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| Thursday, March 6, 2003, witnessed another first. Four of Grandmaster Brenda's Glory Dancers graduated as USCDKA First Degree Black Belts, at the 2003 Leadership Conference. Kathie Distelberg, Shameen Sagraves, Sarah Ax, and Sally Ax are a more familiar sight in their dance costumes, rather than their Taekwondo uniforms. But for the last three years, they have been training at the Sell Team National Headquarters school. They were also the first group of students that started training as white belts, graduating as black belts from Grandmaster Brenda's current school. The four of them trained together, encouraging each other to achieve the goal of successfully passing the black belt test and graduation. Many times, each of them wanted to quit, especially during the grueling black belt test, but as one weakened, another was there to be an encouragement. The culmination of the graduation was the school's musical form to "Days of Elijah.". All the black belt graduates, including Grandmaster Brenda, Robby Sell, Jeremy Geiger, and Dane Samson participated. Not only was Taekwondo technique and form highlighted, but also the praise and pageantry of the Glory Dancers. Flags, streamers, and silks added to the offering of praise |
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