10 minutes of clapping!

When Ryan was a baby I started attending TaeKwondo classes at our daycare/fitness center with the babysitter. I really enjoyed it and loved learning new moves and self defense. I progressed gradually, as I did have a small family to take care of too... Eventually I made it to Black Belt by the time Ryan was 7 or so.

He started about that time.

The time he got to his red belt (aka 1st degree Black belt) was at one of the testings in a little town nearby. The judges (all 3rd & 4th degree Black Belts) were seated at the table at the front of the room with me and another 1st degree Black Belt as a floor judges. The floor judges basically warmed up the kids who were testing with exercises and yelled all the instructions so they would be showing proper respect for the judges. We also mediated for the sparring and board breaking sessions. It was a lot of fun and this was my first time being a floor judge.

Well, at the end of the testing, Ryan had passed! He had done his form, sparring & board breaks really well. I was very proud of him! I was ready to stand them all up and shout out the next command for them to "Line up! Face the judges!" But Master A (the highest ranking judge) who was still making remarks said that today was a very special day.

He said that not only was there a student here receiving their 1st degree Black Belt, but looking at the scores from a testing prior to this one, his mother is receiving her 2nd degree Black Belt also! As I'm standing there, it hadn't quite sunk in that he was talking about me! It finally registered as my own instructor came over with my new belt that had two yellow marks on it and had me change belts to that one in front of everyone!

The entire time everyone is clapping and cheering for me. It lasted 10 minutes! Or at least it seemed that way... All the clapping reminded me of the Little House on the Prairie episodes where everyone clapped and clapped and clapped and little Laura had all those tears in her eyes from happiness. I had tears in my eyes when Ryan ran up to hug me after the testing was over.
I quit TaeKwondo shortly after Meri was born. Ryan quit about that time too. I just didn't have time anymore with three kids! Meri just started again with my old instructor and tests in a couple weeks for her first time! Wish her luck!

A friend, in jest, once asked me what the criteria for getting to black belt was and asked if I had to rip the still beating heart out of a live cow. Oh course I said YES! At the time I used to joke (well - in actuality I guess it was true) that I could kill a man five different ways... Today, I'm sure it's only one or two ways that I still remember...