Promoted To 8th Dan

You can't imagine the feeling you get at this kind of promotion.
Here I am being presented my certificate to Pahl Dan by Grandmaster Estioko of Sacramento, California.  Grandmaster is the second American to be awarded Dan rank in Tang Soo Do.  I will post again later about his journey.

This was an amazing weekend.  Getting ready to run the Nationals,  Senior Master training with Kwan Jang Nim Estioko.  Promoted to 8th Dan with my long time friend and Tang Soo brother Wesley "Chipper" Jenkins.  An accomplishment of a lifetime!

I want to thank all my teachers.  I believe we stand on the shoulders of all of our teachers.
I will have to post some photos and comments about their teaching and my learning.
I want thank my wife for supporting me in this pursuit.
I especially want to thank my student, business partner and training partner Master Kristin Duethorn for her constant push to be a great Black Belt, which in turn forces me to be a great teacher.  Our workouts over the years have been rigorous and plentiful and together we have sought true Tang Soo Do and Moo Do training.

When I began training in martial arts, somewhere around green belt, a friend asked me how high a Black Belt I hoped to achieve.  After a little thought I said 3rd degree Black.  He asked how I came to that?  I responded, that is how high my teacher is.  One thing I have learned is that we can all do better than we think we can.

Writing this has brought on many more thoughts of things I would like to write about.  I will need to be more consistent with my blogging.

Thanks for the journey and the memories!


MB

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