Peggy's Hapkido test

Saturday, March 14, I bravely set out to Mr. Lim's Hapkido studio in Layton to test for my yellow belt. I had been sick with the stomach flu on Thursday and missed my hapkido class. So, it was with quite a bit of hesitation that I went through with my test. I wondered if I was really ready and I still felt uncertain about what to expect, though many classmates had reassured me that I would know everything.

Julie, my friend Brandy's step-daughter, went along with Bryce, me, Mariah and Emma. Julie let me know I was only testing with white belts that day. With Julie's help, when we arrived I began to stretch out. I noticed about 3/4 of the class was very young, approximately 12 years and under. I noted how amazingly agile they were.

The instructors, under Mr. Lim's direction, placed all of us in what I suppose was age order from the front of the class to the back. I was the last person to be given a spot. I can only assume I was the oldest. A very tall, slender, teenage-looking guy was ordered to swap places with me, so that now Mr. Lim could see me. If only I could have remained hidden, I thought. But, then I had to swallow my nerves and buck up, readying for the test.

It seemed to go very fast. We went through the kicks quickly. The instructor who was calling it knows Korean, and so his pronunciation didn't sound the same as the teenage black belts who often call in my class. You had to be quick and decisive when you heard his commands or you missed the opportunity to carry out the command.

With the first part over, my courage grew, but then it was dashed as we were ordered to line up in reverse order and three successive commands were announced before I could even digest what they were. I had three people ahead of me from which to learn before I was up and needed to perform them. The three men were done and I was up and my mind was still reeling. I had performed each of these elements, but not quite in this small of a room--the scenario was somehow uncomfortably different.

I hit my offensive stance, rolled, hit offense again and then twice messed up my first jumping front kick. The instructor went through the series with me and the third time I got it. The next jump also took three tries, but the final jump I did in two tries. It was shaky, but now I believe the steps are permanantly written in my memory.

The final series of testing were the roundhouse kicks and the outside to inside/jumping outside to inside. These I performed well, except for the one roundhouse where I fell on my behind. The floor was very slick and offered pretty much no traction.

Julie says I shouldn't be ashamed of falling because it just means I was trying very hard. I didn't cry. That was a good sign. It felt good to have the test over and I was very pleased that I had followed through with it. I look forward to improving and having the opportunity to test again, and hopefully next time I can avoid falling and develop the confidence to trust what I have learned and perform it well the first time.