumping jacks, stomach crunches and leg raises interspersed throughout the testing. I got there early and did laps, stretching, and my forms so I was warmed up. What a huge difference that makes.
Combinations were not difficult for me this time. They were fairly easy I thought or else I was so tired that I was more relaxed than usual, lol.
I was disappointed I didn't get to do my wrist grips or hand combinations. You know how it is - you study and want to show what you know. I can be sure that Master R knows that I know my stuff or I wouldn't have passed.
We did Gi Cho Hyung Il Bu form through our highest form; in my case that was Pyung Ahn Sa Dan. I enjoyed the forms. I lost my balance once on my sidekick in the Pyung Ahn Sa Dan which is usual for me. My balance is greatly improved though. Master R told the class to slow down
with the forms. I noticed it was the white and orange belts who were zooming too fast and they weren't even testing.
Now the humbling/embarrassing part. It took me 5 tries to break the board with a jump front kick. Two gentleman were holding the board and I kept pushing them back when I struck the board. Bad technique. I was pushing instead of snapping. Master R said, "Last kick." KIHAP! and I broke it. Sheesh. It took him to tell me "last kick" before I could focus on snapping? Ah. Bah. Onward to new material tonight, Pyung Ahn O Dan, etc., etc.
