"For I can do all things through Christ"

Katy and I had our red sr. (2nd Gup) to red executive (1st Gup) belt last night. The color belt tests take on the order of 1 to 1.5 hours.  They include the following items:

• Student Creed - The school mantras about being positive, developing self discipline, being responsible with what you are learning.
  
• Kicking Technique (do the technique followed by a called kick).  In this case it was "ilbo hu jin" followed the kick.
• Form: This time was Tae Guk Oh Jang
• 4 Kicking Combinations.  A kicking combination is a sequence of kicks performed in conjunction in both "directions" such that you are exercising each leg.   One example:  hu jin step, back leg round house, fast kick, narabong (aka tornado kick), spin hook kick, double punch.   Repeat in the opposite direction.
  
• Escrima Sticks  - 2 different patterns. 
  
• One Step Sparring - 2 different techniques.  This is a "mock response" to a punch thrown to the face.
  
• Physical Fitness - timed sit ups and push ups.
  
• Promise Sparring - kick but don't touch
  
• Board Break - This time was an elbow streak
  
• Terminology - how do you say "various phrases here" in Korean

All of our tests have been this structure.   They generally cover the topics that we covered that quarter only.

This was the last of the "easy" tests.  "Easy" is my term.  It's relative.  Our next test is a big step up.   It lasts a day and a half and covers everything we have learned, not just the last quarter.  We have all kinds of pre-requisites for it including essays to write, community service, and varying numbers of repetitions of each technique, form, and kick.  Our time commitment is going way up.  The whole experience is going to be extreme. 

I pray that I can be there for my daughter but also that God gives us the strength to do this.  Phillipians 4:13 is going to become my most quoted verse for the next several months:  "For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength." (New Living Translation)