The Nikon Samurai Gets His Black Belt

[Speed]

No, I didn't get a D2X. ;-)

For the past five years, the Queen of Pain, AKA the lovely Dawn, and myself have been studying the martial arts. Saturday, the 10th, we tested for black belt. Here are few photo's for you.

First shot: Lethal Beauties. So lovely, but don't cross them or they will put you in intensive care!

Second shot: The Fearsome Foursome. The four of us have trained together for nearly five years.

Third shot: Death at the door. These gentlemen have over 200 years combined martial arts experience.
From left to right: Master Wells (our instructor), Fifth Dan and the eigth black belt in our system, 40 years experience.
Grandmaster Perceval, the founder of our system (he holds black belts in three other systems), Ninth Dan, 51 years experience.
Grandmaster Gay, Ninth Dan, the fourth black belt in our system, 40 plus years experience.
Master Moore, Fifth Dan, the fifth black belt in our system, and close friend of our instructor (and us), forty years experience.
Grandmaster Bins, Ninth Dan, the 15th black belt in our system. He's the young one with only 37 years experience.

[Speed]

Dawn immediately after recieving her black belt.

The Grandmaster writing her name in "THE BOOK". This book is over fifty years old and holds the names of all the black belts in our system.

Sensei signs the book. He signed by each of our names as our instructor.

Dawn signing her name as the 75th black belt in our system.

[walterick]

Woo-hoo! Congratulations! You guys rock!

I am suddenly feeling a little nervous about coming to visit you guys now...

[Speed]

Dawn has a cast on her arm. The Thursday night before testing, we were doing takedowns. I caught Dawn's toe (and broke it) during a takedown, and she swung at my ribs. I blocked it with my elbow and she fractured - and displaced - two bones in her hand. She had her hand X-rayed and casted on Friday and tested for Black Belt on Saturday. She is one TOUGH lady!

These shots will give you some idea of the bruising and swelling in her hand.

For those that have never gone through a black belt testing, it is the most exhausting thing I have ever done. Mentally, physically and emotionally, it is draining beyond what you can imagine. And that's saying something, since I use to do Triathlons!

Last but not least, is the bag. Since there were four of us, and we've been training together, we drew numbers to decide what our number would be in the book. Ironically, we drew numbers in the order that we line up in the dojo. Corey, me, Dawn, and Denise. Corey is # 73, I'm # 74, Dawn is # 75, and Denise is # 76.

[walterick]

"I caught Dawn's toe (and broke it) during a takedown, and she swung at my ribs. I blocked it with my elbow and she fractured - and displaced - two bones in her hand."

Jesus H you guys sound like extreme fighting warriors over there.

Just forget the whole visiting thing altogether. I think I am safer over here

[Speed]

"I am suddenly feeling a little nervous about coming to visit you guys now"...

You have nothing to worry about buddy. We're very friendly people.

But don't try any "grab shots" with Dawn....

;-)

[Speed]

"Just forget the whole visiting thing altogether. I think I am safer over here"

Now Rick, don't be rediculous. It was an accident. I did a takedown I've been doing for years. I have NEVER missed this takedown. But Thursday night, Dawn pulled up short and I caught her toe. I've broken a toe in class before as well. It hurts, but you get over it. Dawn just decided that if her toe was going to hurt, then my ribs were going to hurt. If I hadn't blocked her chop, she would have undoubtedly broken several of my ribs.

"Safer over here"??? Come now man, how could you be safer than walking down the street with two black belts at your side?

:-D

But for the record, when I call myself the Nikon Samurai, it's not just a pretty expression.

;-)

[Kokopeli]

This is fantastic news! I am in awe of your dedication and discipline. I have tried on two occasions to get into martial arts and both times, gave them up. The first, by choice and the second was due to a knee injury sustained at the dojo.

Congrats to you and the lovely (and deadly) Dawn!

[jorgemonkey]

Congrats!

I feel sorry for any security guard that tries to get physical with you guys while you're out shooting

[walterick]

Come now man, how could you be safer than walking down the street with two black belts at your side?

I'll take my chances with the rattlesnakes and scorpions thanks.

But for the record, when I call myself the Nikon Samurai, it's not just a pretty expression.

I hear that! You are indeed the Master Samurai Dragon! Ah-so! :8: :cornut:

[Speed]

This is fantastic news! I am in awe of your dedication and discipline. I have tried on two occasions to get into martial arts and both times, gave them up. The first, by choice and the second was due to a knee injury sustained at the dojo.

Congrats to you and the lovely (and deadly) Dawn!

Thank you my friend. It has been a long time coming. We've been punched, kicked, kneed, and thrown down repeatedly. We've licked our wounds and nursed our bruises. Most importantly though, Dawn and I did this together. We started together, we tested together, and we got our black belts together. We are the first couple to do so in our system.

