03.13.06 - Practice Out of Class
Met at Walt’s house in Raleigh
Sifu, Alex, Phyl and I met at Walt’s house for practice. Sifu had told me just today at work that he was going to test me this evening! I felt bad for taking up so much of their time when they really wanted to practice for the upcoming seminar. Bill seemed adamant about doing it and to tell the truth, I have been working on it every night this last week and felt pretty good about it mentally. Physically, I was tired from working all day but was determined not to allow for any excuses.
When I arrived, Sifu was getting the tripod and camera set up in Walt’s garage. We did a quick warm up and then the Purple belts stepped outside of camera range while Sifu and I proceeded with the test. I got past the initial salute just fine this time, thank you very much. I was having issues with my legs though; they felt like tree trunks and were about as flexible. They really started to hurt but I kept pressing forward trying to get through the test. About half way through, they started shaking from fatigue. I was bummed. I did my best to focus on the task at hand and just kept going. I don’t feel the test went as well as the pre-test in that I felt terrible by the time I finished. I was sweating like crazy and had a time trying to keep my legs underneath me. I was pretty sure that I was going to have to do this again and at that point was thankful to something that Sifu had told me during the day at work. He had said he would test me this evening and wasn’t going to tell me if I passed or not until the morning of the seminar. At least I wouldn’t have to take the bad news in front of the guys tonight.
We wrapped up the test and took down the camera. I was starting to feel a little better and began working out with the guys a little bit while Sifu finished packing up his camcorder. About the time he had finished, Sifu asked Walt if he had some ice. He was flexing his hand and said he didn’t know what he did but he wanted to ice it quickly. Walt verbalized the exact thought that went through my head: “How did you hurt yourself video taping?!” He and Walt went into the house and I started dummying for the other guys on their techniques. Bill and Walt came out a few minutes later and I inquired about his hand. He said he would be fine and started watching us do some techniques.
After a couple of minutes, Sifu asked the guys to come over and asked me to stand in front of him. He told me to kneel opposite him and I did so. He reached into his gi and took out a folded Orange belt. I don’t know if the shockwave that I felt actually registered on my face or not but Sifu proceeded with all seriousness. He had me remove my white belt and fold it in half before handing it to him. He tied a knot in the belt and presented it back to me. I then bowed low and touched my forehead to the Orange belt before me. As instructed, I picked it up and put it on, tying half of the knot. Sifu then tied the rest of the knot and congratulated me on passing the Orange belt test! He asked me if I wanted to be “kicked in” and I answered “Yes, sir” without hesitation. As is the custom, he had me assume a horse stance and then proceeded to deliver a thrust kick to the high stomach, sending me back several feet.
I couldn’t believe it. I passed! I was sure I was going to do this one over again. After saluting Sifu, I turned to Walt, Alex and Phyl and told them that I couldn’t have done it without their help too. They have invested an enormous amount of time in me and I feel grateful to have them as friends and training partners. I hope I can be there for them should they need me in the future. Thank you, Sifu, and thank you to Walt, Alex & Phyl for all of your help.
After I was awarded the belt, Sifu mentioned that the belt belonged to Walt, and that it was temporary until my own belt arrived. At this point, Walt stated that I could keep the belt, that it would be nice if it stayed in the group. I rather like that idea, actually. We joked around about how he had already broken it in so that the “antenna factor” was no longer an issue.
I had to leave early tonight because of a prior arrangement at home. I bowed out and left the group around 8:15 pm or so and headed home – still wearing my gi and new Orange belt. I wasn’t sure how or if Maria and Duncan would react when I got home. As it turned out, Duncan, my 6-year old son, was just inside the door and noticed the belt as soon as he realized it was me coming through the door. “Congratulations, Daddy! I’m so proud of you!” For some reason this just struck me humble for a moment and I gave him a great big hug. I put him down and went to show my wife, Maria.
She was upstairs and I approached her with my work out bag slung over my shoulder but hanging in front of me, blocking her view of the belt. “So, how did you do?” she said simply. I just moved the bag to the side and showed her the belt. “Congratulations!” she said quickly and then said “I thought you weren’t going to know if you passed until Saturday?”. I told her about how Bill faked hurting his hand to draw Walt into the house and the rest of the story as it was.
I wish I would have been able to stay and work out with the guys longer than I did. I feel like I took up most of their workout time, and with Vic LeRoux coming in on Saturday, I’m sure they wanted to practice. I’m sure they will be great on Saturday.
