5th Dan Testing

[bushido_man96]

I went to our association HQ to test on 12/7/2024 for 5th dan.  It was the first time I'd tested since 12/7/2013; 11 years to the day.  Needless to say, it was long overdue.  I got there early to warmup and walk through material, and got to see and talk to some individuals who used to be students at our school that have since passed me in rank.  It was good to see some familiar faces.  The CI at our school also came to test for the same rank, and it was nice to have someone to test with.  I have to say, we represented our school very well.  After a group of three of us 4th dans did our forms, we were the first group to receive applause.  It felt pretty good.

This month has been a rough month for me.  Not only did my work schedule change in November to afternoon shifts, which cuts me out of attending regular classes, I had been having recurring episodes of vertigo that were causing me to miss work.  I had an episode hit me on Wednesday night that caused me to miss work Thursday, so I was pretty apprehensive on Friday night and into Saturday morning at testing, hoping all the action wouldn't send my head into a downhill spiral.

We did our third dan form and then our form, three-steps, sparring, and board breaks.  All went well, and I felt good about my performance, and my head held together for all of it, even the seminar afterwards.  After testing and seminar were all done, everyone was settling in to eat and I figured we'd hear back about promotions later in the week.  While I was out checking out a local retro video game store, the CI sent me a photo of my new belt!  So I booked it back to the dojang to pick it up, and certificates will be mailed out later this week or next.

I felt confident I had passed, but one never assumes until one sees the results.  It was great to see the results so soon!  I passed, and our school owner passed, so now we've got a new form to learn, and it's back to work preparing our own students for their testings.  I had a lot of fun, and got kudos from several people, which felt good to hear.  It becomes difficult to gauge how my technique is, but when others compliment, it helps reinforce what I've been doing.  I think I'll not wait another 11 years to test again!

[ashworth]

Huge congrats on the grading! Sorry to hear that it's been a rough month for you, but well done for pulling through and putting everything you had into your grading  It sounds well deserved! 

[Nidan Melbourne]

Congrats on the promotion! 

I've also had a few former students (now friends with them and instructors also) overtake me in rank. I used to have an inflated ego where I didn't like that idea happening. Now i don't care so much, because everyone is on their own journey. 

[Zaine]

Congrats! Learning a new form has always been my favorite part of ranking up.

[aurik]

Congratulations!   I found my test prep for nidan considerably harder and more stressful than the actual test.  Once I got to the test, I knew I had prepared as best I could, and that my CI wouldn't invite me to test if he didn't think I was ready.   

Now you get to figure out all the new material that's a part of the next step of your journey.  As Zaine said, that's the really cool part about passing a test....

[bushido_man96]

Thank you everyone!  I do look forward to learning the new form.  It has some interesting kicking aspects in it.

[KarateKen]

Outstanding promotion! Congratulations!! 

[DarthPenguin]

Fantastic, well done!

[sensei8]

5th Dan!! Milestone!! CONGRATS; well deserved!!

I greatly enjoyed reading your OP and I thank you for sharing it with us!! Made me think back to when I earned my 5th Dan; what a hard fought battle that Testing Cycle was, but well worth all of the blood, sweat, and tears.

Earning one’s 5th Dan means many various things to many people. Opportunities abound for those who earn a 5th Dan of which have to be seriously considered while continuing on their MA journey.

Is 5th Dan a Master of said art?? Maybe…Maybe not. That’s not what should be in the foremost thing in their mind. My Sensei’s Sensei always said that, “Only others can say that someone is a Master, and not the one that has earned a 5th Dan”.

I know your integrity and I greatly respect you wholeheartedly. I know just how hard you’ve trained in TKD and I can’t be even more proud of what you’ve earned these many, many years.

CONGRATULATIONS ON EARNING YOUR 5TH DAN!!

What is the name of the new form??

I agree with you, Brian, don’t wait 11 years for your 6th Dan…maybe 5 or 6.

 

[Patrick]

Congrats Brian! Happy for you.