Katherine did her test last evening for 4th kyu Purple Belt. In our school, there are two “grades” of Purple Belt (I believe there are four of Brown); that means, though there’s only one more “color” to go, Katherine is only just past half the grades to get up to a Black. And, of course, it keeps getting harder …
Some schools use additional markings on the belt — either a separate belt (white-purple) or bands on the ends of the belt to designate the grades. We don’t. (Many schools have blue instead of purple, for that matter. And, you can be sure, there are some partisans in all of them who argue bitterly about whose arrangement is best.)
Anyway, though she was very nervous about the whole thing, I think she did quite well with her kata (at least, if she didn’t, I’m in real trouble when I test in January), well in her kihon (basics), and pretty decently with her kumite (sparring). In addition to taking pictures*, I was taking notes for my aforementioned test in a couple of months.
We find out the results on Tuesday, though I strongly suspect she’s got it. Which she will then be able to lord over a lowly 5th kyu Purple Belt like me. Not that she would ever take advantage of that to taunt her old dad …
*On the camera, which means I haven’t uploaded them for posting as of yet.