CKD Black Belt test - I survived...
Category Miscellany
Bookmark :
Saturday was a hectic day. Both of my boys (Tommy-6 and Rocky-8) had soccer games, my eldest boy (Rocky) and youngest girl (Robin-7) had their CKD colored belt testing (each of them going for Blue Senior), and I had my CKD Black Belt test later in the day. However, this is a pretty normal Saturday for us, if you take away my testing and add in equestrian lessons for my second-eldest (Kelsey-11) and youngest daughter (Robin), plus taking my eldest daughter (Kris-15) around to hither-and-yon for her school or social agenda.
Tommy's soccer game was at 9:30, and the kids' belt testing was at 9, so Deb took off for soccer and I took the other two to testing (I am a CKD Assistant Instructor, so I help with the testing). Rocky, Robin, and I raced home from testing around 10:45 and quickly changed - Rocky into his soccer stuff, Robin and I into normal clothes - and I gathered my do-bak (uniform) and stuff for my testing later in the day, and we took off for Rocky's soccer game which was at noon. His match was an away game, about 45 minutes from us, but fortunately on the way to my testing (which was at CKD headquarters, about 1:45 from our house). When Debbie had finished with Tommy's soccer game she picked up Kelsey (who spent the night at a friend's house) and headed to meet us at Rocky's soccer game. Debbie, Kris, Kelsey, and Tommy arrived around halftime of Rocky's game, which was a hard fought match that ended in a 3-3 tie. Rocky played extremely well. From his game we raced towards a nearby mall for some lunch and to drop off Debbie's car so we didn't have to take two cars all the way to CKD Headquarters. After getting everyone fed, we were finally on our way to my testing.
We went in and found some seats for the whole family. I realized I had forgotten my sweatband and sports drinks, so Debbie took off to the nearby Wal-Mart to get those for me. I changed into my do-bak and stretched while watching the testing for the Black Belts who were earning a colored stripe for their belts (the colored stripes are a way to measure the progression towards the next degree). It was pretty awesome. My nerves began to rise as we approached the testing time. There were quite a few students testing - quite a few adults and kids testing for their first-degree Black Belt, a few testing for second-degree, and one guy testing for third (he was very good). Finally the call came to line up, and we did so. My friends told me I looked calm, but inside I was worried I was going to "blank out" during the test and not remember what I am supposed to be doing. I attempted to calm down by controlled breathing and clearing my mind, and waited for the test to begin.
The test itself consists of quite
a few tasks that must be performed satisfactorily. These include:
At this point we were told to put on our safety gear (padded gloves and booties), giving us our first breather. Then the kids were called out first, and performed their "Badit-chagi" drills, which are a type of defense drills. Once they were done, the adults were called back out for our turn.
After the power tests we were done - finally. Grandmaster Choi spoke to the candidates for about 30 minutes, and then the test was over. My instructor, Chuck Gettig (4th deg), told me that I did very well and that I did pass.
Whew!
The belt ceremony is tonight, where I will be officially awarded my Black Belt. Afterwards we are going to go out to (what else?) hibatchi and sushi at a great place nearby. I can't wait. I am sure Debbie will take pictures of the ceremony, but until then here are a few pics (with descriptions - click on the pic for details) that Deb took during my testing.
This is a major achievement for me. I have always wanted to study martial arts, but never did as a kid. Then, after I had my accident I was pretty sure I wouldn't be able to do anything physical anymore, and this was very discouraging and depressing to me because I was so active before the accident. Then I found Choi Kwang Do, mainly because my son Tommy began taking it at pre-K and we started taking him to the CKD school instead. After talking with Chuck I decided to give it a go, and Chuck helped me modify the kicks so that they would be effective for me while still being a part of the pattern. Since then I have come so far, and I am very proud of what I have accomplished; however it would not have been possible at all without the help of Chuck and Jennifer Gettig at Buford CKD, the other students and instructors there, and most especially the support of my wife Deb and my kids.
Sorry this is so long - but it was such a big day for me I wanted to capture it all down, if not for anyone else but myself so I can remember it forever.
Pil sung!
