Holy cow Taco. I need pain meds just from reading this. When do you start classes for the next belt? By-the-way, LOVE the story about the retired Marine who defended the group in Costa Rica. The combination of the two stories makes me want to take you and Mrs Taco with me on my next vacation.
Our local PBS station had a show on this week about the Marines, boot camp, OCS, warrior culture, etc. It was pretty good. They had a short section on the MCMAP including an interview with the LtCol who ran the program and they showed him demonstrating some of the moves. I don't know how old he was, maybe late 40's or early 50's, but his hair, what there was, was all grey. He was kicking ass. Of course, he was doing this for a living.
Saw that special!! I had tears in my eyes re the instructor who lost both hands in Iraq and came BACK to teach MCMAP again!!!!
AWWWW Grasshopper....
Many, many moons ago I studied TaeKwonDo (many, many moons ago!! 
our sabum had many bits of wisdom, but three that stand out are...
"It should be easy to spot a black belt in a crowd, s/he should walk like a Marine on roller skates" and
"If you can't beat your computer at chess, try kick-boxing." and best of all....
"'Ow' is not a word"
OMG that's laugh out loud funny, Taco.
I never took Tae Kwon or Kung anything, but as your wiser, older athletic Master I'm gonna add my own words of wisdom to those Bridget just taught you -
It will never hurt less in the future than it does right now.
This fat and sassy girl is very glad it's YOU going through that and not me. Exerc*se is a four letter word with me. And you know how I love four letter words. But THAT one won't ever cross these lips!!
Hey Taco,
My son just finished a marshal arts course in the Corps that gave him a green belt and the ability to teach others up to that level.
Now dummy me, is that a bigger deal than what you just did? He said it was tough as nails and that they pt'ed the stew out of him.
Of course, he's only 20 and a corporal. I understand the age thing. Heck, I wish I could see 35 again!
I don't care how much "fun" or how easy a course looks--IT AIN'T! (hehe)I have finally learned that lesson.
I saw that PBS special & I came away saying "wow, that is tough". Thanks Taco, you keep me motovated!
Hey Bob,
Your son is a hard charging Devil Dog... I only did the basic Tan, he is now like the NCO's who taught us. Tell him Congrats, what he went through to reach that level is worthy of tons of praise!!
Now for the rest of you...I'm just able to reach down and tie my shoes.
Ha!!
S/F
Taco
Way to go Taco.
I'm heading out to hit a bucket of balls (golf). That's about as much as I like to workout.
Jim
Hey there Congrats Milblog winner!!
Congratulations on your win and your new belt.
I always loved the Karate Kid movies.
About the 70 year old Marine:
I could be wrong but believe it was an Army Gen. who stated, "The deadliest weapon in the world is a Marine and his rifle."
Well, apparently this one didn't even need the rifle.
The way I see it is the safest place to be is behind a Marine.
I hurt for 2 weeks after my tan belt, body hardening? Ack, beating with sticks is more like it. Congrats on your win by the way!
My buddy is a 2nd LT who went through the Black Belt IT course, while I am only a tanbelt ninja. If tanbelt is difficult, wow, blackbelt is a step above. Apparently part of the black belt IT course is to OC spray you (military grade pepper spray) and then you have to fight in several different matches. That was the worst part my friend told me. Of everything else, that got to him the most. I can sympathize somewhat after the CS chamber. My mask had a small leak the first time I did it, so I was in a world of hurt. Anyways, he is setting up a graybelt course at the squadron, so at least I should begin to advance.
Congratulations on the Milbloggies win! Your body may be a little older and joints a little stiffer, but your mind is still sharp as the pointy end of the spear.
Sangram congratulations on you win!!! You most certainly deserved it!
I did my tan and gray belts while mobilized in 2003 at the "old age" of 34. I had a 250 PFT, and as the senior enlisted guy in the class, was determined to show up the young ones. That ended about 1 hour into it, and I ended up slathering myself with Icy Hot and downing motrin like candy for the first week. Of course, North Carolina in July is such a temperate place, they had to tone things down when we lost 5 guys to heat exhaustion by 1000 the second day.
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