Just a quick shout out to Mark in L.A. who asked Rocky how the Black Belt test was coming.  Thanks for asking!

Mike, Josh and I went for our second attempts today.  I passed the five review forms and the written test , but failed to break two of my boards on the first try (I’m going backwards!)  Mike passed his written test and his Chin Na (self-defense/reaction time) but failed the review forms.  Josh had been sick with food poisoning just a couple days ago, so he wasn’t at his best.  He passed forms, but once again failed the written test and failed his board breaks.

So.  All Ihave to do is wait two months for the next test, and break three boards.  No problem.

So…another two months.  Sigh.  Luckily, we can study Tai Chi in the mean time…because we don’t get to start learning form nine (Ba Sign) until we get the black belt.

It was a huge disappointment for all of us...but if I remember correctly, Scott, Jay and Chris all had to make at least two attempts...so we're still doing OK.  I'm glad the test is so hard and demanding.  It makes it all the more worth it.

I think Jiaqui was the only person who passed his board breaks the first time...he had two to do for brown everyone else had to make multiple attempts, but senior students don't get more than one try per test.  Some people thought that it might be the humidity in the room...which WAS very steamy today for some reason.  I guess three is going to have to be the charm.

Bunny Boy passed his third degree orange belt by the skin of his teeth, and he’s jazzed about getting to start in the weapons class.

Adventure Boy waited another term to test, as he was not ready to do a minute of push-ups, a minute of sit-ups and some of his kicks are a little shaky yet.