My name is Arav Bhosle. My Taekwondo journey has been wonderful so far, but the first test for black belt degree two wasn't like any other tests before because this test was not based on individual performance, but it was based on team effort. None of our group members were ready for that. It took a lot of shots to reach the level to pass the test.
For starters, the written test. When I was studying for the test I was going through the papers at least once a day. Two days before the test I was frequently going through the question paper, and when the test day came and when I got the written test paper I felt confident on each question on the paper. Another person in our group and I passed the test, but one of our group members didn't pass the first time, so we were trying to help him so that he can pass the written test the second time. In my mind I was thinking that I am not going home until I pass this test. On the second try he did pass.
All of our group members were doing our poomse well, but while doing our poomse in unison we had a little trouble. When we thought we were ready when we really weren't ready, we were sent back. But when we practiced slowly for a few times in unison and we fixed each others mistakes, we passed the test for the Koryo poomse. Even the Palgwe Poomse didn't go well one the first try. Then we practiced slowly in unison, and fixed each of our mistakes eventually and passed the Palgwe poomse test.
Now the toughest part of the whole test, Nunchuks. First, we had to memorize all the Nunchuk techniques, 1 to 33 and perform the Nunchuk techniques in synchronization. In our group we all memorized all the of techniques, but problem was the 29th technique, where you have to toss the Nunchuk behind you and make the Nunchuk swing in front of you. One of our group members kept on dropping the Nunchuk and we had been trying to pass this Nunchuk test for some time. The other hard Nunchuk techniques are the ones where you have to roll the Nunchuk around your hand. While we're practicing we had a little trouble on it.
I want to mention two things, if you aren't in unison doing the test for Poomse and Nunchuk you will be sent back to practice for the next attempt. The second thing is that if you drop your Nunchuk while testing you will be sent back to practice.
We gave the Nunchuk test quite a few times before we got it all right. Once we thought that we got all of the techniques right at the end moment. I was like this it's finally over, but someone in our group dropped their Nunchuk after technique 29. NOOOOO!! and I thought it was over. We did it for the last time and we passed.
This taught me that actions speak more than words in teamwork, and there is no "I" in team - everyone has to be contribute!