Black Belt Testing
October 23, 2004


On October 23, 2004 I received my black belt in tae kwon do from LaFox Martial Arts in Wasco, Illinois. Here are a few photos from that day.
My daughter Cora and her husband Peter live in Michigan. They surprised me by showing up...with homemade t-shirts! Shirts refer to a family joke of two years ago.
Test begins with 1 mile run, 50 pushups, 100 leglifts or situps.
Then line drills, which were conducted by Juan Moreno - former world champion and 2 time Olympic Silver Medalist. High point of the day was Juan telling me that my technique has really improved since he saw me last year. Then sparring.
Then poomse (forms)
Then board breaks and busting through concrete (photos didn't turn out well at all.) Finally, it's over!
Cora and Peter made a shirt for me too!
Peter, Cora, my teacher Vicky Vandiver, me, and Juan Moreno
My friend from church Jamie Mather made cookies for me. The cookies were wrapped with a black ribbon (black belt.)
My mom came from California to watch my test. Proud mom, loving son.
It was a great journey. The test was on a Saturday. On Monday morning I got up and ran 3 miles, did 4 sets of 30 pushups, 2 sets of 50 leg lifts, and 100 crunches on the ab bench. Afterall, as I see it, it is the first day of "second dan" training!
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Copyright © 2004 by Bill Qualls. Last updated October 29, 2004.