Niko's+Memoir_12

I was at Taekwondo at a Sanders ATA Facility. I could hear the other students kihap. "Eye-Ah." I felt a sweat drip down my forehead, I never did notice how much it stings in my eyes. In the Facility it was looking kind of pale, with the worn out red and black mat it feels pretty dull. I don't know if I will ever finish this day of testing. I was hoping to earn the belt at the end of the colors. BLACK.

When I was inside practicing my form, a series of moves the judges use to determine if we can earn the next rank. I was a little nervous. and a little not with my mom saying "Niko you will get your Black Belt no matter what." But if I fail I have to do 2 new forms for 2 more months.

Next I went up to the mat and we stretch, while the instructors talk to us about the theme of the month and how this testing is going to go because the way we do things for the Red/Black Belt Testing are different than all the other ones with a different order and if we are going to get our Black Belt they have graduation and Pizza at the end.

Then it is time to get geared up to get for sparring, kind of like practice fighting but on testing no contact at all unless they are blocks. In sparring I always use a Reverse Sidekick because it is an advanced move that think is fun I could do them all day, in fact I think I did good in sparring because when I went to a Council Bluffs Tournament and got a 3rd Place medal.

Now for the Weapons, I'm in Master Club and they have 2 __Song-Ge-Bongs__, [Nunchucks sort of.] and 2 __Banghy-Manghy__ [Sort of like sticks that have things you hold onto.] Master Club was using is the Long Staff which is the last weapon. I did the moves I needed to nothing bad happened, so far so good. I just can't wait to see if I get accepted to Leadership Club, then I would get tons of new weapons like a sword, ricecutters, and other stuff I don't know the Korean name for.

Next I go to... Drumroll please...Break the boards. Now that I'm a Red/Black Belt A.K.A Reccomended Belt, I will break 2 boards at once, 1 Kick, 1 Hand Move. I was ready "EYE-AH!" Break, Snap.I broke both in 1 try. I'm glad I'm a Green Board. The Board colors grow thicker by how old you are green is for most kids because of their age. When I'm 11 I can get a Blue Board. This time I was 9.

Later I'm so nervous about the form, what if I slip and fall like last time, what if I get stuck, I better stop these what ifs or I won't get my Black Belt. My Primary Form is easy I have tested on it 2 other times I'm not nervous about this form. When you are a Red/Black Belt you do 2 forms. My vision feels blurry I started. I ended. I didn't do well, I did Amazing. I was ready for the next form I can't give up now I've done Great on everything else. I can do it.

I only paused once but just for a second, I kept going on. We now have to wait for the judges to decide who the new Black Belts are. The lights turn off we rush to the mat. I see one kid leave I noticed the mistake he made, he did not get his board broken until his last try, I feel sorry for him. So now we are listening to a guy on their music player, talking about the belts and used trees for representations. White, Orange, Yellow, Camo, Green, Purple, Blue, Brown, Red, Red/Black and when he got to the Black Belt, well I will never forget what it said. " Black Belt. The Tree Has Reached Maturity And Has Overcome Darkness... I Must Now Begin To Plant Seeds For The Future." Everyone else earns their Black Belts. I earned my Black Belt. Perserverance has helped me well.

At last we eat some pizza leave to go home and have kind of a celebration party with my family.I was suprised to notice a Cake that said. //Congradulations Niko// with black belts on it. I'm glad I kept trying. Now I want to get my 2nd Degree Black Belt in a year, and while I'm at it I might get accepted to Leadership.

It's been 2 months since I got my Black Belt, that was a fantastic day for me. Now it's the end of class and then the instructors come out and give me a pile of stuff. It's Leadership Equiptment. Weapons, Acception Letter, and now I can now teach color belts.

I learned to follow what I believed in, you can accomplish anything if you have confidence in yourself. Conquer all doubts in your mind and you will become proud of yourself. Remember to have a positive while doing it will make you feel better. Maybe Perserverance will help you too.