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Since yesterday evening I'm back in Munich from my one week Tae Kwon Do trip to Greece.

It really was a great experience. Getting up at 6:45 each day was hard, but worth every minute I couldn't spent in my bed. We learned a lot of new stuff, especially the KimooDo (Korean Tai Qi) lessons given by Grandmaster Brunner from Tampa, Florida were great and I plan to keep practicing it at least once a week. We also had lessons on using the Shinai and various self defense techniques (Hosinsul).

On Saturday we had our exams and I managed to get my 4th Kup (blue belt) . Everything went well except the break test with my fist . It took me 4 hits before the plank broke, and today, 5 days after it, my hand is still swollen. This was my first break test with the fist and I'm really surprised how hard it is because it always looks so easy when you see others doing one ore more planks. Of course there are several factors on which the success of a break test depends, like the type of wood and if the plank holders move back when you hit it etc., but it really felt like punching a wall.

On Sunday we then visited a Volcano, where our new black belts received their belts inside the crater. The atmosphere was really great even though most of us just slept for one hour or less because we celebrated the exams the night before . Too bad my camera died on the first day so I couldn't take any pictures during the whole trip .

All in all I had a great time and I'm really looking forward to the next camp next year .