Almost a Black Belt
Written by Alice Jester
This week, I received my new Taekwondo ranking, Senior Red Belt. That's one rank away from Probationary Black Belt, the lowest black belt ranking. That statement alone can be considered a miracle in some circles. I see it more as beating the odds.
When I started this journey back in February 2007 as a White Belt at the age of 39 years old, I couldn't imagine my body would hold up that long. Given the aches and pains I come home with now, I'm certainly pushing limits. Still, after almost keeling over from sparring for two intense minutes a 13 year old that flies like an aerialist with jumps I can barely manage to get a few inches off the ground with, I recover and show up a few days later, ready for more. I'm insane, but I'm a determined insane person.
In the past eight months I've rolled my right ankle twice. Those old creaky knees take their turns over which one will fail on me while doing a side kick on my form. My left hip often prevents me from getting in a round kick above the knees, let alone to the head like everyone else. I won't even go into how winded I get after taking a class where a good chunk of the students are half my age.
Last week's test was the worst one yet. We had three chances to do the form correctly. I was the only one told to do the form a third time. I don't know why because I remember doing it right the second time, but maybe there was something that wasn't right. Maybe it was that stumble on the slow rear leg side kick, or the running jump kick that barely cleared an ant hill, or the 360 jump spin in the air that only went 280. The third time went much better, but was it enough?
Then I had to do three rounds of sparring, two minutes each. I got paired with all teenagers. They had no choice since there are no other adults in my rank, or even close to the higher levels of colored belt. Of the ones that I started with, they've either dropped out or gone onto black belt. Each round I'd lose steam about 1 minute 20 seconds in, and the referree would whisper messages like "keep up the pace Mrs. Jester." Isn't there some sort of grading curve when a 40 year old woman has to go against 13 and 14 year old boys?
Then there was breaking wood. Even though I routinely crack on the first try, I missed the first time. Maybe it was the fatigue, the lack of focus, or the sore ankle, but I was mad. In a final show of frustration, I went up there at my second attempt and cracked it good. I think I scared some people.
Still, I nervously listened for the phone on Monday, wondering if I was going to get that call that I wasn't good enough and failed the test. That the black belt dream would be pushed back two months. No call came, and there was an intense amount of pride going through me this evening as I struggled through my aches and pains wearing that new red belt with the black stripe for the first time. It made me want to go on, even though the less than half my age instructor berated me for trying to do intense drills on the bad ankle. Older adults are quite pig headed, for we have something to prove. It goes to show though they are watching out for all of us.
My ten year old daughter tested at the same time, although she was in the kids division. She passed easily, but is still one ranking behind mom. That's my hellbent goal, to get that black belt first. I have until December, in which my sparring test involves going an intense round with a higher ranked black belt, so I've already got the Rocky like training regiment planned. Except the raw eggs, I'm not doing that!
In the meantime, I need to get up and get those fresh ice packs for my hip and ankle. After all, I have class again in two days.
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