Tae Kwon Do Blue Belt Test

When Anja started doing Tae Kwon Do in Fredericksburg, she told her instructor, Master Lee, that she wanted to be a black belt.  If she keeps up her current pace, she may be a junior black belt by the time she is 10!  Her most recent test was to advance to a blue belt. 

Anja had TKD testing after her field trip day at
school, so she was worn-out before she even
got started.

At each test, she must perform a new form pattern, self-defense moves, sparring moves, and she must break a board in a proscribed way (with a certain kind of kick or hand strike).  The girl works hard and focuses!

Doing her form.

One part of testing that many students get nervous about is board breaking.  It is pretty exciting to watch them.  You can see a video of Anja breaking her board here.  It is pretty quick, so don't blink!


She did it, and has the broken board to prove it.

 

 

After finishing her test, Anja's group watched
the next group test and waited to be
awarded their new belts.

Taking off the old belt...

and putting on the new belt.

Ta da!



Anja Tests For a New Tae Kwon Do Belt

Anja is just clicking right along in earning her Tae Kwon Do belts.  Recently she tested for and advanced to her blue stripe belt.  It is so much fun to watch her!  She is very focused and determined when she wants to be.

Do not mess with this girl!



Success!  Receiving her certificate and new belt
from Master Lee.

Putting on the new belt.

Congratulations!

Tae Kwon Do Green Belt!

The Tae Kwon Do gym where Anja takes classes does belt testing every month, so students can test for the next level of belt whenever they are ready.  Anja has been dedicated and very focused, has been learning her forms and self-defense moves pretty quickly, and has been testing and advancing belt ranks every couple of months.  In January she tested for her next level belt -- green!

Ready to test for a green belt!

Testing on her form...

she performed it perfectly!

She never met a board...

she couldn't break.

Hello Miss Green Belt!

 

Tae Kwon Do Testing for a Green Stripe Belt

Anja has been involved in Tae Kwon Do for a little over a year, and since we moved to Virginia she has become really determined and focused during class.  She is fun to watch when she is so focused.  Her moves are sharp, and her punches are strong.  Of course, all students look forward to testing and progressing to the next belt, and recently Anja tested for her green stripe belt.  She gets so excited about getting her next belt!

Getting ready for testing:  sparring pads, sparring helmet
and mouth guard.

TOTALLY ready!

Sparring

 

After sparring, performing her pattern,
and breaking a board with a sidekick,
Anja answers some questions about
Tae Kwon Do terms (they need to learn how
 to say Tae Kwon Do terms in Korean).

 

All done!  Old belt off, and waiting
for the new belt.



Master Kim helping Anja put on her new belt.

With the board she broke

A very happy girl!

Tae Kwon Do Testing

When we moved to Virginia, Anja had to start from scratch with her Tae Kwon Do instruction, so she had to start over as a white belt.  Fortunately, because she had taken TKD for about 9 months previously, she already knew her stuff and was ready for her first rank test after one month in Virginia.  She passed with flying colors!

Kick!

Punch!

Doing her pattern.

There was a lot of waiting, and it got a little long for this little one.

Master Lee joking around with the kids.

Master Lee tying on Anja's yellow belt. 
When she becomes a black belt, he will tie that one as well.

A proud girl!  She worked hard!

In our TKD gym in Minnesota, the students have to break a board at every rank test, but at the TKD gym we are with in Virginia, there is no board breaking at the first rank test (for yellow belt).  Anja was very disappointed there was no board breaking.  It seemed like she didn't think she was going to get her belt because she hadn't broken a board.  But she did get her yellow belt!