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A collection of photos from my grading tests in May 2005. At this test I graded in all
three arts - Hapkido, Aikido and Tae Kwon Do. On these occasions, we wear the uniform
and belt of the highest ranking art that we train in. For me, that is Hapkido - here
I am as a brown belt, testing for black-belt candidate (brown/black). For TKD and Aikido,
I was testing for blue belt. As you will see from the photos, it's a fairly big center -
there's typically 10-15 black belts turn up for any one coloured belt test - and the black
belts will be from all the arts. You'll see a couple of the Aikido shodans in the various
shots, in addition to the Hapkido black belts.
Unfortunately, the results of the photography aren't that great. The studio isn't
exactly the brightest place in the world, and it was at night, so the shutter speeds
were quite low on the camera. As a result, some of the faster moving techniques are
quite blurred - particularly the twin-sword form.
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Caught mid-stride in a TKD form - Tae Guk Oh Chang.
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Board breaking for TKD. Since I'd already performed the same breaks in previous belts for
Hapkido, the testers came up with something novel - a double suspended break. This is just at
the end of it - The two facing away I'd just done a right side kick to, then an outward
hammer fist to the group side on to me.
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Mid technique for one of the TKD step-sparring techniques - from a ready position, ground
spinning side kick.
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Another step sparring technique - double elbow strike following a punch.
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TKD sparring at the end of the test with one of the black belts. Too late - I'm just
about to land a nice knife hand to the head.
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Now into the Hapkido test. The next series of shots is from the weapons form. At brown belt
you have to choose your own weapons form to learn and demonstrate. For me, this was the
twin sword form from the Muye Dobo Tongji - an ancient manual describing the royal court
martial arts of Korea. It uses two curved blade full-length katanas and contains kicks and
rolls in addition to the basic sword work. A very flowing and graceful form when done
correctly. This is right at the beginning. Not sure which of the two times this posture
is used, but both have a double sword spin (with a forward roll in between).
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Swinging swords posture. The basic hand movements are the same as iriminage if you do Aikido
or The Weave if you do
poi/glowstick work. The same movement is also one of the basic movements of Escrima too.
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Clouds crossing the water. With one hand tucked under one shoulder and the other hand over the
other shoulder, exchange the positions going from left to right or right to left. Big swinging
circles, which you can start to see happening in the blur of this shot. I also like how this
shot illustrates the moving and stillness of the body and arms. Note how clear my left eye is
as it maintains a fix on the target.
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Five vines tangle the body. A horizontal circle with the swords, followed by a reversal of
the sword cutting directions and a foot sweep.
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Another Cloud crossing the water - this time right at the very end of the form and facing in
a different direction.
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Board breaking for the Hapkido test. Two boards from a rolling ground side kick (this time,
left side, just to be different from the TKD break :) ). Nice timing of the photo, just
after the break. Yes, that's a collection of weapons that fell off the rack from an earlier
break attempt where I aimed too high and managed to plant my foot right on the holder. Doh!
My next break like this will be with 4 boards.
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The next two shots are from the ho sin sool set - two hand grabs from in front. These
transition to stretches, which can then be made into either a back break or a throw. This
one also looks a lot like a kokyo nage for the Aikidoka.
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I quite like this shot, nice and clean. My attacker is one of the fellow aussies at
the center - Kevin Graelish.
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