Grading Report – First Quarter 2011
Here are some experiences by some students.
Sylvia Jung – White
Angela Lee Carr – Red
Juhee Song – Red
Jessie Carr – Red
Janeyy Jaehyun Lee - Blue
Sylvia Jung – White (top)
This was my experience of my first grading. We were informed about 4 weeks in advance that the next grading was coming up soon. I didn't think too much of it as I thought I wasn't ready to grade yet. But I was looking forward to watching the others grade and see how and what we were examined on. The Sunday came and I thought we still had class before the grading but things seemed a little different. There were a few 'new faces' in black belts setting up chairs at the back of the hall. Then I saw Master Kim walk in so I approached him and asked "do we also have class today?" Master Kim replied "No class, all day grading. You do grading too today." Now I was surprised because I had not prepared myself mentally for grading but then at the same time I was very excited because I trusted that Master Kim would have told me to grade knowing that I was well ready. Anyways, I replied with a nervous "okay!" So what am I thinking at this stage? "Arrrgghhh my first white belt grading! Super!"So we started off with each colour belt group practising our own routines. Us white-belters were gathered together first by Adam ('new face black-belter' - Instruictor) who helped us go through the short and long patterns. I was already nervous during this practice session as my muscles were tightening in my thighs and my body was going cold. Adam gave us a good run through of the patterns and was helping to correct for the perfect the posture and movement - We were told for more bending at the knees, open your legs wider, stronger punches and stronger blocks. As we practiced and practiced, I was feeling more and more confident and relaxed. What was I thinking at this stage? "Ahhh this is okay. I can do this."
We were then told we had 1 minute to take a drink of water and a bathroom break. I took the opportunity at once! I went to the bathroom and I find all the other girls hustling in too, some hyperventilating due to nerves but also consoling one another!! "I’m so nervous!" "you’re going to be fine, don’t worry" and "relax." haha So I was not alone.
It was now my turn for grading and I hear my name being called out. I stood up quickly, shouting "yes sir", bowed and quickly ran to my position. My mind was a mess at this point, because I was still trying to concentrate on what move I had to do as they were being called out. We started with the left hand punch.. and so on. I was feeling good, great actually! Then the short pattern and long patterns.. and oops! I make a dreaded mistake by turning the wrong way. Arrgghhh!! I was thinking, “but I have practiced and practiced this before. How can I get this wrong?! Nooooo I have failed my grading!" Nevertheless, I had to get straight back into the correct position and finish the pattern. Now it was time for grading on the kicks. By this time I was out of breath (because I was forgetting to breath due to nerves) plus very, very thirsty. But this was the part of grading I was looking forward to the most. I enjoy learning the kicking techniques, it's my favourite part of class. Then came time for the no contact free sparring. I took this part of grading by doing no contact free sparring with my opponent. Sparring was so new to me, we have practiced it in class but at a grading it was my first time ever! So our group finished our grading, bowed to Master Kim and Instructors, turned and bowed to the audience and went back to our seats.
The mistake I made with the pattern was still looming in my mind and I was feeling horrible but other students around me were saying that I did really well and not to worry about it. Thanked them for their encouragements.
After grading you couldn't help but go up to other students and tell them how well they did. The encouragements and moral was high that night for the Epping HRD Club. Through my experience with grading, not only did I feel a sense of achievement for myself but I also felt a stronger bond to my Epping HRD club. Thank you to Master Kim and to the 4 black belt instructors who continually train us to be the best we can! Epping HRD, I really enjoy training with you all!
Angela Lee Carr – Red (top)
On Friday, the 1st of April, 2011, I graded for my 3rd red belt. After three years of practicing Taekwondo, I believed that I was ready for the next level.
I started to revise over my pattern, grading kicks and one-step sparring about half an hour before grading started with my sister and some friends who were also grading. As time passed, I grew slightly anxious at the fact that I couldn’t remember my grading kick which was jumping back kick, jumping turning kick and single reverse turning kick.Some of the black belts and instructors assisted me and gave me some great tips and advice on how I could improve my kicking techniques and stances. Master Kim told me to face the back as I performed my reverse turning kick and I was told to turn before I kicked. I continued to practice and eventually remembered my grading kick.
In the past three years, I have been graded seven times, so I’m used to it and I wasn’t too nervous when Master Kim, other black belts, members and visitors were watching me, but I was worried about some areas of my pattern that I hadn’t quite grasped. I wasn’t sure that I would pass grading and I really hoped that I would.
After grading, I was told several times that I needed to train hard and continue to practice as much as I could at home as well as the Taekwondo gym. The feedback I received regarding my grading was positive and reassuring; I was told that I had improved, but still had room for extra improvement.
Despite all my doubts, I really enjoyed grading and I particularly enjoyed free sparring because I had the chance to use all the techniques, kicks, blocks and punches that I had been taught in class.
Juhee Song – Red (top)
The day of grading I was so nervous but isn’t that what everyone feels when there about to grade? You just watch Master Kim and the other black belts observing you and all your techniques. I see the red belt group go up then all of a sudden I started to get really nervous! I was thinking over all my patterns and kicks but I kept worring that I would forget all my one step sparing and my pattern i didnt worry so much after Angela and Jess told me that I was going do fine. Time flew by and in like 15 min my grading was over. It was the longest 15mins of my life. Each second that passed felt like it was going so slowly. I felt so good afterwards you wouldn’t know how happy I was. All my other friends supported me which was great.The one advice I would give you it would be to calm your farm and chill. Just be confident and THINK POSITIVE, relax and don’t tense and you survive im sure!!! :)
Jessie Carr – Red (top)
On Friday the first of April I graded to get my 3rd red belt. My sister Angela and I came earlier to practice our pattern, one-step-sparring, grading kick and our combination kick.Before grading I was pretty pumped and I wasn’t very nervous. I was thinking that I would pretty well in my pattern because I knew it so well but still had doubt. When grading started we sat and waited for our turn. While waiting my legs started aching and I tried stretching them for a while.
Our turn finally came and we did our pattern in front of all the black belts and Master Kim. I thought I wouldn’t be nervous but I actually was. After it was all over I enjoyed watching the rest of the red belts grade.
On the following Monday Steven another black belt said that we all did well and improved in our pattern, especially the main position called 'bungseogi'. I had fun and I can’t wait till next grading.
Janeyy Jaehyun Lee - Blue (top)
Before the grading, I was so nervous, I was running around the hall asking everyone how to do the combo kick, one step sparring etc. When we first lined up to go through our patterns and the basic kicks and punches, I made a mistake in my pattern and I was freaking out A LOT. When we were given a short drink/toilet break, I ran into the girls bathroom and found the other girls freaking out over grading too. We spent a couple of minutes calming each other down and it sort of worked for everyone except me. I walked out of the bathroom saying "I'm gonna die".I felt relieved afterwards that I got it over and done with, but disappointed at the same time because I didn’t do as well as I hoped to.
During the grading, all that went through my head was "don't make a mistake. There's heaps of people watching." When I made a mistake, I was so worried that people were going to say bad things about me and that people were going to tell me all the mistakes I made.
I was so nervous at first that I was only concentrating on what I was doing. But then when I made a mistake, I suddenly felt so self conscious and embarrassed. Master Kim even pointed out my mistakes and I had to redo it on my own. It was really embarrassing because the kick I stuffed up was one of the easier kicks.
The black belts were really nice and they were happy to show me anything I wasn't sure of. They helped A LOT with one step sparring when the other yellow belt girl and I weren't sure which step to do first. Everyone told me afterwards that I did really well.
