This past Saturday was a dream come true for me. I always had passion for Martial Arts and I grew up watching movies of Bruce Lee and movies like ‘Snake in the monkey’s shadow’ and the like. I always am mesmerized by the speed with which one can attack or self defend. Even though I did not have the opportunity to learn such an art, I was adamant about putting Yash, my son in one such class. After doing research on what schools and what martial art to put him in, as there are many schools teaching many styles, I landed upon a school in Centreville for Tae Kwon Do (TKD). I put Yash in that school three and a half years ago, when he was four and a half years old and this past Saturday, he tested for his black belt and is one now!
This past three years I took him to class three times a week in addition to him being in the demo team which met on Saturdays to practice. This team will perform in other schools and events as needed or requested. Taking him to his TKD class was like me going to the class myself. I used to drop him off at class and wait in the class watching Yash do his moves. I watched on instructors teaching him new techniques and forms and I used to spend my time learning the moves by watching. After class time, I would work with Yash at home and practice with him. For me, it was like comparing notes after a lecture is over in school. But what can I say; I am an ardent TKD lover. Even though I was not the one in class, every single class brought me new details.
There are times when Yash was tired or swamped with school work and other activities that he was involved in, that he would not feel up to it to go to the class. But my passion to the class was so much that I would force him to class as that was the only way for me to be in class to watch him and the instructors spar. This past three years has been like me going to the class and learning the art. When I came to know that he was ready for testing for black belt, I spent every day with my son practicing the forms, hand and leg techniques, board breaking techniques and sparring. We worked as a team in getting closer to our goal and getting the black belt.
On Saturday, we practiced everything and we were at the school by noon. The exam started at 12.30pm and ended at about 5pm. Those five hours was like being on a roller coaster ride. Everything he learned in those three years was tested in those five hours. There were spots that were rough and I would tell in my mind that it would all smooth out at the end. The instructors and his friends would boost his morale when he would be down with pain while trying to break his double boards (two boards together) or get hurt while sparring. Getting a black belt was just not Yash’s dream, but mine as well. We worked together in fulfilling this dream. It is true that the belt will have Yash’s name embroidered in Korean,(attached picture is just a sample, not Yash's belt - He will get his belt on April 14th during his black belt ceremony) saying that he is a first Dan in TKD but every time he wears his belt or asks me to tie it for him, I will always feel that I am the one wearing it on me and that I am a black belt. I am glad that I am seeing my dream come true even if it is through my son’s achievement.
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