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I passed all five stages of my Tai Tzu testing today!

I started the day off groggy and irate at the thought of yet another commute across the Puget Sound to my kung fu studio. I’ve been commuting for three years now and I have felt the negative effects of it especially as of late. Thinking of the hours that would be spent today in my car so I could go to a martial arts form test where I would be ripped apart, a cycle of pessimism ate at me. I arrived at my school and clamored up the stairwell thinking only of getting in uniform before the time struck ten, wishing my nerves would cease their increasing tempo-‘ed tango.

However, once the testing began, it started to get exciting. I had passed the first two stages of testing (form by form and smooth version) with minor corrections and a compliment. The next three stages flew by. “This is how you should’ve performed for tournament” my Sifu said to me as I greeted out of stage four. I haven’t felt more comfortable with a form. I laughed at myself because practice truly does pay off. I fixed my rooster stance and bettered my front toe kick, strengthed my hand forms and was careful to not fly through transitionary stances. Me and the three black belts there greeted out at the conlcusion, leaving me with the all-familiar kung fu high. It was a vivid reminder for me of how it seems I can’t ever get enough kung fu. I can’t remember the last time I felt that level of personal accomplishment. The two hours there flew by and I was happy, a complete reversal from that morning.

Then it was back on the ferry, out on the water, sunshine, cool air, and Naruto episdoes #37-38.