Its official - I got my Black Belt!

Sabumnim presented us with our new ranks tonight in class. All five of us who tested on Saturday passed! We now have 3 high belts in class. Poor Travis gets to start learning advanced basics and an whole new movement style! Its so exciting to see him progress to blue belt. Pete did a great job on this test and is now a green-tip. He worked so hard for that, I'm glad that he achieved it. Ardi, of course, was stressing even today that she didn't pass. I told her not to worry - and she got her green belt tonight! She's happy. Matt got his first stripe on his red belt. Only one more test before he tests for probationary black! Its great to see him move up! Lastly, Sabumnim presented me with my black belt! I am honored and excited. He has been teaching in Nebraska for many years (since 1997, I think), and I'm his first full black. Yep, the belt looks cool. :)

We took a photo of everyone who tested prior to class tonight and he is going to submit it to the local paper. They may print it, they may not. Its always "iffy" on what they will and will not print, but sports are a little thin right now, so we might get some space. It would be cool for the community to see what there is at the Nebraska Hapkido Association.

Here is the crew who tested! Don't we look like fun!?!?


Here is the video of some of the board breaks for this test. You can also see it through the link to the NHA blog in the previous post, but here it is:


I started Hapkido in June of 2000. I had been looking for a self defense class, and found Sabumnim's web page. At that time, I emailed him and asked him about the class, what we would learn, etc. He suggested I watch a class or two and decide if it was something I wanted to learn. I was ready to go watch, but had to take a Biochemistry class that happened to be at the exact same time as Hapkido. So, I emailed him back and told him that I would return in 6 months. Much to his dismay, I did return to watch a class. I showed up on a Thursday and pretty much immediately decided that I NEEDED to learn this stuff! I got to watch Michelle throw Jonathan around and was very jazzed to learn how to do that! Michelle is a petite female and Jonathan is quite stocky. I've never been a small female, so I figured if she could do it, I could! I told him that I was ready to sign up. I showed up on the following Tuesday, paid my fee, and have never looked back!! -- okay, that's not completely true. I am definitely one of the people that needed to pay that first three months at once. I remember not being able to walk after the first couple of classes. I think I would have quit had it not been for the fact that I'd already paid for 3 months! I'm so glad that I did go back.

Hapkido has helped me grow in so many ways that I could not imagine my life without it. It is a part of who I am now, and I can honestly say that I like who I am. I may not like my physical self, but I like my mental and emotional self just fine. I'm also pretty thankful that it brought me to my husband. I still don't see my husband in class, its Sabumnim, and I'm quite glad that we can keep that separate. However, it would be nice, during tests, to see my husband's support and not Sabumnim's judging expression.

All in all, it is an outstanding milestone for me. I started just over 8 years ago. Normally, full black in our style of Hapkido takes about 3.5 years -- IF you go to every class and work very hard. I was able to go faithfully for one full year before leaving for Palmer College for 3 years. After I returned, my mind was willing, but my body was not able to do the same level of technique and skill that I had before I left. It was quite frustrating to feel like I was "starting over" but again, I'm glad I didn't give up. It is now 4 years later, and I finally achieved my black belt. I'm not planning to quit anytime soon. This is simply a first step. There is so much that I have to work on to get better at, and so much more to learn. Another journey has just begun for me in Hapkido.....however, now I have at least two years before I have to endure another test. :) :) :)

Black Belt Test

Yesterday was my test in Hapkido for my full black belt. I achieved my probationary black belt in January, and in our association, you have to test again for full black in six months. That was yesterday. Like all of my tests thus far, I was nervous. I know that I knew the techniques and such, but was nervous about a test. The tests are tough. Yesterday's test for Matt (red belt) and I lasted about 3.5 hours. The last hour or so though was board breaks for all of us testing, so we were only working hard for abut 2.5 hours! :) There were 5 of us testing, and for Sabumnim, that had to be difficult to administer. There were 5 different rank levels to watch and grade!

It was so cool, however, that so many people came to watch & support my test. My in-laws were there and that was awesome! My parents couldn't make the long trip, and that is okay. I'll send them a video of it when Thomas gets it done. Most of my friends from Lincoln made it. Michelle, the black belt in Lincoln, was there as well. I have always admired her, and looked to her as a mentor in Hapkido. This was an especially difficult test for me with her there, as this test now takes me to full black, and she had to stop at probationary. She was quite supportive and had wonderful things to say after the test. I felt so honored that she was there. All our other friends made it from Lincoln - Gerry, Todd, Chris, Megan. I didn't expect everyone to come, and it was wonderful to see their support. Of course, once the test started, I didn't notice anyone, but it was great to get congratulations after!!!

I was able to demonstrate some fun things during this test. I'll post some pictures and video later. During board breaks, Sabumnim handed me 4 boards and told me to set up holders for a series. The only "rule" was that I had to have at least one hand/arm technique and one foot/leg technique. Oh, and I had to move smoothly from one to the next. I set up a series of an outside elbow strike, then palm heel, then knee strike, then front kick. I broke every board in turn on the first attempt. It was so fun! After everyone else did their breaks, I had to attempt 2 paving bricks of 1 3/4 in each. Unfortunately, I didn't break them. I was disappointed, but I know that I let my head get in the way. We went to buy the bricks earlier in the week, and once I saw them, I told myself I couldn't break them. I'll ask Sabumnim if I can retry to break them in a few months. I KNOW I'll get them this time! :)

After the test, Sabumnim usually asks each of us questions about terminology & such. This time, he simply asked me if I was a black belt. I could honestly, without reservation, tell him that "yes, I am a black belt." I know that I know the basic techniques, feel that I can teach them correctly - even if I can't do them correctly 100% of the time. I know that I can live up to the responsibility that wearing the black belt requires. This is such an amazing milestone for me, and I have to admit that I am proud of myself! --- of course, today, I feel like I've been run over by a mack truck, but its a "good hurt"! :)

Again, I'll post some pictures and video when Thomas gets them done. I think he's going to make a small video of my board breaks, and perhaps some others of practicals. It was a good test, and I'm happy to say that now I have 2 years off of testing before I have to go through it again!

Thomas posted a video of the board breaks on the Nebraska Hapkido Association blog. Here's the link: NHA Blog I am not sure if he's going to post more video & pictures, so check back! :)