tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-99232642024-03-07T01:30:49.623-06:00Tae Kwon Do MomWelcome to the Tae Kwon Do Mom blog. I haven't always been a black belt--I began Tae Kwon Do in January of 2005, and I've chronicled my journey on this blog. Keep up with my latest training, or look through my archives. I'd love to hear your comments!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger619125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9923264.post-2568610144531135392007-08-12T15:13:00.001-05:002007-08-12T15:20:45.944-05:00Portaging MovieHere is a movie of me getting ready to portage a 70-pound canoe across a 50-yard path between two lakes. The two program assistants, Eric and Sarah, helped me heft it up, then I was on my own to walk with the canoe balanced on my shoulders. (It has a padded yoke.) <br />It was hard work but very satisfying!<br />Portage <a href="http://www.public.coe.edu/~jnesmith/portage.mov">Movie</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com75tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9923264.post-87838603578798421082007-05-24T13:02:00.000-05:002007-05-24T19:40:24.948-05:00Last Post?Dear blog-readers:<br /><br /><br />I wanted to let you know that I am going to take a break from the Tae Kwon Do Mom blog.<br /><br /><br />I have loved keeping this blog over the past 2 1/2 years. It's been great to share my story about becoming a student of the martial arts and a black belt in Tae Kwon Do.<br /><br /><br />It's the story aspect of this blog that I've so enjoyed. Lots of people think of blogs as on-line diaries, but I've never thought of Tae Kwon Do Mom that way. It's been a <em>story</em>, with a focus, conflict (peaceful and wimpy middle-aged woman learns a combative sport), plot (will she get a black belt?), and, of course, really interesting characters. There's also been research (those hyper-links and quotes from books, etc.), photos, and your wonderful comments, too.<br /><br /><br />There have been some side-stories along the way, too--my children quitting TKD, the time Eli got hit by a car, my parents' deaths, and Robbie's rejoining TKD. I've loved having readers to share all that with!<br /><br /><br />But another thing a story has is a beginning, a middle, and an end.<br /><br /><br />I feel like I've come to an end with this blog. I'm not sure, but I think maybe.<br /><br /><br />Getting a black belt isn't necessarily an end for any martial artist, but it does provide some closure to the story of this blog. And my son rejoining this spring brings me back full circle (you may remember that my children started TKD before I did).<br /><br />Now that I've achieved that closure, some of the necessary tension is gone from my blog's story-line. There are still moments of frustration and puzzlement for me in my training in TKD, but not enough to drive a plot. My blog is starting to feel like an on-line diary. That may (or may not) be interesting to readers, but I'm not sure I want to continue it.<br /><br /><br />I'm taking a break to think about this. Maybe I'll come back to this blog, maybe not. At any rate, it will stay posted here on blogspot.<br /><br />I'm not going to quit Tae Kwon Do. I had no idea it would come to be such an important part of my life--I'll keep doing it as long as I can; maybe I'll see some of you at tournaments! <div></div><br />Of course I'm going to keep on writing--my usual free-lance stuff, posts on KarateForums, emails to many of you, my writing notebooks . . . and maybe once the blog is done, another big writing project will arise for me. I don't know.<br /><br />Maybe I'll even make this blog into a book (or "blook" as they call it).<br /><br /><br />So thanks for being part of this TKD/writing journey. And if you want to stay in touch through email, drop me a comment and let me know your e-address! <br /><br />I'll always be . . . .<br />Tae Kwon Do Mom.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9923264.post-88835844783223368112007-05-22T21:56:00.000-05:002007-05-22T22:03:43.285-05:00Good things this week1. I learned how to do a jump crescent kick. It's one of Master Hughes's favorite kicks, and after working on it for a while in class Wed., I had a decent one down.<br /><br />It's like a tornado kick, but you don't switch legs. Kind of like a <em>fouette</em> turn versus a <em>tour jete.