Another Karate Post

Just wanted to let you all know of our new karate statuses here in our household. Both little m's now don the white karate uniform each week for their lessons.  Yes, the youngest little m began his karate journey this past fall.  The big M, my wonderful honey, started back to classes after a 21 year break.  Because he earned his black belt  through ATA (American Tae Kwon Do Association) in high school, he was able to maintain the rank he had worked so hard to earn.  So in December he returned to the karate studio wearing his black belt.

This week was the first test since little m and big M started taking classes.  The oldest little M was testing for his brown belt, I was testing for my blue belt, and the newest member of the karate family was taking his first test for his orange belt.  The three of us tested on Tuesday night.  My wonderful honey worked the camera to capture all the special moments.

Both little m's performed wonderfully!  They knew their material inside and out.  From punches and kicks, to sparring and blocking.

Matt had to know his form and two one-steps.  One-steps are three and four moves chained together to prepare you for sparring (which we get to do in the higher ranks).

Mikey had to know his form, and spar with two classmates.

I had to know my form, three one-steps, and spar with two classmates.

At the end of the evening, Matt had is new orange belt, Mikey had his new brown belt, and I had a new blue belt.

On Wednesday night, Mike suited up for his first karate test in 21 years.  I may have mentioned this earlier in the post, but it does bear repeating.  If you stepped back from a sport, took a rest if you will, for 21 years, would you jump right back in?  Well, that is just what my amazing husband did.  He began taking classes again in December.  One month after the cycle began.  He had 30 less days to get his 18 necessary classes in than everyone else.  And he did it!  There were a couple of times he went to class twice a day!

So on Wednesday night, Mike dressed in his karate uniform and we all went back to the school where the karate tests are held.  This time I was behind the camera capturing the special moments and Mike was on the floor.

Mike's testing requirements were: his form, sparring with two classmates, and doing a board break.

This is part of Mike's form.

Here Mike has finished both palm heel strikes and is jumping for the side kick break.

Mike had to decide his own board break. He broke three boards:  two hand techniques (a palm heel strike with each hand) and a jump side kick.  He broke those three boards with ease.
While the little m's and I found out our results at the end of our test, Mike has to wait until results are sent into national head quarters and they return a letter with his score. I have no doubt that he passed his test.

While the three of us received new belts, once you receive a black belt testing runs a little differently.  Mike's test was a mid-term.  He has to take four mid-terms before he can take a test for his 2nd degree black belt next January.

A black belt is truly something you earn. It is also a lot of fun earning those belts as a family.