Going for the Brown

While the Lopezes were going for the gold over in Beijing, the VanBuskirks were going for the brown, green, and blue with a brown stripe.

Last night six of us had a taekwondo belt test.  Dennis and Alex tested for green belts, Derek tested for senior blue belt, and Dylan, Nathan, and I tested for brown.  Caleb has a yellow belt, but he didn't test this time.  Luke has yet to get his white belt.

The test started out tough for me.  I had to do 55 push ups, stopping and holding push up position between each ten while reciting the Ten Rules of Life (they are like the Young Women values for martial arts - effort, etiquette, character, sincerity, self-control, respect, humility, confidence, discipline, integrity - sir!  Interesting how the YW values and the 10 Rules of Life both end with "Integrity."  We should make the young women recite the YW theme while doing push-ups like that.)  It was brutal!!! No pics of me doing that.  I have them, but you can't see them.

Then we had to show our Poomse, or forms.

Alex and Dennis punching for their forms.

Derek did a great job on his form.

Nathan and Mom testing for forms together.

Then came the part I feared the most - sparring.  I dread it because of the ridiculous gear I have to wear - oh, and the fact that I can get killed!

Derek lets is opponent have it with a side kick.

Nathan attacks his opponent mid-air.

The men fight with so much power!  Dennis insteps right to the chest.

Alex with a nice high kick.  Way to go Al!

It is SO FUN watching Dylan spar.  He is everywhere and non-stop - and so very serious.  Here is is fighting a much higher belt - no problem.  Nice kick to the head.

 Yes, this is me going for a head shot against my friend Bo.   She is shorter than me (who isn't?), but she is a higher belt and TOUGH as nails!  She intimidates me.  But thanks to my long legs I was able to hold my own, and had fun doing it.

Then came everybody's favorite part of a belt test - breaking boards!  There is such satisfaction in hearing that board crack and feeling your foot go through it!  It is something everyone should try - it is such a confidence booster.

Dylan finishes off his jumping spin hook in style.

Look how high off the ground Dennis gets with his jumping front kick.  The instructor couldn't hold the board high enough.

 OK.  I can't believe I am putting this online for all to see, but here is my spin hook.  I don't know how my technique looks, but I think my hair looks great, and that's really what I was going for.

Now ladies, admit it, doesn't that look like fun?  That's why I am always running off at the end of enrichment.  Women's only class: Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:30 pm.  Put the kids to bed and come.  I'm telling you - If this gangly, awkward, mom can do this, anyone can.

Group photo after the test.  Everyone did such a great job.  I was so proud of all my guys!

So now I am a brown belt.  For those of you who don't know the belt system, on a scale of 1 (white) to 12 (black), brown is a 9, so it is considered a high belt.  If you would have told me 2 years ago that I'd be a brown belt, I would have thought you were bonkers.  I used to watch the brown belts in awe, and now I can hardly believe that I am one.  I never thought I'd get this far, but I just kept working hard and having fun, and now here I am.  Maybe if I keep at it I can become a black belt someday after all.  Maybe we all can.  But that is easier said than done.  One belt at a time.  Next belt - Red.  I love red!  It's my favorite color, after pink (surprisingly, they don't have a pink belt in taekwondo.  Go figure.)

They say that brown is the new black - but I don't think that applies to taekwondo.

Family photo with Farai and Kylee Muchenje, our wonderful instructors. 

 Why do we do it?  Well, to quote the Visa commercial about the Lopezes at the Olympics:

"The family that punches, dodges, blocks, throws, and roundhouse kicks together...stays together."