Rock
**Always keep a song in your heart -- it's like karaoke for the voices in your head.
- Your highest pattern (which is Brown Senior for those testing for first-degree) - each belt has a pattern (a series of blocks, punches, and kicks), which is similar to Karate's katas. For each color of belt, you have two sets of patterns, both left and right sides. the solid belt pattern is one-sided, meaning you face one direction the whole time. The "senior" belt pattern for a color is a four sided pattern (meaning you wind up facing front, back, left, and right when performing the pattern) comprised of the solid belt pattern performed in four directions, tied together with turns, plus an extra movement at the end. The Brown Senior pattern is 9 techniques (i.e. punches, blocks, or kicks) for each side, three turns, plus a special type of punch at the end. So, the pattern is 40 movements (if I counted right). For this portion of the test you wind up doing your highest pattern 6-8 times, both sides (i.e starting in a right fronce and starting in a left front stance), for a total of 12-16 times through the pattern. By the end of this segment I was already working up a good sweat, and was thankful for the headband keeping the sweat out of my eyes (with contacts in).
- All patterns at your own pace, both sides - There are 9 colors before black (white, yellow, gold, orange, green, blue, purple, red, brown), and each color has two belts in it ("solid" and "senior"). For this portion of the test you had to do all of the senior patterns for each color, both sides. Each pattern varies in size, but most of them are around the 40 movements (different movements, mind you) size mentioned for Brown Senior. So, you had to go through the 9 senior (i.e. four-sided) patterns for both sides, at your own pace - with no assistance. Now, I have done this many (hundreds? thousands?) of times, but let me tell you it is unnerving to be trying to remember what you are supposed to be doing when there are all these people around you doing similar stuff, but not at the same pace as you, so as you turn different directions you see people doing different (but similar) movements. I had to start over on a pattern or two, but eventually I did finish. Overall this exercise takes about 15 minutes to complete - and by the end of it you are worn out (and nowhere near done with the test).
- Speed drills - speed drills are designed to help you increase your reflexive response. They are similar to patterns, but are shorter and are performed much faster. Each color (excluding white, so 8 colors) has two speed drills (solid and senior), and you perform it on both sides (left and right). So, 16 drills on each side, for a total of 32. The testing instructor calls each speed drill by name (e.g. "yellow senior speed drill, left side"), and you perform it. Three times. On both sides. After going through all of them once, we looped back around and went through orange senior again. By this time I was pretty beat, but my spirits were high - I know I did well on the speed drills.
At this point we were told to put on our safety gear (padded gloves and booties), giving us our first breather. Then the kids were called out first, and performed their "Badit-chagi" drills, which are a type of defense drills. Once they were done, the adults were called back out for our turn.
- Badit-chagi - You basically stand with your hands down, and your attacker comes at you. You counter with a stopping kick or punch (based on proximity), and then follow up with various kick/punch combinations while the other guy (another testing candidate) blocks your attack. Then it swaps, and you come at him and he attacks you while you move, dodge, and block. I actually like Badit-chagi, it is where I can see that I really have learned something.
- Badit-chagi with shields - This is basically the same as regular Badit-chagi, except that your opponent is holding an "air shield". This means that he isn't blocking your attack, but you do get to go full-strength against the shield. This is also pretty fun, but exhausting.
- All-out shield attack - this is called right after Badit-chagi with shields, and instead of doing a few kick/punch combinations like in Badit-chagi you go all-out against the shield. The shieldholder is moving around, and you are reacting to the movement and pressing with an unrelenting attack until the test instructor calls stop. This drill is very tiring.
