Martial Arts Carolina Testing
June 2009 TESTING
According to my sources testing went very well with everyone demonstrating with enthusiasm the techniques, forms and self defenses they learned during the cycle. I will add pictures when they are shared with me.

Promotion
Promotion was at Idlewild Baptist Church. It was nice to have enough room so everyone could see all who tested get their new belts. Four awards were given out at promotion. Holly Minich and Julia McCarthy each received an Awesome award. Yonnie Berhe and Kerrie Harney reach received a Student award. Congratulations to all for their hard work and dedication that earned them the awards.

Pil Sung

May 2009 Testing was a long day with 86 testing for their next belt rank. We had one testing for the goal we all make for ourselves 1st Degree Black. We had the highs (good forms and breaking boards) and lows (that last board didn't break). Whether they passed or not each student show us their best and well displayed the Tenets of Taekwondo and Combat Hapkido, Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self Control and Indomitable Spirit. 

Promotion was an exciting time with a room full of Juniors and Adults looking forward to their new rank belt being tied around their waist and others who didn't pass but came to support all of their friends that did. Awards were given for Awesome, Student and Pil Sung.
March 2009 Testing for TKD Adults and Combat Hapkido was on Friday night. TKD Juniors tested on Saturday morning.

Promotion. We had three to reach their 1st Degree Black Belt in Combat Hapkido. 

 

January 2009 The morning started off great. It was Mr. Burdette's birthday and we sang happy birthday to him. 
The best thing about Martial Arts is the ability to display what we have learned. We practiced hard all cycle and the students are ready to show what they have learned. We did just that on Saturday morning. As a student myself I know how nervous it can be and also at the same time how exhilarating it can be. At our school the students support each other with shouts of encouragement when they are doing their forms, breaking boards, and during sparring. Nothing will get you in the heart more than when a student goes blank during their form or does not break their boards. You want to go out on the floor and help. We don't take this as a failure. It just means more work. So next cycle when we break our boards and do our forms, we can say to ourselves, "I did it. I worked hard and made it." It is a great feeling. I love testing on Saturday mornings. It is the whole combination of anticipation, nervousness, and the feeling of accomplishment when it's done.
Pil Sung
Jody Burdette
November 2008 We had a lots of students testing and mid-terming this cycle. There were so many TKD Juniors testing that their testing ran over 45 minutes. The same was true for the Adults in TKD and CHKD. It was great to see Mr. Yeager at testing and that he would be back teaching soon. 

Promotion Monday was great. We had promotion at Blair Road UMC. There was a new event at promotion. It was called "Are You Smarter Than a TKD Student". Parent and others participated to win prizes of Taekwondo classes for 1day, 1 week or 1 month. Reciting the tenets of TKD was worth 1 day. Reciting the Student Oath was worth 1 week and performing Chon-Ji the White Belt form was worth 1 month. After everyone received their new ranking there was a covered dish dinner. There are a lot great cooks at Martial Arts Carolina. My waist line will be testament to that. There was a lot of good food and fellowship that evening. It's a large part of what makes our school the greatest. 
September 2008 Testing started Thursday 09/18 with our energetic Grasshoppers. Who knew testing could be so much fun? Grasshoppers kicking, punching, fire safety and stranger danger showing all of their skills.

Saturday 09/20 testing day began with the Juniors. There was standing room only on the testing floor. Everyone successfully demonstrated their forms and techniques. There were a few that caused tense moments for Mom and Dad when they didn't break on their first try, but they persevered.

The Adults got a late start because we had so many Juniors to test. That didn't dampen their enthusiasm. The blend of TKD and CHKD was exciting. From kicks, strikes and block to joint locks and throws the testing floor was full of action and excitement. We had only one to not break all of their boards, but I'm sure they will be back next testing with improved techniques to conquer the boards. Testing is always a exciting day. Invite family and friends to come share in the excitement and see how special Martial Arts Carolina is to us. If you have any testing or promotion pictures that you would like to share with everyone please email them to lburdette@martialartscarolina.com and I'll put a link here for all to see.

 

July 2008 Testing was at Blair Road United Methodist Church, where had lots of room for students display their forms and techniques and family and friends to watch. Testing started earlier than usual (9 am) since all students (TKD, TKD Juniors,  CHKD ) were testing together. Mr. Butchka led us in prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance to start testing. Before testing started Mrs. Hutchinson presented Mr. Butchka with a plaque from the school for his service to the students and families for the martial arts community. There were three major tests for the day. Clint Bartlett and Cameron Dickins testing for their first degree and Kassi Wilson testing for her second degree. It was great to see mixture of our youth and adults at testing. Ms Wilson tried her best to give everybody heart failure by going to her last attempt at a jump side kick over two obstacles to break her boards. Thanks to all the students that worked and made this a great day of testing.

Pil Sung

Promotion was held at Martial Arts Carolina. We had two Awesome Awards and Two Student awards. The Awesome Awards went to Gunner Romberg, and Morgan Carrera. The Student Awards went to Adam Drillings and Dale Starnes. We now have lots and lots of Yellow Belts. Congratulations to everyone who moved up in rank. You worked hard and earned it.

 

May 2008 Lots of excitement with Grasshoppers testing on Thursday and the rest of the school testing on Saturday. Saturday started with TaeKwonDo Juniors testing first followed by the adults in TaeKwonDo and Combat Hapkido. The Juniors were great with their forms and sparring. Some of them did try to give us heart attacks by going to their final attempt before breaking their boards. 

Promotion.
We had two Awesome Awards, two Student Awards and a Pil Sung Award. Monday night was the unveiling of our newest belt the Camo Belt. In honor of the new belt color and our troops the theme word for the cycle is "DUTY". 

April 2008 Mr. Butchka opened with a prayer for the safety of all the students testing. He then led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. The whole day was just buzzing with activity. Beginning with a demo break by Mr. Burdette and ending with Mr. Cook testing for his 2nd Degree in Combat Hapkido. Mr. Cook will be leaving us for South Dakota. Let's all of us wish him the best of luck in his new adventure. 

February 2008 Testing was held at Martial Arts Carolina. Taekwondo Adult/Juniors and Combat Hapkido tested starting at 9:45am. The Juniors had 1 black belt taking his midterm test and one testing for his 1D Black Belt. There were 2 doing their midterm test in the Adult TKD. The Combat Hapkido program had one 1D doing his midterm test and two testing for 2D. Our Grasshoppers tested on Thursday. 
The CHKD 2D testers had to endure a gauntlet for their test. 

Promotion.
Before promotion started Jacob Wall had to finish the last part of his 1D testing. He had to do his form and break his boards. His dad was his board holder. How neat was that? I heard that Dad was more nervous about holding the boards than Jacob was about breaking them.
It was a great cycle and testing showed how much everyone had progressed. Work hard this cycle and have Awesome testing. 
Pil Sung