For scolding sake II

Nothing much to write about.

But (yeah, I know I'm not supposed to begin new sentences with but), last night we i.e. all the black belts and the red-blacks who will be taking grading test this Sunday were scolded by none other than our instructor, Ms.5th Dan lor!

Well, I have to say that what she did was the right thing. She was so damned angry with the juniors because they skipped many training sessions without any genuine reasons. One girl would say her leg injured because of sparring, the next day another girl complained that she has headache. Then, few other girls would claim to be down with fever. Some of the black belts (those who sat for the test last year) haven't memorize their patterns, and this made her even angrier. Actually, when red blacks take their 1st degree b/belt grading test, they will have to "sign" a contract with MGTF. They have to learn all the 1st degree patterns in one year, and they have to attend the training regularly. By the end of December the following year, they will be tested on the patterns. If they passed the test, they'll get the certificate. The certificate is like your black belt ID lah, without it, you won't be recognized as a black belt. When you take your 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th degree, you will still have to perform your pattern in front of the examiner in December the following year. I'm not sure about 6th degree and above. If I'm not mistaken, 7th and above will be awarded according to one's achievement and involvement in taekwon-do.

Although we were scolded kaw2 last night, we deserve it lah. We were too playful this time. Even I, myself haven't really "mastered" my counter-attack movements for self-defense. This year, I didn't have enough time to practice at the centre, but that shouldn't be the reason for not being able to perform this Sunday. I had had enough time to practice on my own, but was too busy making myself busy with other things.

This Sunday I have to perform extremely well and prove to my Chief Instructor that I'm ready to be a 2nd degree black belt holder.

Being a black belt holder is not just tying a black belt around your waist. There's a certain standard that one has to achieve. In order to live up to the expectations, one has to be matured enough to understand the responsibilities that come together with the belt. That is one of the reasons why I think that kids (roughly below 12-13yrs old) shouldn't be granted black belts. You'll see them wearing the special black belt uniform, black belt with their names sewn on it, and a minute later, they'll spill ice-cream all over it, or even worse, they'll go and whacked some other kids with their belts.

Most important of all, one must first have self-respect and have the same "respect" for the belt itself.