1 Down, 13 to Go.

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!

Tweeting for a Kidney

Had a lot of fun at class tonight! We're back to sparring which is always awkward. We try to pair up by height. Technically Juliana (wife) should spar Olivia (our 10 year old)  in the kids' class. But I digress ... So I was paired up with a young lady, a fierce young lady, a fierce young lady who takes sparring very seriously. Good thing I aggressively blocked her kicks otherwise instead of blogging tonight I'd be Tweeting for a kidney donation.

Travis always tries to incorporate things about the sport we need to know both in competition and if a situation presents itself in real life. Today he told us there are two ways to engage in competition, Olympic style and continuous points. In Olympic style teakwondo once you score a point the match stops and then you reset and begin again. Travis made the point that in real life you don't hit someone and then take a time out to adjust and then go back to the fight, so he is teaching us more in the continuous points style. I hope this training doesn't have an adverse impact on my Olympic dreams.

And finally, I pulled a muscle in my foot. What a dork. We'll see what else is pulled when I wake up tomorrow.

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.