The 10th of July rolled round very quickly, is it really four weeks since we were graded? We had been looking forward to the seminar for quite some time and now it was here. First there was the problem of dress, Full Do Bok or our very bright yellow T-shirts, easily fixed that day it was quite cold. Then do we take our Bongs?, Better do, just in case. On arrival at the Do Jang (better known as Calcutt Village Hall), we found that Master Johnson and some of the Coventry Crew had already arrived. There were a few of us already there and some people were quite nervous, having never experienced a seminar with Master Johnson before personally I was matter of fact about it.
Eventually we started our warm up, doing ok so far. Then a sit down, Master Johnson said we would not be starting to do much just yet as some of the Coventry visitors were still on their way. He also apologised for wearing not his belt, babies have impeccable timing for sickness.
We then paired off, call it lucky, I got a Master. Perhaps I was not as respectful as I could have been, being a very dizzy orange belt, but he was very nice about it all. We went through the applications of Pyung Ahn Forms (Hyung), (Peaceful Confidence for those that don’t know). It makes the forms easier for me if I know why I am doing them so this was excellent. Master Johnson used clapping to bring us all to a stop, unfortunately for me I am concentrating that hard on what I am doing I usually missed it. Lucky for me then that the Master I was with kept prompting me!
We kept going being shown the applications and then practising them. After some time we went through the forms, as high as you know, I only know to Pyung Cho Dan. As the forms get higher less people are doing them, eventually we got down to the Master Grade. He has just started to learn a new form and therefore had to try to remember it on his own. This is difficult even for a Master! With regard to the basic form, its the stances that are important, you really have to work hard to get them correct, they are Back Stance, Front Stance and Horse Riding Stance.
Then we were taught a form new to most of us, It was a Dan form, Horrors of horrors, if only I could remembers its name. The children were taught White Crane, my eldest boy can remember up to where they got to, he is doing better than his mum (as usual). This is something special and I hope that I can get to grips with the bits I can remember.
The two hours went very quickly and I thoroughly enjoyed it, yes it was hard work, yes I have aching legs and knees and arms, and, yes I felt good after it! I look forward to the next one, there is nothing to be nervous about. Tang Soo Do is one of the best workouts I have ever had, two hours is slightly longer than normal but I will not flinch from the next one and I will attend my class today!