She did it, she really did it. Wow, she is still amazed, excited, and overwhelmed that she now has her black belt. It is so cool to know that how much it means to her and know how hard she worked for it. Can you tell I'm proud?
The official Black Belt test is actually kind of like a show, with almost 100 people advancing (most to get their First Degree Black belt, but also all the way up to 5th degree)
These 5 kids will always have the time they spent together the last 4 months, doing all the extra after-class work and side-kick contests.
At the competition, they do basics...
combinations...
forms and sparring. Little bits of everything they've perfected over they years.
At the end, they do 2 straight minutes of punching while standing in a riding stance. Very hard and the audience cheered them on. It was so cheesy, but surprisingly meaningful to me.
Mr. Quinn is the best best best!
Last time in white uniforms!!
And first time in blue uniforms!
R to L: Mr. Lukin (earned his 3rd degree), Sohan, Jeremy, Shlok, Mr. Quinn, Laura, Eli, Mr. Strand (earned his 3rd degree)
Each tester has to bring someone to hold the body shield for them to kick and to do punch defenses with. Laura's friend Fiona was kind enough to spend the day with us. She's really great and I'm glad Laura has girls like Helen and Fiona to look up to in karate.
I made a banner and the boys displayed it with her trophies and strung her old belts around the kitchen. She was so thrilled and can't stop looking at the pictures of her when she was tiny and just starting out.
Its also the first uniform or jersey of any kind that she chose her last name, instead of her first. It feels momentous to me.
What a day! Great job Laura!
No comments:
Post a Comment