I began martial arts with preschool
children - at age 39. After a year
and a half, we have tumbled, kicked, punched together, and we have groaned
through push-ups and sit-ups together. We try to listen and hold still and bow
at the appropriate times. I am 5’8” and they are 3 feet, more or less.
This school year, at the honorable
invitation of our Jhoon Rhee Tae Kwon Do Master, I decided, at the age of 40,
to try something unusual - train with adults.
Our Master, trainer of both
children and adults, is a 4th Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do, among
other things. Her students are aged 18 months to, well, 40 years.
This fall, she invited the adults
in our group (all 7 of us) to compete in the year-end tournament. After
injuries, children’s illnesses and general parental duties called, only two of
us were able to attend the tournament, and at that, only for two hours.
Nevertheless, when my teammate and
I stepped into the gymnasium at a boxing center in Moscow, we both gasped with
intimidation at seeing about two hundred children equipped with white Tae Kwon
Do uniforms, ready to compete, and their parents, equipped with cameras. The
children wore belts of every color, not the least of which was black.
The youngest to compete were the beginners
– the “White Belt” three year olds. They demonstrated punches and kicks in
sparring competitions in one of three rings. This was, however, no three-ring
circus. This was serious business, with judges, scores and medals (and light-up
wands for the little tykes).
You already know who the oldest to
compete was. And I am what’s considered a “No Belt;” I wear a white belt, but
only because it came with the uniform I ordered on Amazon, not because I have
earned it. To earn it, I will need to demonstrate in my upcoming “belt test”
that I know some basic forms – certain kicks, punches and movements.
I had agreed to photograph at the
tournament and was busily doing so when my name was called to Ring 1. The
organizers said to each other questioningly, “Only one competing in this round?”
and then they looked at me, “Are you ready?” After my moment of hesitation,
during which I was thinking, Go ahead,
just skip me, I’m fine, really!, one of them said, “You’re ready.”
Thus, I, in my no-belt white belt, timidly
performed one piece, or form, that of “Appreciation.” I faced my three judges, all
black belts, aged 20 to 30 years younger
than me, and spent roughly 40 seconds performing in front of lots of on-looking
parents and even more kids with colorful belts.
My judges mercifully gave me scores
of 6, 7 and 7 out of 10 and graciously bestowed upon me a diploma and a medal
of first place in my category, since I was the only one comepting and there was
no one else to give it to. I accepted my prize, bowed, and left the ring,
humbled.
