2002 Black Belt Test Summary

by Paige Rossillo

Wednesday July 31, 2002
Boise, Idaho

The Preparation
At some point I tested for my 1st gup (last colored belt rank) and failed. I was crushed. I had trained hard and I really wanted it. The problem was that I wasn't convinced I deserved it. Apparently, that showed on my test. My spin hook kick needed some serious work, too. Instead of giving up, I pressed on and spent extra time on the areas that lacked and focused on improvement. By the time I took the test again, I knew I was ready. I stopped seeking external validation because I knew I belonged there and was ready to be a 1st gup. Passing that test obligated me to prepare for my dan test.

I passed in December of 2000. I began learning the required black belt form and polishing my techniques and forms expecting to test for my black belt by December of 2001. In August, I suffered a personal loss and a bout of depression. That combined with scheduling difficulties delayed my test. When I was finally back on track plans began to form for a test at the summer camp in late July–August 2002. By this time, two individuals who entered as white belts when I was a red belt were ready to test, too. Although this was a little discouraging at first, I had to realize that I was on my own timeline and could not compare my progress to theirs. After all, I had to start from zero. I lost weight, changed my eating and exercise habits and became a new person. I had to be proud of my accomplishments without measuring them against someone else's.

Training for my test meant there were no breaks. I dragged myself to practice in bad weather, on my wedding anniversary and when I generally didn't feel like it. I put in 110 percent. The three of us taught the white belts in addition to preparing ourselves, and we really functioned as a team. When one person was down or feeling like he or she couldn't continue, the others picked him or her up. We were running a marathon and the last portion was uphill and required a sprint. At times it seemed like too much. Write a paper, get CPR certified, be at the top of my game and teach the white belts. It is only now that I realize that that experience in and of itself made me a better person and a better practitioner.

The Test
The test was held in Boise, Idaho at the start of UC Berkeley's Martial Arts Summer Camp. Erin and I flew out together and Kavi, Master Wright and Master Duke, the host, met us at the airport. We were nervous, didn't know what to expect and were petrified of screwing up. Master Wright told us that the test would be similar to our regular practice experience, but you couldn't have convinced us of that. Was our documentation in order? Who would we have to spar with? Since Master Duke and Dr. Ur were giving the test would it even resemble tests in the past? Would they ask us to do something we hadn't prepared for? What would the oral examination be like? Master Wright gave us some last words of advice and we lined up for the test.

Two children testing for their first poom and the three of us made up the list of candidates. We demonstrated basic techniques, did some poomse, some limited arranged sparring techniques (which I improvised having none prepared), and sparred. For one of the first times in my life I felt good about my sparring.

Three New Black Belts

Then came the board breaks. I had planned to break 10 boards and Master Duke said to do 5 boards with 3 techniques. I did not choose wisely. I think it was nerves. I planned an elbow strike with 2 boards, a punch with 1 board followed by a back kick with 2 boards. The second board on my elbow strike was too green, and my back kick was off target. Although both Erin and Kavi were questioned on their poomse, I was not. That was the extent of the oral examination. Other than the board breaks, I felt really good about the whole test.

The Result
All of our efforts were rewarded when, on the last day of summer camp, we finally received our black belts. For years I thought that black belts had some special knowledge and that they had to be right all of the time. Although that was somewhat inaccurate the point is that black belts do have to be held to a higher standard. I am grateful for the experience and plan to continue practicing for the rest of my life regardless of what rank I attain.