Sifu, Alex, Phyl and I met at Walt’s house for practice. Sifu had told me just today at work that he was going to test me this evening! I felt bad for taking up so much of their time when they really wanted to practice for the upcoming seminar. Bill seemed adamant about doing it and to tell the truth, I have been working on it every night this last week and felt pretty good about it mentally. Physically, I was tired from working all day but was determined not to allow for any excuses.
When I arrived, Sifu was getting the tripod and camera set up in Walt’s garage. We did a quick warm up and then the Purple belts stepped outside of camera range while Sifu and I proceeded with the test. I got past the initial salute just fine this time, thank you very much. I was having issues with my legs though; they felt like tree trunks and were about as flexible. They really started to hurt but I kept pressing forward trying to get through the test. About half way through, they started shaking from fatigue. I was bummed. I did my best to focus on the task at hand and just kept going. I don’t feel the test went as well as the pre-test in that I felt terrible by the time I finished. I was sweating like crazy and had a time trying to keep my legs underneath me. I was pretty sure that I was going to have to do this again and at that point was thankful to something that Sifu had told me during the day at work. He had said he would test me this evening and wasn’t going to tell me if I passed or not until the morning of the seminar. At least I wouldn’t have to take the bad news in front of the guys tonight.
We wrapped up the test and took down the camera. I was starting to feel a little better and began working out with the guys a little bit while Sifu finished packing up his camcorder. About the time he had finished, Sifu asked Walt if he had some ice. He was flexing his hand and said he didn’t know what he did but he wanted to ice it quickly. Walt verbalized the exact thought that went through my head: “How did you hurt yourself video taping?!” He and Walt went into the house and I started dummying for the other guys on their techniques. Bill and Walt came out a few minutes later and I inquired about his hand. He said he would be fine and started watching us do some techniques.
After a couple of minutes, Sifu asked the guys to come over and asked me to stand in front of him. He told me to kneel opposite him and I did so. He reached into his gi and took out a folded Orange belt. I don’t know if the shockwave that I felt actually registered on my face or not but Sifu proceeded with all seriousness. He had me remove my white belt and fold it in half before handing it to him. He tied a knot in the belt and presented it back to me. I then bowed low and touched my forehead to the Orange belt before me. As instructed, I picked it up and put it on, tying half of the knot. Sifu then tied the rest of the knot and congratulated me on passing the Orange belt test! He asked me if I wanted to be “kicked in” and I answered “Yes, sir” without hesitation. As is the custom, he had me assume a horse stance and then proceeded to deliver a thrust kick to the high stomach, sending me back several feet.
I couldn’t believe it. I passed! I was sure I was going to do this one over again. After saluting Sifu, I turned to Walt, Alex and Phyl and told them that I couldn’t have done it without their help too. They have invested an enormous amount of time in me and I feel grateful to have them as friends and training partners. I hope I can be there for them should they need me in the future. Thank you, Sifu, and thank you to Walt, Alex & Phyl for all of your help.
After I was awarded the belt, Sifu mentioned that the belt belonged to Walt, and that it was temporary until my own belt arrived. At this point, Walt stated that I could keep the belt, that it would be nice if it stayed in the group. I rather like that idea, actually. We joked around about how he had already broken it in so that the “antenna factor” was no longer an issue.
I had to leave early tonight because of a prior arrangement at home. I bowed out and left the group around 8:15 pm or so and headed home – still wearing my gi and new Orange belt. I wasn’t sure how or if Maria and Duncan would react when I got home. As it turned out, Duncan, my 6-year old son, was just inside the door and noticed the belt as soon as he realized it was me coming through the door. “Congratulations, Daddy! I’m so proud of you!” For some reason this just struck me humble for a moment and I gave him a great big hug. I put him down and went to show my wife, Maria.
She was upstairs and I approached her with my work out bag slung over my shoulder but hanging in front of me, blocking her view of the belt. “So, how did you do?” she said simply. I just moved the bag to the side and showed her the belt. “Congratulations!” she said quickly and then said “I thought you weren’t going to know if you passed until Saturday?”. I told her about how Bill faked hurting his hand to draw Walt into the house and the rest of the story as it was.
I wish I would have been able to stay and work out with the guys longer than I did. I feel like I took up most of their workout time, and with Vic LeRoux coming in on Saturday, I’m sure they wanted to practice. I’m sure they will be great on Saturday.
posted by Bonzai at 3/13/2006 11:00:00 PM
1 Comments:
Congratulations on the Orange belt, you truley earned it. We're all proud of you.
Full Formal Salute.
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