Day 153

The final piece of the black belt test - breaking a brick. I broke this one with a palm strike. Went right through it - first try!

It was an incredible weekend. I was amazingly calm throughout the testing. My nervousness would only pop up after I had done something but as soon as I became aware of that, I forced myself to slow my breathing and then I relaxed and the nerves went away. My legs felt good and my hamstrings didn't give me any problems. They just got a little sore after sitting for a while. I spent an hour in the hot tub after the test and that helped tremendously. My sparring felt a little weak but that's because I haven't sparred since I tore my hamstring two months ago.

This isn't the end . . . just the beginning. Next up: testing for my black belt in Hapkido in December. Then, testing for 2nd degree black belt in June 2012. What I thought was something I wanted to cross off my list has become a way of life. And I love it.