Taekwondo black belt test
Today we had our taekwondo test for our first black belt, at the national taekwondo testing center called kukkiwun.
At first we were nervous, as we had to pay something like $100 each, and wondered what would we do if we didn't pass?
Then a little old korean lady came in and sat in our section. Me and Nick instantly had the same thought, 'Oh, there's Tasha's sparring partner.' And we figured one of the tall atheletic teenage boys would be Nick's sparring partner. So, we started giggling to each other.
Then we got up and went on the mat with about eight other people testing for the black belt. We did two forms and a few punches and were dismissed to go spar.
The sparring match is a few minutes only. The officials were about to pair me with, you guessed it, the old lady, when they asked me if I speak Korean. I said no, and then they looked troubled. They then turned to one of the teenaged boys and started giving him detailed instructions on how to spar with this little old lady. The guy had a look of distressed bewilderment.
The officials then matched me with Nick, but not before a three man team outfitted him with a enormous padded codpiece/diaper. They also confiscated our glasses, so I could now just barely make out Nick's face. We went out on the mat, bowed and started kicking. As I was unable to really see my opponent I had rather poor aim and control, and ended up kicking Nick in the face. I think I won.
In other news, we had a great time on Saturday as well. We saw 'The Dance of the Yangban,' a folk dance that celebrates the grace, beauty, and virility of aristocratic korean gentlemen, who wear flowing white and pink robes, and enjoy snapping open their enormous fans, then posing stylishly for your admiration. An old man next to us enjoyed the dance so much, he periodically cried out in joy. Actually, the dance needs to be seen to be believed. It really made my day.
-Tasha