Test and Test Results

Last Saturday was a long and grueling day for the Artist. She was one of three girls testing for a new belt rank at her Tae Kwon Do school. I brought her in at 9:30 to begin warming up for a test starting at ten o'clock sharp.

The test began with the students demonstrating several kicks and blocks. Free sparring techniques followed. At times when the students needed a rest the girls sat down to answer questions posed by the black belts.

As the morning disappeared, and more and more aspects of the student's TKD knowledge and expertise were examined, the Engineer finished all his books and the supply of cereal bars I'd brought. Pizza for everyone was brought in for lunch.

Master W. explained to everyone gathered that he gives the Artist the very tough questions because she doesn't say that she can't answer them. She thinks about a response and gives it her best answer. I also learned that students earning a black belt need to write four papers for the instructor. And, it warms my home-school heart, the student has to rewrite them if they are not well thought through.

After lunch the test continued. By the time 2:00 p.m. rolled around some other students from the school had come in to watch. A black belt test is interesting to watch, and this test was extra special because someone was testing for the highest rank achieved by a student in the school. The students demonstrated their one-steps and stopped for more questioning. Then, at the end of the test came the board breaks.

With the work completed, it was time for a little fun. We surprised the local Olive Garden with a group of around 25 coming in for dinner. The Artist had a ball, going out to eat with her friends. The Engineer, still modeling his best behavior (he did an amazing job of sitting fairly still for 5 hours at the school then behaving properly in a restaurant), engaged two of the teachers in an exciting game of Grab-the-cardboard-coaster. The adults had great conversation about martial arts, gun control vs. conceal-carry, and other various weapons. I learned two of the instructor's previous students had the unfortunate experience of needing to use their training to defend themselves. The incidents each landed a bad guy in the hospital.

As we said our good bye's Master W. told us the Artist would find out Wednesday whether or not she passed.

Wednesday was interesting. The school's neighborhood had a black out due to a transformer fire. For the first class there was enough sun-light to get by. Thankfully, the class was quite small that day and all the students could work up by the store-front style windows. That's where the class stood when the Artist was called out of line to receive her new blue-black belt.
Master W. asked her if she felt and different. She quickly replied, "Yes!" And then he asked her, "In what way?" She needed to think about that one. He will probably get his answer by email today.