Evolution to Black Belt

Congratulation to Lane Moore and Ryan Fowler for their promotion to 1st degree black belt in Tiger Shark Hapkido. More pictures to follow about their test in a few weeks.

I recently promoted two more hapkido students to 1st degree black belt. This makes a total of 68 first degree blackbelts (33 females and 35 males) whom I have certified. Both of these students were intelligent young men with about a year age difference between them. The younger student came to me with a black belt in a mixed style of Tae Kwon Do and the older student came with no previous martial arts experience.

The asset that they both brought to the training hall was desire and attitude.

This test ran smoothly because both young men were fully prepared and had the desire and attitude to fulfill all of the requirements. For the black belt in Tiger Shark Hapkido, there are many parts to a black belt test including katas/ forms, kicks, strikes, techniques, notebook, essay, sparring, and a question and answer period with over 100 questions. You must also be able to express yourself to others in the teaching mode clearly and in a professional manner.

Through diligence, desire, and consistent attitude, students slowly evolve throughout the training journey as black belts. These blackbelt characteristics and skills will carry over and enrich other areas of their lives as well.