佚名/Anonymous
On 31st January 2005, two students from my martial arts school took tests to gain important qualifications in the modern martial art of Choikwangdo.
Choikwangdo is a martial art which concentrates on self-defence, health and success in general. It was founded in 1987 by Grandmaster Kwang Jo Choi who lives in Atlanta, Georgia.
Mick was testing for black belt and Nicky was testing for second degree black belt.
Both had been training for years to reach these goals. They had passed one smaller grading after another until they were near the top of the ladder ready to take a big step to a new level.
They had a deadline every one or two months to aim at when the next minor grading would take place. The reward of passing the grading and the fear of failing it also pushed them on.
The standard martial arts escalator of reaching one belt after another is a powerful and systematic motivator.
Both Mick and Nicky were role models to everyone in the way they achieved their goals.
After Christmas they stepped up their training to the point where they were oblivious of all else except what they needed to know for the big test.
They attended all the available lessons and spent most of those single-mindedly focusing on their test syllabus. One of the top instructors, John, spent hours teaching and helping them both.
Mick and Nicky both showed a quiet but unstoppable determination in the actual test.
At one point Mick hit one of the focus mitts or pads which are used as a target with the weaker part of his hand and dislocated his little finger.
It was sticking out at an angle which made most people gasp in horror. Mick was concentrating so much on achieving his black belt that he did not hesitate for a moment. He rushed over to me, held out his hand and said,
"Go for it."
I was as stunned as anyone else by the dislocation but under the influence of his confidence that I could put things right, grabbed his hand and yanked his little finger away from the rest of his hand for about a quarter of an inch(in the direction it was now pointing) and then relaxed my grip.