Dear Gajok,
Congratulations to our 2019 Black Belt Graduates!
Black Belt is a rank coveted by many, yet worn by few. “For every 10,000 people that join a martial arts academy, half will drop out in the 1st 6 months. Of those remaining students about 1000 will complete a year and then quit. 500 will make 2 years but only 100 will make their 3rd anniversary. On average, less than 20 will get their 1st Dan and less than 5 their 2nd Dan. I shall go on to teach others. No matter how long the student is at the academy. The lessons learnt will be with them for the rest of their life and they will go on to share that life with others. This person is a BLACK BELT. This person is 1 in 10,000. Are YOU the ONE?” The path to becoming a Black Belt is a long and difficult one, littered with many obstacles and setbacks along the way. Many Taekwondo students have the goal to someday wear a Black Belt, but really it is those who have a true passion for the journey, who actually succeed. Further, a Black Belt is NOT the END. NOR is it the BEGINNING. It is simply the END of the BEGINNING. A Black Belt is a White Belt that has never quit. Congratulations once again on this amazing achievement.
The testing this year was extremely challenging, and pushed each student to their limits. But all of them succeeded and pushed through to achieve their goal.
Below, you can view all the pictures taken from the 2019 Black Belt Test, Ceremony and Celebration. Enjoy!
Master Brian Luft
Head Instructor
BLACK BELT TESTING
BLACK BELT CEREMONY
