Breaking Boards

For the past nearly 7 years C has been training hard at Taekidokai and all that training has led up to this event. Her final grading as a junior student. Once students have completed all levels of the junior section they can then grade and are able to join the adults and senior students but to get that far you first need to break a thick wooden board !!!

There is not much strength that is required to break this board, it's more about your skill level, which is good as C is not the strongest person !! There are usually a few students from each level that grade together but today of all days C was the only one in her group !! That meant that the pressure was all on her shoulders and everyone would be wholy and soley concentrating on her !!! Not daunting at all !!

There aren't a lot of photos nor good photos as I was to nervous myself and actually took video footage instead of still pictures.

I have never seen someone more determined than my daughter that day. She showed a strength that I did not know existed, she showed everyone in that room what hard work and dedication she had to getting through it. She was looking like she was defeated and about to give up but she got angry and fired up and just kept going and going. You could feel the energy in that room as everyone was pushing her to not give up. Yes it did take her a while and yes she was sweating and exhausted but she powered on and when that board broke every single person in that room rose up as one and cheered and screamed so much that we could have lifted the roof !!! I thank them all for pushing her along and supporting her even when she was down and out and in tears. I thank the trainers who took her aside, coached her and calmed her and willed her to follow through. A very proud day for all of us.

Sparring with a fellow student

Showing off her skills

Yes she did it !! Being congratulated and receiving her new belt

Proudly putting on her new belt

One very proud but exhausted child !!

First time lining up in the senior line !

Thanks to these guys for pushing her. Doesn't she look happy but exhausted ?!

 Again thank you to everyone that supported our girl and helped push her through. Without them all the outcome I'm sure would have been very different. It was also a great opportunity for C to see the strength she has inside herself and hope that this feeling continues for her throughout her life. We love you very much and are super, super proud. Well done xxxx