- Power test - The power test is to test your ability to deliver the indicated kick or punch using the right technique with maximum power and effectiveness. The candidates line up in a horseshoe, facing outwards where there is a line of instructors holding airshields. The test instructor calls out a kick or punch, but from what I understand it is almost always one of the spinning kicks. When the kick is called the instructor indicates we start and each candidate performs the kick, one at a time, in rapid order starting with the person at one end of the "U" and continuing around to the other end. The two kicks I had to perform (repeatedly from both sides - 4 times on each side I believe) were the spinning side kick and the spinning reverse swing kick. I was pretty happy with my performance in this test, mainly for my own personal achievement. When I started Choi Kwang Do I couldn't kick above the knee because of the damage to my hip and knees. Now I am kicking very solidly at waist level, which is a pretty good accomplishment. Oh, and of course on the last kick I performed I felt some tendons in my left knee twinge, and have had to walk with a cane Saturday and Sunday. It still hurts today, but is better. Nice mental picture, huh? Black Belt using a cane and gimping along ;)
After the power tests we were done - finally. Grandmaster Choi spoke to the candidates for about 30 minutes, and then the test was over. My instructor, Chuck Gettig (4th deg), told me that I did very well and that I did pass.
Whew!
The belt ceremony is tonight, where I will be officially awarded my Black Belt. Afterwards we are going to go out to (what else?) hibatchi and sushi at a great place nearby. I can't wait. I am sure Debbie will take pictures of the ceremony, but until then here are a few pics (with descriptions - click on the pic for details) that Deb took during my testing.
This is a major achievement for me. I have always wanted to study martial arts, but never did as a kid. Then, after I had my accident I was pretty sure I wouldn't be able to do anything physical anymore, and this was very discouraging and depressing to me because I was so active before the accident. Then I found Choi Kwang Do, mainly because my son Tommy began taking it at pre-K and we started taking him to the CKD school instead. After talking with Chuck I decided to give it a go, and Chuck helped me modify the kicks so that they would be effective for me while still being a part of the pattern. Since then I have come so far, and I am very proud of what I have accomplished; however it would not have been possible at all without the help of Chuck and Jennifer Gettig at Buford CKD, the other students and instructors there, and most especially the support of my wife Deb and my kids.
Sorry this is so long - but it was such a big day for me I wanted to capture it all down, if not for anyone else but myself so I can remember it forever.
Pil sung!
Rock
**Always keep a song in your heart -- it's like karaoke for the voices in your head.
Blog Roll
Comments
All that hard work really has paid off. Now you can watch my back while I piss off all the IBM people again.
Posted by Andrew Pollack At 07:57:22 PM On 09/19/2005 | - Website - |
Good Job.....You need to be an event planner not working on Domino!
Wax on......Wax off!
Man that was lame of me. Way to go, and may you knees stay well lubricated.
Posted by David V At 10:42:11 PM On 09/19/2005 | - Website - |
Posted by Liz Olsen At 05:11:45 PM On 09/19/2005 | - Website - |
Good for you!
---* Bill
Posted by Wild Bill At 01:44:22 PM On 09/20/2005 | - Website - |
Posted by DD At 02:05:01 AM On 09/20/2005 | - Website - |
Posted by Debbie At 10:18:30 AM On 09/20/2005 | - Website - |
Posted by Chris Whisonant At 07:58:17 AM On 09/20/2005 | - Website - |
Posted by Ellie MacIsaac At 04:29:45 PM On 09/19/2005 | - Website - |
Posted by jonvon At 03:46:42 AM On 09/20/2005 | - Website - |
Posted by Ben Langhinrichs At 01:07:59 AM On 09/20/2005 | - Website - |
Congrats!
Posted by Duffbert At 07:08:32 PM On 09/19/2005 | - Website - |
This goes well with the marketing of ND7, doesn't it! Not only does ND7 dominate, but you do also!
Posted by Ray Bilyk (aka The Lion King) At 01:06:34 PM On 09/20/2005 | - Website - |
Posted by Rob McDonagh At 11:10:37 AM On 09/20/2005 | - Website - |
My advice is ice and a beer (but not ice IN the beer ...yuck)
Posted by Joe Litton At 10:20:21 PM On 09/19/2005 | - Website - |
Posted by Andrew Pollack At 08:41:25 PM On 09/19/2005 | - Website - |
Posted by Rob At 06:34:36 PM On 09/19/2005 | - Website - |
-Devin.
Posted by Devin Olson At 03:41:13 PM On 09/19/2005 | - Website - |
Congrats, man. That's a great achievement.
Posted by Nathan T. Freeman At 03:51:27 AM On 09/20/2005 | - Website - |