Yellow Stripe Belt Test

She knew everything.  We practiced the forms.  The Korean vocabulary.  The one-step sparring.  She has been showing the Ten Basic Moves to everyone for a month.  Then, when the white belts stepped up for their test together, they all kinda' froze!  You would have thought it was Abigail's first day in karate!  But, when it was time to break the board, she showed her confidence and did that.  The Master passed her anyhow, although we are raising her like a good Asian kid and told her we were proud, but also that she could have done better. (We don't want to lead her into the whole "you participated, here's your trophy" American mentality!)  She knew moves & the words. Why didn't she do them, boldly, leading the group? Apparently, the testing environment was a little confusing to her.  But initial timidity aside, we really are proud of her for finding an activity and sport that she really loves and taking ownership of it and, in class, always being focused and trying hard.  And she is super proud of herself; tonight she told me that yellow stripe belts are very tough, like her.  You know what else?  She is pretty athletic.  She moves well, runs beautifully.  I could watch her move forever.  Her little body is so coordinated and graceful and powerful.  What a gift the ability to move is!!