We practiced by a lake pretty much in the middle of new mexico in the center of nowhere xD Everyone collected fire wood then separated into groups to test. The black belts tested by themselves and weren't allowed to talk the whole night and morning except when we answered to our instructor. We had to do the same thing pretty much except got to talk during dinner and the early hours of the morning. And trust me, when i say early, i mean EARLY. ( i'll explain in a sec.) Me and my dad were sent with the white belts and a orange belt to test (awesome cause we were the highest ranks being tested and had more fun xD ) we went through a pretty brutal warm up of push ups, jumping jacks and various other things in sand, weeds and on rocks. The area where we stayed was very beautiful, a perfect view of the lake and a great place to practice our material. After well over 200 push ups or so along with presenting small combinations of techniques we call elements, we had a small water break! (in which we had to run to get the water)
The black belts testing for their 2nd rank had to display their skills to lead a class, so me and a white belt were paired to one of them (which happened to be Ms.Day, a fantasic friend of mine. She's a very nice woman. a great person and friend overall really <3 ) we reviewed basics for about an hour then stopped for some dinner :3
my dad and i tore hard at some chicken strips and chips while sipping on some water and a redbull (to keep up our energy)
After a yummy dinner and a lot of laughs, we geared up for some free fighting! The place was really rocky and was pretty dark, so the black belts were told to go ahead and find a place to hind then the other ranks had to find and fight them. Sparring at nigh! always fun >3<
We found a few of them pretty quickly and i had an epic battle with one xD Thats when Mauzy showed up...
Mauzy is one hell of a guy, to put it in simple terms xD
He's a great guy too (everyone in the class is to tell ya x3 ) and really funny. He'll make up the most random s**t and tweak it so we always laugh... He was testing for his black belt so i got a chance to fight him :3
All together i fought 3 black belts and walked out with a cut wrist, finger, knee, several bad bruises and a bump on my head from an exceptionally hard hit to the top of the head xP
it was about 7:45 then and pitch black (yeah, we all thought it was kinda funny... ) Our main teacher, Master Dan Gnos, gave us shifts to watch the fire all night so it wouldn't go out. (we despratly needed it that morning so i was really glad we had it) I slept in the back of my car (talk about feeling like a hobo xD ) untill about 4 in the morning, me and my dad's shift. We takled to 2 black belts for about an hour until everyone else woke up. We waited till the sun started to rise and fired straight into more warm ups and technical stuff. We sat on our knees and held rocks that were pretty heavy above our heads while the 2nd degree black belts preformed their material. Sounds easy? not when your hands are so cold that they hurt! By the end of that everyone's arms were limp and hads hurt. ( oh and before we had to hold the rock, we had to do more push ups cause a white belt wasnt ready... damn kid -_- ) We came up by ranks then and preformed our belt forms. A series of techniques put in order as an attack as well as defence stratagy. The poor white belts didnt answer up loud enough and had to do 10 clap push ups about the head... those ones had to hurt! It was only the white belts luckily so I just had to watch. Trust me, it just looked painful. Kids were hitting their faces and stomachs pretty hard and a few looked really hurt afterward, even though we were on sand. (the sand was pretty hard since we were on a bank.) The orange belt did his form then it was me and my dad's turn. We ran foreward and yelled responces as loud as we could. Our voices were kinda horse from the previous day's yells but we lived. We did our forms, he bowed us out and yelled a compliment to us. (we were the only ones that really answered loudly. I've been in tests before and yelling loudly helps alot and the instructors like it a lot.) after a quick warm up by the fire, We lined up along side of the lake and held a push up possision with our hands in the water. It wasnt as cold as i imagined it would be, but none the less, pretty damn cold! We held it for about five minutes then ressumed a sitting possision (on dry land xD) and got to watch live blade cutting from the 2nd degree black belts. They cut water jugs using techniques with a live blade. Those things are NOT toys! I've known someone who accidentaly touched the sharp edge of his blade and had to get 8 stitches in his thumb because it had cut him straight to the bone! yeah, we're dead serious when we handle those ones... After the live blades, we went through a quick ceremony, recieved our new belts and it all ended! Everyone was hugging everyone else and handing our congrats to anyone who passed. One of my best friends, Britnnie Chavez (hope i spelled that right...) and Mauzy tested for their blacks so i was really proud when they got em. Since they were only allowed to eat rice and water plus not sleep at all the whole night, britnnie and mauzy about melted from happiness when Master Gnos gave them some food xD So now i have a brown belt and are two ranks from testing for MY black belt. This was one of the hardest test i went through but also one of the funnest in my opinions...
So now i sit here on my couch trying to type out the last of this and my arms/legs barely moving... It was hard, but totally worth it all 3nodding
TIME FOR PICTURES OF IT ALL! blaugh
i'll post a picture and a caption of who it is of and what was happening. My own teacher, Mr. Walker, took pictures actually DURING the test so when i get a chance, i'll grab those from him and post 'em here too, kay? heart
first one!
This is everyone who tested today! it was taken this morning, you can tell since we all look exhausted xD
Here's Britnnie when we were all waiting for everyone to arrive outside of wal-mart. We gathered then all drove out to where we tested...
me and my dad on our way to testing... and our doom xP
Britnnie and Ms.Day when we arrived to the spot
me and Britnnie
me and Ms.Day
My dad and once again, Ms.Day xD (she's a popular one xD )
this is where we tested! pretty, no?
everyone setting up for dinner...
I present to you, Mr.Walker!!!!! he's my instructor and a awesome guy... did i mention he loved batman to death??? xd xd xd
DINNER TIIIIIME!!!!!
Me getting ready to feel what its like to be a hobo and live in a car rofl
Britnnie the next morning when we passed the test and finished up, she was so happy for it to be over xD
Britnnie again with her "victory look"
This is Mr.Quick, he was a black belt testing for his 2nd degree. He's really nice and talkative >3<
... a mr.walker moment... these are common for him rofl
This now is Ms. Emric, another black belt that tested for her 2nd degree. She's a tough bad a** chick especially with her live blade. Again, she's a great friend and overall awesome :3
And this is Mauzy xD 19 year old with the mind of a 7 year old rofl
he's a close friend of me and Britnnie and always is funny. Whether it be some random jokes or a vulgar motion/jokes again...
as this explains that last caption xD
Mauzy giving his "metal hand" to the camera.
and that is IT!
when i get the pictures from Mr.Walker i shall post those, but for now, thats everything! heart
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