Brown Belts: Dangerous stuff

While we sat on the floor at the belt ceremony Wednesday, Brian and I whispered back and forth about the meaning of our new belt.

"A brown belt seems very significant," I said.

"It means we need to buckle down and get to work," he replied.

We've been doing Tae Kwon Do for over a year now. For me, the moves are now seeming more like second nature, not awkward and strange. (Though the new move introduced with each form usually feels tricky for a while.) Maybe I'm beginning to master this art.

At our school, more is expected from brown belts. They're expected to help teach, to be there for work days when the dojang is cleaned, to generally be ready to assist whenever necessary.

Master Hughes called the high blue belts up separate from the low blue belts.

"I'm calling you up separately because this is a big step for you," he explained. "Do you know the meaning of the brown belt?"

Brian and I did, but we waited, since Master Hughes was looking at little Jacob, the junior blue belt up with us. He didn't know.

"It means danger!"

We got the new belts, which were, as usual, stiff and creased. But we'll be wearing them for a while. Now we are "3rd temporary" brown belts. We'll move through 3rd permanent, 2nd temporary, etc. etc. over the next year, getting black tape to mark our progress as we test. At some point, we'll get a brown belt with a black stripe along one edge.

I can't believe I've made it this far.

Here are some pictures from the evening.

Patrick getting his stripe from Justin. I believe Patrick will be up for his temporary Black Belt next test.
Me and Brian. Am I really that short? Here are Mindy and Jamie doing Mindy's new form.
Master Hughes with some of his proud and happy students!