It was a total surprise. I wasn't supposed to be promoted for another 4 months but my sensie thought I was ready. As we all lined up at the beginning of the belt test I was in front with the other brown belts. There must of been at least 30 other students of varying rank behind me. Then the Grandmaster stepped up and said that he had someone to bring up to blackbelt. I thought it was my friend Rick from another dojo that has been doing cage fighting as well as karate. He's a better fighter than me although he'll never admit it. Next thing I know the Grandmaster calls my name. I looked at my sensie and he was smiling from ear to ear. I step up and was shaking as he quietly explained what it meant to be a Blackbelt in our organization and how I will now be looked up to by my students and the community. Then he had me take off my brownbelt and he tied my blackbelt on me. After that everyone started calling me Sensie Taylor. Which still sounds strange. I think my sensie will have me take over the beginners class while he still teaches the advanced class which I will attend. You are never done learning.
If anyone out there is considering taking a martial art please give it a try. It's been one of the best things I've ever done for myself.
