A Sedona resident earns her third-degree black belt after years of training.

Lynda D. Christopher succeeded in her quest for a third degree black belt from the World Taekwondo Federation Kukkiwon earlier this month after an intense day-long test in front of a board at the Show Low Parks and Recreation facility in Show Low.

In order to be eligible to test for the third-degree black belt, Christopher had to receive 13 color belts, passing four tests for each color belt. Then she had to earn her conditional black belt followed by four black belt tests in between each degree in front of board of five members that flies in to make sure she meets certain standards. It takes two years to train and pass each test in order to just qualify to test for the next degree.

“I was so stressed out the two weeks before, because I was worried and nervous,” Christopher said. “At this level, you are not allowed to make a mistake. It’s not like, ‘Oh you can try that one more time.’ I was so stressed out, it was awful. This was the first time I was like that because there was just so much memorization and so much involved. It just keeps getting harder and harder.”

The test consisted of poomsae [forms], kyorugi [sparing], kyokta [breaking], self-defense and drills that are called out by the board, all moves that Christopher needs to have had memorized.

For the full story, please see the Wednesday, June 19, issue of the Sedona Red Rock News.