Wow! So I completed my first belt test. The process was pretty intense, but I felt ready. I really ramped up my own intensity level to match the moment and that felt really good too. Great news, I didn't fall down or crack up laughing at an inappropriate time... makes for a less exciting blog. Sorry.
Overall the belt test was not intimidating. We were all prepared, encouraged each other and it mostly felt like an amped up class ... with an audience. Usually some of our kids are playing or doing homework during the teen/adult class but for the belt test there were folks watching us. However as I mentioned in a previous post, I zoned into my own world and didn't even notice them most of the time.
The white belt form, Chun-Ji, is typically led by the instructor, however Travis let us go on our own and we did really well.
The big news is we got to break some boards after the test. Both Juliana and I smashed through a wood board with our fists. Oh yeah! Breaking the boards was pretty cool. My girls, Frances and Olivia, did great on their belt tests as well and are now green belts. Also, Olivia broke a board with her fist and another with her foot.
Lastly, I'm not a big fan of working out, going to the gym, running, biking, swimming or anything that could be a considered a healthy activity. I've tried a few things over the years hoping I'd like it or that I'd stick with it, and nothing ever stuck. But holy crap, here I am three months into Tae Kwon Do and I'm still going and I really like it. Travis and Jin Shil Martial Arts make all the difference, thank you! Thirteen belt tests to go!
A 40-something father of 3 finally decides this is really the year he's going to get healthy. This should be interesting.
Showing posts with label Chon-ji. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chon-ji. Show all posts
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Monday, April 1, 2013
Cheat Step!
We're getting ready for the belt test on Friday. This will be my first one, so I wonder if I will:
a) crack up laughing at an inappropriate time
b) fall flat on my face
c) fall flat on my back
d) all of the above
Vegas shows 7 to 4 on "d) all of the above" ... easy money!
The last few classes have been pretty intense and Travis has ramped up his intensity level as well. We did 100+ kicks in five minutes on Thursday, not that easy! Getting the forms down pat, not only making the right move at the right time, but also doing each move properly has been a bit of a challenge. I'm not at all graceful, a terrible dancer and can barely walk straight most days, so these forms are tough. Travis gave me some good tips on "staying square" and facing front for the front stance with a down block, that has helped a lot.
I find I talk to myself during the moves and having a focal point on the wall is good for concentration. I almost feel like I'm alone. For round house kicks I make sure I talk through each part of the kick as I do it, "Cheat step, chamber, kick, chamber." The bad news is I have no short term memory anymore so the trick is losing its effectiveness little by little each ... day, right, each day.
Wednesday is another forms review class and an opportunity to work on nailing down Chun-Ji.
a) crack up laughing at an inappropriate time
b) fall flat on my face
c) fall flat on my back
d) all of the above
Vegas shows 7 to 4 on "d) all of the above" ... easy money!
The last few classes have been pretty intense and Travis has ramped up his intensity level as well. We did 100+ kicks in five minutes on Thursday, not that easy! Getting the forms down pat, not only making the right move at the right time, but also doing each move properly has been a bit of a challenge. I'm not at all graceful, a terrible dancer and can barely walk straight most days, so these forms are tough. Travis gave me some good tips on "staying square" and facing front for the front stance with a down block, that has helped a lot.
I find I talk to myself during the moves and having a focal point on the wall is good for concentration. I almost feel like I'm alone. For round house kicks I make sure I talk through each part of the kick as I do it, "Cheat step, chamber, kick, chamber." The bad news is I have no short term memory anymore so the trick is losing its effectiveness little by little each ... day, right, each day.
Wednesday is another forms review class and an opportunity to work on nailing down Chun-Ji.
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Time off, take-downs, and kicking it up!
It's been a while since my last post. I've been busy working with a group of concerned Oneonta residents about a potential new development that will destroy our local economy. Find out more at www.saveoneonta.com.
I'm back to writing about my experience with Taekwondo ...
In the past month, here's what happened:
1. I missed a week, but went back! It was so important to get back at it and to my surprise, I missed it.
2. We did a lot of sparring this month. I took on Big Dave one evening while we practiced self defense moves. Travis encouraged us to go for the full take down. That was fun until my head an neck made a crunching noise I never heard before. The big lesson, always keep going!
3. I saw Big Dave the next week. He was relieved to see me walking under my own power.
4. Travis is stepping up the foot work drills with the ladder. Iggy-Shuffle, reverse Iggy Shuffle, backwards Iggy Shuffle ... I never hated a retired football player more.
