Black Belt Test

July 1stIn the Dojang before the test

We started the morning at our dojang around 8:45, warmed-up and then practiced our poomsai's for about an hour or so. I was doing pretty good, feeling fairly confident, not making as many mistakes as usual. Then the Master came and we all hopped in the van and headed out for the test.

The stadium where the test was being held

I was really surprised when we pulled up to the stadium because I didn't think it would be in such a big venue. Then again, considering that there were probably people from all over JeonBuk (our province) I guess it made sense.

Chumbai (ready!!)

We were the last of the Iksan group to go so we had around an hour or so for more practice. Now for the black belt test you must complete poomsai number 8 and then one is chosen at random between poomsai four and poomsi seven.

Yuk jan (Poomsai #6)

Fortuneately the master told us what 'random' poomsai we would be doing, kinda taking away the randomness of it considering we got roughly an hour to practice it. The Master and instructor told us what we were doing wrong, I felt that things were going pretty good.

Pal jan (Poomsai #8)

When we got in there it was pretty funny, we were the only white people...big surprise... so we already stood out, to top that we had to stand directly in front of the judges while doing our poomsai's. THe whole thing was too fast to be able to remember now. If I made a mistake they would've made me do it again so I guess I did alright.

Let the sparing begin

Initially, our Master told us that Julie and I would be fighting eachother, so we worked out what we would do so that both of us would look good. Unfortuneately this was not the case when we got in front of the judges, at the last second they switched us. At first I was worried about Julie, but when I saw the guy I'd be goin up against I was more worried for myself.

Trevor on Defense

I went for the first kick against the guy, and purposely tried to miss him, as instructed by our Quang jang-nim (Master). I don't think the other guy got the memo, because after my kick I got another one right back just above my junk. "Simple mistake. Maybe the guy is a little jumpy, probably didn't mean it." I think to myself and then throw another fake kick and again I recieve another real kick in return. Kick me once, shame on you, kick me twice shame on me. After that I started throwin real ones.

I wish I looked that cool!

I know it probably looks like I'm about to get worked, but I was just about to give this sucka a jumping dwi-chagee right to the gut. After I hit'm with that kick they blew the whistle, at first I thought it was because I blatantly tried to kick him, but it turned that time was up. I went pretty quick only about thirty seconds, I thought it would be longer. The master and the instructor both seemed pleased giving us the thumbs up and sayin "Good, very good", so I think we did alright but we won't know for another week or so.