The Year of 5th Dans!

                           

THIS was the year of 5th Dans! Eleven, count it, ELEVEN, people tested for their 5th Degree Black Belt this year. I did my best to support as many of them as I could this year. This many people testing for such a high rank is virtually unheard of, and what makes it even better is THIS: all these people are PHENOMENAL martial artists! And that makes it even better!

First up, both testing on the same day of May 28, 2016 was Master Glenn Ames in Maryland, and down in Dacula, Georgia was Sahbumnim Kelley Hardy. Master Ames testing in Maryland. I met Master Ames in the AAU Taekwondo. My earliest memory of Master Ames was us studying together for our officiating upgrade in the summer of 2015. Master Ames is a very good official and great martial artist. He is very precise which we are both very similar on in our training styles. He's excellent at mentoring, a supportive team captain, and has one of the best senses of humor I know of! He always keeps up laughing and smiling! I called him the morning of his testing, and the night of to wish him luck and hear about the testing! Needless to say, a great martial artist like Master Ames needs no luck!


Down in Georgia, where I was, Miss Kelley Hardy was testing. She had a phenomenal attitude from beginning of the testing right to the very end. She remained positive, excited, and strong. Her focus was sharp, and I was so happy to be there for her. Kelley and I first met officiating in my first nationals. We hit it off right from the beginning. But also testing alongside her for 5th Dan was her very own daughter Victoria Hardy and another woman warrior, Master Cathy Brown, a school owner in Georgia who had claimed Master Stone as her instructor. Victoria serves in the military for our country which is the greatest sense of servant leadership I can think of. Master Brown was wonderful to watch test and be acclimated into this family, with support and enthusiasm, and great to see her transformation during the testing.

Miss Kelley Hardy (GA) and Master Glenn Ames (MD) received their 5th Dans May 28, 2016 

Master Ames breaking on his 5th Dan test.

Victoria Hardy tested with her mom in Georgia, both 5th Dans!

Cathy Brown (center) tested for 5th Dan unde rher instructor Master Bobby Stone in Georgia.

In the ATA, I have a friend named Victoria Valentino. Victoria is a PHENOMAL martial artist. She is physically very talented, mentally strong, and also has a strong spirit. While attending school, getting a thousand degrees, still teaching and training, pushing herself all the time, Victoria tested for her 5th Dan with the ATA during their World tournament at the beginning of July, during 4th of July weekend, down in Arkansas. I was at AAU nationals in Florida, but was corresponding with her the entire time and texting with my own mentor, Ms Gedman to see how things were going. She found out weeks later that she indeed passed her test, and no wonder!

Next up on July 16th was my very own 5th Dan Testing at my school in front of my students under my mentor Master Kevin Balon, with my testing board being mentor Master Samuel DeJesus, my brother Master Bobby Stone from Georgia, and surprise guest Master Kathy Wieczerza of Tennessee. You can read that blog here. A week later at Fastkix Taekwondo, Master Balon's student Nick Carbley tested for 5th Dan. I met Nick when we tested for 3rd Dan together, it was the first time I ever tested outside my organization/school. Nick and I also tested together for 4th Dan, and that test I will treasure sharing with him. He once again tested and did an amazing job after a very difficult year personally, I was so proud of him to persevere and join the 5th Dan Club!

Victoria Valentino tested for 5th Dna in Arkansas at the ATA World Championships.

My 5th Dan testing under Master Kevin Balon in Saddle Brook, NJ.

Nick Carbley tested for 5th Dan July 23, 2016 at Fastkix Taekwondo in Spotswood, NJ. 

                                                                                   
August 2016 was Grand Master Kathy's last bi-annual testings. She will be going a different direction with the bi-annual gatherings. But at this testing for 5th Dan was Miss Taylor Wauford. Taylor, who was prepping for a wedding at the same time, was also training for 5th Dan Black Belt. I was in Chicago with MLK. All day I was getting updates through text of on Facebook of how she was doing. Everyone said her forms were impeccable and testing was impressive! I may have been on the phone with her literally an hour, maybe less, after her testing was done, waiting for my bus in Chicago getting ready to go back to New Jersey.

Then, third weekend of September I found myself in Nashville, Tennessee at Family First Martial Arts. I attended their first Black Belt testing the year before and totally invited myself to return the following year. Weeks before this testing Miss Dani Carroll-Kooyman, wife to Master Larry Kooyman gave birth to their beautiful daughter. Reading her essay, training and preparing for 5th Dan Black Belt testing was a real challenge for her, and rightfully so. There's not many people who would push themselves, or know to what extent to train for a 5th Dan Black Belt test, and while pregnant?! That in itself was amazing and her indomitable spirit got her through rigorous training that she appropriately allowed herself, the mental and emotional challenges, and then of course giving birth, made her 5th Dan a treasured event.

Taylor Wauford (now Hooper) testing for 5th Dan in Tennessee under Master Katherine Wieczerza.

Dani Carroll-Kooyman received her 5th Dan at Family First Martial Arts Center in Tennessee, only a couple weeks after giving birth to her beautiful daughter!

This past weekend was the 20th Anniversary of the D.C Turnbull Taekwondo Black Belt Camp! 44 Black Belts tested, two of which were testing for 5th Dan were fiances's Jessica Wauford and Joey Curtis. The camp in itself is a phenomenal experience, but the testing process these guys went and had the opportunity to share with their fiance I know is something that will go deeper for them. I was privileged to be present for them. I felt Joey broke through a lot of barriers during his testing, and physically showed it when he did a four slab concrete break (one of my favorites during the test) and Jessica pushed through and allowed herself to JUST BE and LET IT BE which allowed so much to flow. And yes, Jessica, it is OKAY to express that happiness, as you earned it and deserve it. I was happy to be there for my family.

Fiances Joey Curtis and Jessica Wauford were the last two to receive their 5th Dans this year in Orlando, FL!

         
Even though this blog is about the eleven 5th Degrees of the year, there were some VERY high ranks that were tested this year I think I should make mention. I never witnessed a 6th Dan testing before and it was my privilege to see Sahbumnim Matt Bucci and Master Peter Vargas test for 6th Dan last week at the Black Belt Camp in Orlando, Florida. Also June 4, 2016 in Reno, Nevada was the test for Master Kathy Weiczerza for 8th Dan Black Belt. You can read about it here or in her words here. And Febraury 2016, my very own Sifu Pedro Cepero Yee achieving his 9th Dan in Hung Ga Kung Fu before being appointed World President for Yee's Hung Ga Kung Fu Association on June 13, 2016. I bleieve he is the only 9th Dan in the system in the world, and his Sifu, my Sigung, voted in to 10th Dan.

In this industry, people in mass martial arts get Black Belts too easily, and many people the standards and quality  falls and distills the arts. I can vouch that these martial artists mentioned in this blog are top quality martial artists that keep the standards, values, and the deep meaning, worth, and tradition of the martial arts strong and alive. It is a great comfort that these individuals represent what the martial arts is all about. I am honored and privileged to know them all and extend my most sincerest gratitude to knowing you all and congratulating you all on your achievements and accomplishments.

This Blog is dedicated to my fellow 5th Dans of 2016!: Glenn Ames, Kelley Hardy, Victoria Hardy, Cathy Brown, Victoria Valentino, Nick Carbley, Taylor Wauford, Dani Carroll-Kooyman, Jessica Wauford, and Joey Curtis.

Yours in service,
MASTER A TRENTO