It’s now several months since it happened, but I can still feel the taste of blood in my mouth ever time I take out my dobok: 4th cup grading! The grading took place in the usual place – room 5 in the university sports building. There was four of us in total, and two of us going for the magical red belt. What is so special about the red belt you might ask? 4th cup is still a long way from the grand goal of black. But you see, even though every grading is though, and even though it gets tougher at ever level, it’s not until you try for red you know what hard work means.
The whole thing started out with some repeat theory questions. We had all done some small mistakes on the written part the day before and they needed correction. We were all happy to pass, but this was only the beginning. Enter single techniques. Walking back and forth like we martial artists love so much we were all required to perform with extreme power a complete set of techniques – blocks, punches, kicks and combinations. I know I got at least two of them wrong, but had there been an actual person I was hitting at I can assure you, he would not have cared. I gave it 120% from the first stance.
After the technical bit came the padkicking. Thanks to the invaluable help of my trainer Farid I had spent the past two weeks learning and perfecting the new kicks, yet I have to admit – I was quite nervous. I felt I had OK control over the regular kicks, but the flying kicks – no way. Even today they need a lot of work, but at least I hit the pad. Most of the times that is…
From padkicking to patterns. And where do I begin… I am very fond of patterns and had put in hours practicing. Not only in the dojo but at home and even in the park. (I don’t think Gopi my dog was too fond of that…) And yet we all get number one wrong! Not the techniques, but the moving around bit. When performing a pattern you are suppose to end up on the exact spot where you started. I still can’t see how that is possible, but I keep trying and trying and maybe some day I’ll get it right…
Anyway, after several attempts on the first pattern and I think three mistakes in subsequent ones, I got through that part as well. And by now I was exhausted. Not like “oh, I’m beat” exhausted but really exhausted exhausted. I had no idea how to get trough the rest, and after the failed kicks and mistakes in the pattern I was rather sure I had failed. But I didn’t give in. I had given it my all and I wasn’t about to stop here. A quick change into combat gear and enter 3 minutes sparring. 30 seconds later I’m down after a knee butt to my tail bone. I really had trouble getting up. But thanks to my friend adrenaline eventually I got there and was able to – rather ungracefully I’m afraid – complete the last two minutes and a half of trying to get in a few nice kicks and counters.
Two minutes later I’m changing the breaking setup I’ve been preparing for weeks. There is absolutely no way I’m able to break anything with a jumping kick at this stage. Having placed my three companions at their respective locations around me I start. The first one goes down. It’s an easy punch from the side with the side of the hand. Second – my now altered kick. I had planned to go for a jumping front kick but last minute I change it to a regular sidekick. Easy match. Last plate and the last thing I’ll do before I’m done – the left handed side punch. First attempt… Fails. Second attempt… Fails! Third attempt… Fails!! Knuckles bleeding, I start to see red. There is absolutely no way this d*** plate is going to beat me! Fourth attempt…. Fails… Almost! At the last second the two part separate and I’m done. I have given everything. Absolutely everything, and I’m sure I’ll fail.
But no. After careful consideration and with the strict message to learn the horse-kick we are allowed to go on to the next level – I get my red belt.
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Some three months later I am still practising the horse-kick. Unfortunately the club I have joined here in Dublin practises a different style and I am unsure if I’ll be able to learn all that I need to try for 3rd cup by christmas, but I have not given up hope to one day reach the golden goal. The black belt will some day be mine!
