Phoenix-Talon said:
I had to start at a Green Belt, but it didn't take long to move through the belts to my brown belt. We had tournaments with each other and other bases. One day, my Sen-sei told me that I was ready to test for my 1st Dan Black Belt. There were some last minute preparations involved in my training --he showed me Katas that only a black belt performed, awkward, unorthodox kicks that you would never think of doing, and a few more things that I cannot discuss.
I applied for a few days leave; I didn't need too much time, Seoul Korea wasn't that far away. We traveled to Seoul Korea by train. I was the only American on the train, but I could understand bits and pieces of Korean, and I wasn't worried. My instructor's home was in Seoul -- an since I wasn't scheduled to test until the next day, he took me to his house for dinner. I met his family and stayed overnight.
The next day, we started off by going into an alcohol establishment. Since I don't drink, except for on holidays, or when I have a cold, I really didn't want anything, but my instructor insisted that I have one glass of something that that was strong.
Since I still had some time before the test, we walked around his neighborhood. I wasn't worried, because like I said, he was a 7th degree black back, and I knew a little something also. Now it was time, and I was starting to feel some angst. Mr Kim took me into a section of town that was across some railroad tracks and under a bridge into a cave. The cave opened up into a huge gymnasium.
The cave had one office to conduct the administrative work, and the rest of the cave came straight out of a prehistoric age -- no kidding! I was impressed nevertheless. Because black belts in Tang Soo Do came to fight at this cave for hundreds of years. I was honored, but I didn't want to disappoint my instructor by not passing the test. I was then asked by my instructor to give three Katas.
At first, I couldn't remember what to do, it was Only for a few seconds, but it seemed like several Minutes had passed. Once I began, I had to be careful of the floor. The floor was wood, but it was rotten from years of martial arts related activity. This fact made my movements even more cautious and precise. My katas were crisp, my punches were fast and mad a snap from the sleeve of my gee, and my Kea's were loud and aggressive. After my Katas, I was paired along side of someone from the Army. I knew that because I spoke to him after the test.
This guy was tall and had long legs, but I was faster and I wanted this more than he did! After we bowed, we began to free spar (fight). He kicked very hard, but I was able to get out of the way of most of his attacks. Then I saw the opening of a life-time. I did a fake jump side kick a landed a punch and kea right in the middle of his chest.
I could hear the experts groan with approval, or at least I thought they did (Lol). But I know that I scored a serious blow to his sternum. He didn't go down, nor did I. When it was over, we shook hands a laughed about the whole thing. My next fight was with a 4th degree black belt. When we bowed and took our positions, I could only remember seeing his face once, the rest was a blurr.
This opponent was Korean and he was fast. I'm sure he was only going 20% of what he was capable of doing, and I was so glad. He scored punches , kicks and could have probably embarrassed me. I was humbled by the experience and I think that was the lesson he wanted me to learn. Someone is always just a little faster.
At the close of the testing, I met Kwang Kee's son -- he was the opponent I fought. That made me proud. But I was even more proud when I was told that I could sign an old tinted paged thick book that hundreds of blackbelts have signed before me. I did it! Upon my return to base and training, I was given the rank of assistant instructor. What an experience!
*BP edit - Had to put some spaces in there to read it without straining my eyes
Prior to getting a black belt, it wasn't easy ...
Part II Martial Arts Training ...
One thing you can't help to think about is whether or not your training can really be applied if you are attacked. Well, upon My arrival back in Philadelphia, on leave between assignments, I found out. I put on my Air Force gym shirt (White with Blue letter), and blue Air Force trunks, and went to the local neighborhood gym. As I was shooting some basketball, one of the bullies that I knew growing up entered the gym and hollered out my name. He came running at full speed toward me to either embrace me, or wrestle me down to the floor. Since I didn't know what his Intent was, I assumed the approach to be hostile in nature. I went into a low stance just as he was about to make contact, and carried his weight over my shoulder, placing him hard on the gym floor. Of course everyone saw the maneuver and it was the talk of the neighborhood. The training works!
My second tour in Korea came a year later. But while stationed in Montana, I worked out at the YMCA, and practiced in the local park, While the basics were similar, the style was totally different this time. Instead of power strikes and hard stances, Tang Soo Doo - Moo Duck Kwon, focused on open hand, cat-stances (this meant that your fighting stance was formed with one hand partially opened like a cat paw, with palms toward the potential attacker; and the other hand was bent halfway across the chest palms up. Your forward foot barely touched the floor, and your leg was bent. The other leg was set, but not locked). Anyway, Tang Soo Doo was not an accepted martial arts in Korea for many years. The President, Mr. Kwang Kee, wanted to make the arts a Korea tradition; like Tae Kwon Do, but he was denied and decided to study in China. This art is part Korean and part Chinese. After many years of development, Mr. Kwang Kee was allowed to return to Korea and practice his art. Soon after, Tang Soo Do was finally accepted as the second form of acceptable martial arts in Korea. My Sen-sei was Mr Kim. He was about 6'1" and slim. He was trying to teach in the United States but couldn¿t because of something martial arts-related that prevented him from obtaining permission (confidential). Mr Kim was a 7th Dan Black Belt (Dan). Kwang Kee himself was a 9th Degree. My training was just as hard as I had remembered. I had to get used to a different fighting style that was more touch than power! We focused on pressure point and places that could really be detrimental to an attacked if applied. This was More refined training. For example, my gee (uniform) was white with black trimmings. It had to be clean and worn correctly, with the knot in my belt tied in a certain manner (always tied away from the instructor, fellow students or a potential competitor).
My tech school partners and I almost wanted the North Koreans to infiltrate South -- so we couLd kick their tails! At least that's what we thought. We really Only knew enough to get our own tails kicked.
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