Testing Night in Martial Arts

I can’t say enough about the benefits of martial arts. Self defense may be its primary benefit but it is the one we hope we never have to use. The benefits that we do enjoy every day are physical health, confidence that helps in other aspects of our lives, and the feeling of accomplishment from working to achieve a goal.

April 23, 2009 was testing night at the Upper Marlboro Martial Arts Center. I tested for third degree black belt and two of our younger guys tested for black belt. This was the culmination of many weeks of concentrated practice. Everyone was a bit nervous. It was a night that makes all of the work worth while.

I started the night as a tester. As a senior black belt; judging is one of my responsibilities. It is difficult at times to remain objective when you have trained along side these young guys and you know how hard they have worked. I just remind myself that it was not my place to minimize their accomplishment by letting them receive something that they didn’t deserve. I knew these guys and I knew it was unlikely that they would not pass the test.

They had to execute many forms and demonstrate many self defense techniques. The judges watched and evaluated each step. In Tang Soo Do all of the ranks before black belt are called GUP ranks and all of the ranks from black belt and beyond are called DAN ranks. Becoming DAN is like moving from middle school to high school. Your training is not over; it just starts at a new level.

After their test was completed it was my turn. The third DAN test is actually less involved than the DAN test. There are very few new techniques to be demonstrated in the third DAN test, but the third DAN student must show a high level of precision and style in his or her forms and self defense techniques.

In the above picture I was caught half way through a crescent kick. This was part of the form Peanon Three. It is a snappy turtle form with crescent kicks and stomps in its middle section. I was required to ready to demonstrate any of the twenty forms that I had learned; I actually had to do four selected by the judges.

The test was not is easy and I certainly didn’t do a perfect job, but I felt good when I was done. I was wet and exhausted and there isn’t a better feeling.

At the end of the night all of the black belts got together.  The lady to my right is Ms. Ann Myers.  She is my demo partner and one step away from master.  She can throw me around pretty good; that’s for sure.  The man in the center is Master John Baylor.  You will not find a finer instructor anywhere.