Senior Blue Belt (4th Gup)
Traditional Meaning:
The oak tree is continuing to grown and stretching into the atmosphere. At the same time it is developing confidence to reach even greater heights and the greatest heights are starting to become more visible. The high blue belt student is gaining in confidence and their skills are reaching a point where black belt seems within reach.
Our Interpretation:
Like at the green belt level, you are once again the senior ranking belt in the class. Because of this you must begin to lead by example. The lower belts will look up to you and your technique, because of this you must be focusing on refining your technique as much as you can. We also start showing you your first 360 degree technique in 360 round house. We do not expect you to master this technique at this level, but we ask that you put in 100 percent effort towards perfecting it. As you become better at the aero kicks you too will start to reach new heights. At this level you will become very confident in your skills and may start to question why the instructors aren´t showing you more. As a martial artist you must resist this urge and start to totally lose your ego. If you feel that you are advancing past the point of the current level then instead of questioning why the instructor isn´t showing you more techniques, start asking what you need to do to move on to the next level.
Joong-Gun – (32 Moves) named after the patriot Ahn Joong-Gun who assassinated Hiro Bumi Ito, the first Japanese governor-general of Korea, known as the man who played the leading part in the Korea-Japan merger. There are 32 movements in this patter to represent Mr Ahn's age when he was executed at Lui-Shung in 1910.