Mama of a Black Belt

Tonight - I am the mother of a black belt. I am so incredibly and completely proud of my son. He has spent the last three years training - and worked so incredibly hard these past two months taking private lessons in preparation of his black belt testing. It's a huge deal to work for something for such a long time and achieve a goal that not everyone achieves.

However, after he was done, he said very loudly, "I CAN NOW QUIT TAEKWONDO!!!" *laugh* I guess he's done. But, he made it!

Here are a few pictures of tonights testing and black belt ceremony:

Waiting to do his form:


Getting REALLY REALLY nervous:


Doing form with taekwondo buddy and nailing the form (great backstance with square block):


Perfect leaning back and hand position for the side kick in his second form:


Weapons form with the scythe:


Self Defense (looks like his buddy got hit in the side of the head):


Getting ready for his board breaks and feeling good about being done with the forms:


Asking permission to do his board breaks - this is a pretty cool picture to look at. You can see the one board with the two guys with their back to the camera, and the other board and Bubba reflected in the mirror:


This is my absolute favorite picture of the night (and maybe of any Taekwondo picture of Bubba and maybe even my favorite picture of Bubba) Look at him yelling, his belt flying, with his foot just busting that board right in half. ROCK ON!


Beginning of the ceremony:


Bubba lighting his candle at the ceremony:


Ceremony candidates - this is the first "graduating" class of the school:


The head instructor tying Bubba's new belt on him:


My proud boy:


Picture with his Taekwondo Buddy. We have become good friends with his family. This little boy's dad is also in classes with us. We have a good time and go out to dinner when we can. The mom went to the same graduate program I went to - we were just a few semesters apart. Aren't these just such cute boys?:


Mommy and Bubba. Horrible picture of mommy - great picture of Bubba:


Bubba's super awesome instructors:






Congratulations Bubba! I know you worked really hard for this!