So i decided a blog would be good here. I have not written anything post worthy (longer then a few sentences) for a long time so forgive my poor etiquette.
The best topic I have to write on currently is my upcoming testing. I am a 3rd Kup in tae kwon do. That is a red stripe on a blue belt in our school. Basically I am 2 belts away from my Black, or 1st Dan (count backwards for the 8th Kup to Dan then up from 1st Dan to 10th Dan). It is getting progressively more and more difficult as I test higher and higher, as it should. The last testing pushed my limits pretty well as it was 2.5 hours of almost non stop work. This one is going to push me further as I am testing with my grandmaster. I have never met this man, but he is a 9th Dan, or 9th degree Black belt. The only other person I am aware of with at least this rank is his brother who is a 10Th Dan (im sure there are others, but Im also sure not many that have attained this high a rank).
Grandmaster (GM) Choi has been a practitioner of TKD for approximately 40 years and my instructor has asked that he NOT go easy on us and make us earn our belts. Which in any case I will enjoy being tutored and molded by this great man, however there is always the nervousness that goes along with any test.
In my preparation for the upcoming test (this Saturday) I have been practicing my Poomse (forms) diligently so as to make as few mistakes as possible. I have also been working on my stamina, which is in my opinion poor. This has been consisting of not only regular class during the week, but also working on simple things such as push ups, and other various exercises at home. Then at work I have been running the stairs we have here (5 floors). Once in a while I run the parking lot (quite large) but its so hot here that I don't care to do that much. In addition I have been trying to prepare myself mentally, which proves to be the most difficult easy thing to do. Its difficult to tell your mind to overcome the body as you work it, but it is the easiest thing to know how to do. Prove this yourself, do as many push ups as you can without stopping, then do 10 more go ahead, I'll wait...understand more now?
Todays class will consist of Gyorugi or sparring. This is where you wear the Hogu (chest pad), forearm and shin/foot pads, head gear, and various other protective items (mouth, daddy part protectors, etc). Now usually I am the toughest person in class to fight due to my size, quickness and rank. I'm not heavy, but I throw a mean kick. there are a few exceptions, one would be my instructor who is fast approaching (and long overdue) his 4th Dan. Then there is John, he is a wayward friend of my instructor that comes off and on to our sparring class. He is a 1st Dan and is about 6'6" and has a kick that a mule could envy. Not only can he hit you fast, but he is so big that to come in on him is painful. These two provide me the best matches (i.e. I lose consistently, but learn the most). I look forward to seeing who will be sparring tonight and will be looking forward to being beaten down and molded in the proper ways of TKD.
Tomorrow I shall report on my sparring and introduce you more to Poomse as that is usually what Thursday night classes consist of, usually...till then you stay classy Fubar!
