DJCurtiss' Tae Kwon Do Experience with the Tiger Claw School of Martial Arts.
The Next Journey
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DJCurtiss' Tae Kwon Do Experience with the Tiger Claw School of Martial Arts. The Next Journey |
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I started this Tae Kwon Do Journey in July, 1997 and within three years, I will be testing for my Black Belt. I've made it through numerous classroom changes, many new students and new friends, technique tampering and adjustments, two eye surgeries, and changes to my diet and life style. And though today I am a Senior Red Belt looking towards the peak of the mountain for the next journey, I turn around and see where I have come and I would not have changed a thing to get to this point. On September 3, 2000, a few short months after my anticipated goal date, I tested to become a first degree Black Belt. The journey to this point was that of healing and waiting the required months in between test dates and of course, preparing for the big day. But the journey here is more like a long ride up a roller coaster's first hill, with ones heart pounding at the anticipation and the exclamation of "oh god, here we go" as the coaster peaks the hill and begins to descend. Unlike the previous tests, I arrived at the DoJang two hours early and the other Black Belts and a few higher belts awaited my arrival and grinned at the prospect of having me "warm up' for the next two hours with them in charge. This secret warm up time is not supposed to be revealed, so others can experience the surprise on their own, but many stories have come out these hours as the Black Belts prepare the future Black Belt for his/her test and future journey. So, in keeping with the tradition, I can't tell you what actually happened, but I can refer you to the beginning of the old TV show Kung Fu when David Carradine leaves the Temple. It was about 10 times worse than that... but I survived!!! By 12:00, the audience began filtering in with my father being the first to arrive. Master J set up a special seating area for my family and friends and I found that to be very special. Also, my best friend flew in from Texas to watch my performance, which also made this test very special. I smiled one last time to the audience and the test began. The Black Belt test is very similar to any other test, except it is a combination of every test I've taken, starting with the No Belt through the ranks. I humbly stood in front of my Master and 2nd Dan Julie and rattled off Korean translations, then gave a new and improved embellished version of the Tae Kwon Do history (in which I lost a few points on) and then began the series of kicks I've learned through the years. We then went through the One Step and Two Step Sparring Drills, followed by the 2 Basic Forms, 8 Taeguk Forms and my new form, Koryo. I was tired, but the test continued with a round of two minute sparring with 6 different student Martial Artists. This was the hardest part of the test. Afterwards, it was all easy going as I performed my Self Defense Techniques, Weapon Forms and the fun breaking wood. I ended my test with a 6 pieces of wood break, half of the equivalent to a Cinder Block break. With the Test completed, I was smiling again. My father came up to me and congratulated me, then turned to Ms. Jennifer and said that she won the sparring match!!! Cha!!! I went home and took a long nap and a longer shower, then met friends from the school up at the Flight Deck where my fiancee worked as a Bartender and we gave an official close to the day. Several weeks later, the school had an official Black Belt ceremony that was very complimentary to me and my work through the ranks. I had no doubt that I would make it here, but never really imagined it in this lifetime. Thank you to all of the instructors and students that supported me and a huge thank you to Master J for believing in me, starting this school and all of the support he gave through the years. Master J is truly a friend, kind spirit and compassionate individual. He has made this journey a pure joy to experience and has inspired me beyond words. Thank you!!! |
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There are many analogies about becoming a First Degree (Dan) Black Belt and the path towards the next level, 2nd Dan. In some ways, to me, it is like graduating with a High School Diploma. Just about everyone has one and it really isn't that unusual. And yet, even moving onward to college is less common and then the Masters Degree and Ph.D., it is kind of like that... less common only as you move further. In other ways, getting the 1st Dan is like graduating Elementary School, in which one has all of the basics, but really knows nothing as one continues; just the basics and how to apply them when needed. When I strap on my Black Belt, this is the way I feel the most. Like a Middle Schooler who can hold his head up around the other Elementary School kids, knowing they are looking up at me. And yet envious of the High School kids (the higher Dans), knowing they have so much more experience and I can't wait to get there. Getting my 1st Dan Black Belt was no small task, but it was humbling and I know I have a lot more to learn and accomplish. This is the attitude I took as the year past on my way to the next level. Strangely, after the test, I seemed to have dumped all that I learned and doing even the basic Taeguk forms correctly became a chore. My intentions were to improve on my kicking and sparring techniques; to truly be a master at the basics. But as I concentrated on them, I would struggle remembering a form or a one-step and have to turn to the lower belts, like my buddy Jared (Senior Red Belt, 6th grader) and have him reshow me. It is like learning the State Capitals in 5th grade and never really having to dictate them again until years later. Unfortunately, I had to keep up with the past learnings, because I will be tested on them again! The new form I picked up rather quickly and the new Jong Bong form, though a bit more difficult, we (all the Black Belts) had learned together. As time past, I even ventured into my next form to become a 3rd Degree. As time drifted closer to my test date, our school was joined by a new 4th Degree Belt who was a National Sparring Champion, Gervelle. I was very impressed by his gentle and kind nature and when we first sparred, he just shook his head and said, "Curtiss, you're standing right in my kicking zone, move away." Of course, being the cocky 1st degree, I thought, "if I'm in your stupid zone, why don't you kick me then." It wasn't many seconds after that when he popped me in my head three times and I promised myself to listen to him from here on out. I was also impressed by Master J's lack of ego for welcoming the same degree Black Belt into the school with open arms and a true desire to learn from him as well. As the leader of Tiger Claw, to stop and admit that there are things to learn from others and welcome them to teach and watch with the enthusiasm of a school child is one of J's greatest traits as a leader. For me though, I just wanted to learn how to kick Master Gervelle's head in retribute. (Being that Gervelle is 1000 ft tall and my poor flexibility, this will be great task, no matter what Dan level I'm at!!!) On September 23, I was invited to test for my 2nd Dan Black Belt. As I recall, there was not as much promotion about my test and I was more looking forward to getting it done, than anything else. It even felt less of a "Big Day" for me when I arrived for my two hour warm up and nobody but J was there. Even the turn out for the test was sparse, but my only real concern was having to spar J 6 times, which was going to be a bit tedious. Unfortunately, we never got to that point. I was able to make it through my kicks, forms, weapon forms and self defense, but a combination of taking to much insulin, lack of sugar and heightened exercise dropped my blood sugar so rapidly and continually, that I was I unable to finish the the sparring and breaking portion of the test. As I was struggling to put on my sparring gear, J came up to me confidentially and compassionately and asked if I would like to finish my test at another time when my blood sugar was at a safer level. I regrettably agreed. It was a bit demoralizing not to finish a test and with my busy weekend schedule, to find another upcoming date was difficult. And, on November 29, during sparring class, my finger was fractured, extending my makeup test further out to the next year. To add to my dilemma, our school has done an about face towards sparring, with everyone who I would spar for my test excitedly excellerating their skills as I sit out and watch. Sigh, it is just not fair!!! It is March, 2002, the splint is off my finger and I'm looking forward to finishing my test in the near future. |
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Now I must return to my "hurdler" stretches, forms, sparring and all the other cool things I've learned to get ready for the next part of my journey!!! "Pil Soon!!!" |
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