"the lovely (and deadly) Dawn!"

Dawn doesn't care much for the kata's, and the sparring, but she LOVES self-defense. And she's really, really good at it. And I like it that way. I pity any fool who lays his hands on her. She will hurt him so quick and so bad, he will go to his grave wondering what happened to him when he grabbed that pretty woman.

:-O

[Speed]

Congrats!

I feel sorry for any security guard that tries to get physical with you guys while you're out shooting

Thank you my fellow Samurai.

I think it would be a mistake for someone to try to put their hands on us. :-O

And it would be hard for me not to laugh while Dawn put someone on the ground - hard!

;-)

[paulnj]

Rob and Dawn... you two rock!

But, I for one am not scared of either of you McCabes :lol:

[Old Timer]

Great pics to document a fantastic achievement. Grads to you and the beautiful Dawn. Her accomplishment under the circumstances were unbelieviable. Thanks for sharing your special day with us. The Samuria rules.

[natatbeach]

And I like it that way. I pity any fool who lays his hands on her. She will hurt him so quick and so bad, he will go to his grave wondering what happened to him when he grabbed that pretty woman.

:-O

Unless the big dork breaks her toe and arm first!!!! lol

Poor Dawn congratulations to both of you---but crap...if you wanted to post more pics of Dawn you didn't have to take the sympathy route to do it.... poor thing

[Speed]

I'm sure she'll use more self-control the next time she gets a toe broken.

;-)

"Poor Dawn congratulations to both of you---but crap...if you wanted to post more pics of Dawn you didn't have to take the sympathy route to do it.... poor thing"

Trust me, these photo's have nothing to do with sympathy. These show just how tough she is. But I'll be sure to post more shots of her in the future that do not highlight any injuries.

[Speed]

Great pics to document a fantastic achievement. Grads to you and the beautiful Dawn. Her accomplishment under the circumstances were unbelieviable. Thanks for sharing your special day with us. The Samuria rules.

You said it buddy! A couple of the Grandmasters commented on her determination to complete testing with broken bones. They also stated that most men wouldn't have even tried to do so. Anything she lacked in skill and technique was definitely made up for in determination and perseverance!

Thank you for the comments and the kind words. I'll be sure to pass them on to Dawn.

[Speed]

Thank you my friend!

"But, I for one am not scared of either of you McCabes" :lol:

Of course not. You have nothing to fear from us. We're very friendly people!

:-D

[Lava Lamp]

So, I wanna know: Did she buy you the D200 before or after you broke her bones? Must be love, I guess...

Seriously, congratulations. I'm struck, too, that it's a nice couples thing for you and the missus to have done together for five years. What are you going to do now? (I'm thinking range certification, parajumping, climbing Everest...):thumbsup:

[Speed]

"broke her bones? Must be love, I guess"...

Before! I got the D200 a month ago. She broke her toe and hand last Thursday. And technically, I only broke one bone. She broke the two in her hand when she tried to hit me. All I did was block!

"Seriously, congratulations. I'm struck, too, that it's a nice couples thing for you and the missus to have done together for five years. What are you going to do now? (I'm thinking range certification, parajumping, climbing Everest"...):thumbsup:

Now we are going to work on perfecting our technique. Dawn swore that all she wanted was to make black belt. She wasn't interested in getting second degree, third degree, etc. After testing, she's decided that she wants her second degree. Now that's dedication. For the record, I've said all along that I want to make master level before I die. That's fourth degree and above.

Dawn and I have a rare thing going. We enjoy each others company much more than the average couple. We want to be together as much as we can. So, we do karate together, we go camping together, and whenever possible, when one of us goes out of town for a conference, the other one takes leave and goes too. It must be true love!

:-D

[paulnj]

Sounds like true love to me... Count your blessings pal !

[photophorous]

Hi Speed,

Congratulations to you and Dawn. What an accomplishment.

I know this will probably never happen, but if you and Dawn ever have a domestic disturbance, and end up on "Cops," you have to tell us when it airs. That would be the best episode ever.

Paul

[racingpinarello]

Congrats to you both...my little brother got his black belt three years ago, and his first degree a couple of months past. It's a lot of work and dedication and something to be proud of.

If somebody says anything bad about Nikon, we now can send the heat!!!

Congrats!
Loren

[Speed]

"That would be the best episode ever."

No chance of that happening. But it would make for an interesting episode for sure!

;-)

"Congratulations to you and Dawn. What an accomplishment."

Thanks Paul. I appreciate the comments buddy.

[Speed]

"we now can send the heat!!!"

Hehehe!

Of course, I will only use my powers for good...

;-)

"It's a lot of work and dedication and something to be proud of."

Thank you Loren!