Black Belt Test for Taekwondo...

"Happy Canada Day!!!"

It's Sunday July 1st and today was the day we had our Black belt test!!! We took a before shot, with our Red belts before we left for the test.
The whole thing was pretty quick. We arrived around 9-9:30ish (I think) and basically practiced on our own until it was time to test, which I think was around 11:-11:15ish. When we first got there, we kinda got that feeling that everyone was staring at us... which was true; I'm pretty sure we were the only two white people there... and there were A LOT of people there.

'We're here!!!'

For the black belt test, you are expected to do two Poomsae's (Patterns of movemnt); #8 and 1 of 4, ,5, 6, 7. So we have been practicing all 5 of the Poomsae's. While we were waiting, Sunbaenim (our instructor) and Kwanjangnim(instructor and owner of the dojang) came outside with us and informed us of what Poomsae we would have to do. We had to do #8 (as expected) and #6. I was happy about this because I like 6. So we practiced the two poomsea's out in the parking lot, until Kwanjangnim came and told us it was time.

I think we were at a University, not sure exactly, but we went in to the big auditorium with bleachers all around, full of other taekwondo students and spectators. We had to sit in a group of about 10 people, and waited as the group before us went. We were told to get up and stretch so we did.. and then it was our turn!!!!

'Choombee' (Ready stance)

'Yuk jung' (#6 Poomsae)

'Pal jung' (#8 Poomsae)

After we did the two Poomsae's we moved over to the next mat for sparring. Originally, Trev and I were told that we would be fighting each other, but when we got up there, the judges switched us and we were fighting other people. At first I was a little nervous... Trev and I spar all the time, so we know each others strengths and weaknesses, but once we started fighting, I didn't want to stop!! It was a lot of fun!! Sunbaenim took pictures for us, so you can see a bit of the fighting... Although as you can see, most of the pics are showing the other guys kicking, but he tried. Trev's camera takes a few seconds to take the picture, so he must have just missed our amazing moves!! But seriously, I really did make some good kicks!!

'Fighting!!!!'

'Bowing to the judges' (That's me on the left)

'Good Fight!!'

The whole process, was sooooo much fun!! When they blew the whistle to stop sparring, I was really dissapointed; I wanted to keep going!!! I didn't get the chance to show all the kicks I know, but I feel like I did good. Everyone told us we did good, so hopefully we get our Black belts. I'm not sure when we will find out, but when I do, I will definitely let everyone know!!!

After we got back, Kwanjangnim took Sunbaenim, Trev, myself, and one of the other students in our taekwondo class, who speaks a little English, out for lunch. This was by far THE spiciest food we have had in our entire time here in Korea. There was a lot of raw seafood, which even I ate, and vegetables, the usual. I even ate Starfish!! Crazy eh? No one was as surprised as I was about this though.. This was a usual meal to everyone else.
AND THEN... they brought out this HUGE dish of octopus, crab, rice noodles, bean sprouts, and other stuff I'm not really sure of... all mixed together with some type of spicy SPICY SPICY sauce!!! The first bite I took I must have breathed in to deeply because I almost choked on the spiciness alone!! The spice aside, it was still tasty. Every once and a while my tongue would regain some feeling in it and I could taste the food itself!! hahah... It was really nice of Kwanjangnim to take us out, it really helped to add to our day of Korean cultural experiences!!