Orange Belt Testing

Brendan started taking Tae Kwon Do classes in January or February. (TKD is the Korean martial art, so it is part heritage, part exercise, and part learning things like self-discipline & leadership.) He earned his white belt the first day for “trying his best.” From there on he had to start learning several things before he could test for the next level. At Brendan’s age level the kids have a set of 10 principles to start working on. They include things like “Be loving to your family” and “Be cooperative with others.” Then they learn the first 8 moves or so of the form, the first third of the one-step sparring, and a breaking technique. For testing, the kids must perform each of these things for Grandmaster Kim. For Brendan’s age, the instructors (Master Markman & Master Dutson) both help a great deal, but the kids have to try and put forth the effort. And they must use their breaking technique to actually break a board.

For Brendan’s test for his yellow belt, it just so happened that Brian’s mom & Kate were in town, so they got to see this event with us. It was great. Brendan broke his board the very first try. Additionally, Grandmaster Kim wrote Brendan’s name on his uniform in Korean. We actually had him put Brendan’s Korean name there (Hyo Joon). Wickedly cool.


For Brendan’s test for his orange belt, things didn’t go so well. The difficulty came for the breaking. For this belt, the breaking technique is a front snap kick. You start in a fighting stance and then bring your back leg up, bend then knee and hit the board with the ball of the foot. Not so easy for a little kid with not so great balance. Brendan was the third of 12 kids doing the same break. After they had all completed theirs, he was still working on it with Master Markman. He was making some progress, but still hadn’t broken the board. That is when Grandmaster Kim came out, made one adjustment, and Brendan nailed it. That is why the Grandmaster is the Grandmaster!


We are very proud of Brendan for doing this. Some days he doesn’t want to go, but when he gets there he just loves it. Makes Brian and I want to do it, too!