The First Milestone

My first Black Belt Pre-Test went well yesterday. I arrived almost an hour early, allowing plenty of time to warm up and stretch, and also to review my lower belt forms. I was expecting a very tough afternoon. But as So Bom Nim explained at the outset, the purpose of the session was not drill-and-kill, but evaluation, to see what candidates need more training in what areas.

So for two hours we moved quickly and efficiently through terminology, forms, Il Soo Sik (One-Step Sparring) and kicking. It turned out that some other subjects, including sparring combinations, Ho Sin Sul (Self-Defense), and history/culture, had been covered the night before in the Black Belt Prep class.

Terminology is one of my strengths, so I had no trouble for the most part. There was one combination that threw me, but I can't remember now what it was. All I know is that it didn't sound familiar, so I hope it comes up again in class a few times so I can figure it out before the next pre-test in July.

In forms I was doing okay until I got distracted in the middle of Pyung Ahn Sa Dan and had to bow out. The same thing happened a couple more times on other forms, too. I was by no means the only one having trouble, though. I think there was only one form where nobody bowed out.

For the Il Soo Sik portion, after a change in proctors announcing the techniques to be performed, it took a few minutes to establish a rhythm. During that time I fumbled a few times, but after we all got squared away I did all right until we got to #17 and #18; then I started out with the wrong foot. Sa Bom Nim stopped me and gave me this correction: Whichever foot your opponent leads with, you mirror with the opposite foot; so if your opponent steps in and punches with the right foot, you step out to the left. (Does that sound right?)

My partner for the kicking portion of the pre-test was my friend Janet, who received her promotion to Ee Dan in April. She is younger than I am, but we are both members of the gray-haired sorority, and I feel much more secure with her as my partner than with a bored twelve-year-old. She must have made me look good, because afterward my grandson complimented me on my kicking.

At the very end of the pre-test, Sa Bom Nim announced that each of us candidates would be assigned to a particular instructor who would help us prepare. My mentor/tutor will be Ms. Hennessey; her other charges will be two other adults (Power-Break Jim and my friend Jennie) and two of the younger, smaller children. Should be interesting if she decides to have us all meet for extra training together.

I really appreciate all the effort that Sa Bom Nim and the staff are taking to make sure that we candidates are well prepared. It takes away a lot of the anxiety associated with testing to be assured that they truly wish us well. As Sa Bom Nim expressed it, they want us to be "pre-framed for success."

So now we can buckle down and train even harder, focusing on areas where we now know we need to improve. Then next month's second pre-test can bring about even further refinement, so that by the time we come to the actual testing in October we will really be ready.