5. More sparring! The higher belts that invested in sparring gear did full contact sparring. I would have been jealous, except that gear looks totally ridiculous. Someday I'll hop into some and hit real people. Anyway, I sparred my wife and a 15 year-old dude Seth. Seth is a nice kid, but by the end I was pooped. I had to remind him I'm almost three times his age.
6. Running. I thought there was no running in Taekwondo? No there's running. We run in a circle around the mat. It's crazy! Then the 15 year old boys start to lap me. Little punks. I lapped them right back and then pulled some old Route 287 moves to keep them from passing me. I pulled those crafty veteran moves until my heart nearly exploded out of my chest.
7. We're preparing for out belt test. I have the moves for my form pretty down pat. The key now is not just doing the moves, but doing them well, being crisp and being in time with the group. This is when I think dance lessons at a much younger age would have come in handy.
8. So I learned how to do an ax kick. Then I proceeded to forget five minutes later. I asked Travis, "What is the point of this kick?" Travis is always great about answering my painful questions and getting me back on track.
No more three weeks between posts!
I'm back to writing about my experience with Taekwondo ...
In the past month, here's what happened:
1. I missed a week, but went back! It was so important to get back at it and to my surprise, I missed it.
2. We did a lot of sparring this month. I took on Big Dave one evening while we practiced self defense moves. Travis encouraged us to go for the full take down. That was fun until my head an neck made a crunching noise I never heard before. The big lesson, always keep going!
3. I saw Big Dave the next week. He was relieved to see me walking under my own power.
4. Travis is stepping up the foot work drills with the ladder. Iggy-Shuffle, reverse Iggy Shuffle, backwards Iggy Shuffle ... I never hated a retired football player more.
5. More sparring! The higher belts that invested in sparring gear did full contact sparring. I would have been jealous, except that gear looks totally ridiculous. Someday I'll hop into some and hit real people. Anyway, I sparred my wife and a 15 year-old dude Seth. Seth is a nice kid, but by the end I was pooped. I had to remind him I'm almost three times his age.
6. Running. I thought there was no running in Taekwondo? No there's running. We run in a circle around the mat. It's crazy! Then the 15 year old boys start to lap me. Little punks. I lapped them right back and then pulled some old Route 287 moves to keep them from passing me. I pulled those crafty veteran moves until my heart nearly exploded out of my chest.
7. We're preparing for out belt test. I have the moves for my form pretty down pat. The key now is not just doing the moves, but doing them well, being crisp and being in time with the group. This is when I think dance lessons at a much younger age would have come in handy.
8. So I learned how to do an ax kick. Then I proceeded to forget five minutes later. I asked Travis, "What is the point of this kick?" Travis is always great about answering my painful questions and getting me back on track.
No more three weeks between posts!
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Leaning Back = Breaking Bad
I'm ba-ack! I missed all of last week due to travel for work down to the Big Easy, tough assignment. I did have the intention of watching a YouTube video of Chon-ji and practicing my form. Not so much.
Monday was a little rough, but at least I looked official in my white belt uniform. We started off with some kicking to warm up. I have a bad habit of leaning back after a kick. Travis was holding the blocker and when he moved I kicked, missed, and landed flat on my back. It was very graceful and I needed the laugh. That's what mats are for!
Next we worked on the brush block grab self-defense move. I did ok from the right side, from the left was a disaster. Seth my practice partner for the evening (who I think is 14) was a good sport while I muddled through. Afterwards Josh spent a few minutes with me to get in some extra work too and that helped a lot.
We have a really cool group of people taking the class. We all applaud each other after we bow out which is very supportive and affirming.
Monday was a little rough, but at least I looked official in my white belt uniform. We started off with some kicking to warm up. I have a bad habit of leaning back after a kick. Travis was holding the blocker and when he moved I kicked, missed, and landed flat on my back. It was very graceful and I needed the laugh. That's what mats are for!
Next we worked on the brush block grab self-defense move. I did ok from the right side, from the left was a disaster. Seth my practice partner for the evening (who I think is 14) was a good sport while I muddled through. Afterwards Josh spent a few minutes with me to get in some extra work too and that helped a lot.
We have a really cool group of people taking the class. We all applaud each other after we bow out which is very supportive and affirming.
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