Grasshopper advances

After all the pre-test fear and nervousness I went through during the weeks before my shaolin promo exam, I remember very little of the exam itself. I remember thinking that my forms were wobbly. I remember my legs falling asleep after I sat on them for most part of an hour. I remember my sense of relief when the sifu laughed at me when I limped up to receive my new belt (my feet were almost totally numb).

But what I remember most of all is after I was presented with my new color belt. I stared down at it, still unable to relax, even though I gradually realized that I was holding on to it so tightly that my hands were white. 

However, the payoff has arrived. Now I can attend "color belt" classes and learn new stuff. It's all more difficult - for example, the new 20-point form requires one to peform a simultaneous kick and punch, while the 16-point forms didn't include this. The combined side kick and punch will be diabolical to get right, especially since I am a klutz with a poor sense of balance due to the damaged right ear. But it's renewed my interest. I'm already looking forward to the next belt color.

I suppose the only down side is that it's become more apparent that I could be considerably better if I weighed a little less.  For example, six-point pushups wouldn't wear me out so much if I didn't have quite so much to push up.