In BBC I've learned a form with the nunchucks. I was introduced to the bo. We're now learning flying side kicks. That's right, I wrote "flying side kicks." It's what you're picturing: Jackie Chan or Jet Li or Bruce Lee flying at an opponent with one leg aimed straight at his head, the other tucked under his body, foot flying forward like the other, fists raised between his face and his opponent's. Yes, it's awesome.
On April 3rd, I tested for my Green Belt. This is a biggie. I'd heard that you break a board during this testing. When I received my "Intent To Promote" sheet, I learned I'd be breaking two. One with my elbow. The other with a side kick.
Oh yeah.
I felt SO ready. I was so eager. There was no doubt in my mind that I was going to break those boards. I wasn't even nervous.
The Graffs were in town for E.B.'s birthday and they came to testing. Isaac was also testing, for his gold with green stripe. (We're both green belts!) My parents came. Aaron made it at the very end. There were a ton of people! I've never seen so many students being tested before! It was actually quite lengthy. Part of that is because there were five people breaking boards. Four kids and me.
Master Turnhout takes her time talking to the students before the board breaking about the mentality, the goal, the meaning of it.
It's symbolic, but a literal one. It's an obstacle in your way that you break through. She said two important things to remember: 1. Use your voice - key-ai. That vibration helps channel your energy where you want it to go - through the board. 2. Aim for your target that is behind the board. Not on the back of it, but a couple of inches behind the board. You need to break straight through the board to hit your target.
In turn, we each handed her our two boards and she chose the one we'd use first (elbow).
Sir Sherwyn held my board and I was thrilled that he was randomly (or was it?) the one I was partnered with. I love Sir Sherwyn. His energy and enthusiasm are absolutely contagious. His speed and determination in his own practice (and I'm thinking how he runs with KMA at the park on Saturdays before class, too) are inspiring. He held the board while I took many practice aims.
Then it was time. Master Turnhout cues the students and the audience to cheer us on...
and crack! Elbow through the board! No problem!
With the second board, the process was the same. Sir Sherwyn held it for me. I took many practice kicks. I really felt ready. Again, there was no doubt in my mind about breaking that board. While I was practicing, Sir reminded me to use my voice. Then it was time. Ma'am cued the crowd and...
smash! Right in half!
Though I forgot to key-ai, I'd done it. I'd broken both boards. I hit the target on the other side of those obstacles. I was ready to move on to the next phase of my Black Belt training.
A green belt is a higher belt. After we complete warm-ups at the beginning of each class, we get a tiny break for some water, and then the higher belts, green and up, move to the front, usually with Master Turnhout. The other belts are in the back with a different teacher (usually Ma'am Laura or Sir Ken).
So now I move to the front. I am the newbie in this group of higher belts. I love that I get to learn so much new stuff and to have these students to observe as models. And I get to start sparring!
Perhaps the best part was later, when I decided that the next obstacle in my life was not having run a longer race. A 10k. I decided that was the obstacle I needed to face, to meet head on, and move through.
On April 28th I'm running with Stef in the Victory for Victims 10k at Lake Balboa.
Wish me luck.
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