A Little Patience…
February 2, 2008 by Bob Patterson
After I closed out of my last post the other evening I received an email from my instructor. It looks like the next two black belt tests (Cho Dan and up) are going to be in May and Sept. So, this delays my testing a few months. This also means that if I pass it will have taken just a few months shy of three years to achieve Cho Dan.
At the end of the day, a few more months give me all that more time to be as good as I can possibly be so I’m OK with this. In fact, I just read my Black Belt Magazine E-newsletter and they had a story about Ed O’Neil. He just received his black belt in Gracie Jujitsu and he did it at age 61. How long did it take him? 14 years! Congratulations Ed O’Neil!
~BCP
Bob,
I’ve always appreciated the speed in which you’ve progressed. I think I’m on year five and I’m closing in on the Brown belt (or at least that’s what the murmur in town says). I’m not sure if I said it or not, but congratulations on your Blackbelt. I guess you got it while I was on vacation. I don’t know much about TKD but you navigating the testing waters is very eye-opening about the process.
Hi Potatoe -
Thanks,
Not all taekwondo schools do it this way. Our accrediting body is made up of mostly masters (4th dans and up) from about 15 or so schools.
Usually twice per year the masters will agree to hold two black belt testings. This testings are for 1st dan and up.
So, when you get your black belt you are first tested at your home school. This test is purposely designed to be harder. If you pass you get a plain old black belt to wear until the second test.
Then you’re sent on to the second test in front of the masters. If you pass that one you get a black belt with gold lettering and 1st dan rank.
So, we are tested twice and it’s not exactly the same test each time, though some of it is.
As for time and hours I’m pretty certain we have to have a at least 280 hours in and 2 years. I’m not sure what the average is.