</em><br /><br />2. Speaking of ballet, I got a lot of work in on my wheel kick (another spinning kick) and it's improving. My problem seems to be ballet training. As I come around, my kicking leg rotates into turned-out position, rather than staying turned in to kick. Thinking about that helps.<br /><br />3. Master Hughes said it would be fine for me and Robbie to learn Bo this summer at Kojokan!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9923264.post-25782553472373021682007-05-20T16:15:00.001-05:002007-05-20T16:28:34.605-05:00Convicted"Don't sell yourself short," Ms. Pryor said Saturday at the end of class. "Push yourself to improve, even when you think you're not good at something."<br /><br />Ms. Pryor's inspirational words at the end of class <em>convicted</em> me, as we Methodists say. That means the words spoke to a lack I feel deeply in myself. <br /><br />The past few weeks, I've been enjoying my workouts at TKD. One reason I've enjoyed them is that I haven't had to do things I don't like to do, namely: board breaking. When we practice breaking, I just sit quietly, or make sure the children get a chance to practice. My excuse: I don't have a test coming up, so I don't need to practice.<br /><br />I also have been neglecting some kicks that are hard for me, namely: wheel kick. Ugh--I have such trouble with that one!<br /><br />But this week, I'd been thinking that I need to get working on the parts of TKD that give me trouble.<br /><br />And then Ms. Pryor had those words of wisdom to back up my hunch.<br /><br />It's not really right to be a martial artist, but be unbalanced in one's practice--to just be good at forms, and not do sparring. Or to skip board breaking. Forms and sparring come easier to me than breaking, and regular kicks come easier than spinning kicks. But I need to work on it all, and not shy away from what's difficult.<br /><br />This past week, I've even considered buying a rebreakable <a href="http://www.karatedepot.com/tr-bo-01.html">board</a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPUqLNF73C4qEqyVHM7aaERNlk_OfYgQk4lBB-FA-ciCxZppamx2ksgMzniZPeSv361g9GpaWlvBYnxtMoEZS4GESnO70reHvbXIfeKKiUlfTnAf8VKRxSQ9iuuVU-6_9Ri7-S/s1600-h/rebreakboard.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066757007405193410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPUqLNF73C4qEqyVHM7aaERNlk_OfYgQk4lBB-FA-ciCxZppamx2ksgMzniZPeSv361g9GpaWlvBYnxtMoEZS4GESnO70reHvbXIfeKKiUlfTnAf8VKRxSQ9iuuVU-6_9Ri7-S/s400/rebreakboard.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />or <a href="http://www.karatedepot.com/tr-bo-02.html">tile,</a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpq2dx9jTGoFuV1wm_F1MTHP7eqCB6uGPbdNykbr38kkIUTbYOuek3Zg2zRJkOBJdPmQhR5o6tBVDQuDlvjbi5xV-kMGIVdhpBE-8-qxG6nMfqY7DT2g2o0asj3YbsKRNgFoTf/s1600-h/tile.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066757007405193426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpq2dx9jTGoFuV1wm_F1MTHP7eqCB6uGPbdNykbr38kkIUTbYOuek3Zg2zRJkOBJdPmQhR5o6tBVDQuDlvjbi5xV-kMGIVdhpBE-8-qxG6nMfqY7DT2g2o0asj3YbsKRNgFoTf/s400/tile.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />just to get in some breaking practice at home (if I can find holders). Robbie will be able to use it too.<br /><br />Any thoughts about this equipment?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9923264.post-55614818413982648052007-05-18T16:26:00.000-05:002007-05-18T16:31:09.474-05:00Teaching Sparring to KidsAfter a good class, but a frustrating sparring session for some of the children Wednesday, I began to wonder about the best way to teach sparring to children.<br /><br />Then I suddenly realized there was a forum for questions about martial arts--Karate Forums! I love this site. <br /><br />This is the question I posted. You can find it and a few thoughtful comments at <a href="http://www.karateforums.com/instructor-central-vf36.html">Karate Forums, Instructor Central</a>. And if any of you has any ideas about teaching sparring, please let me know.<br /><br /><strong>My Post</strong><br /><br />Anyone have any ideas on how best to help children learn to spar?<br /><br />Last night in our "all belts" class--which has a mix of belt levels and both adults and children--we sparred. My son, who's a green belt (and has just returned to TKD after a hiatus of 2 years), said "I don't like sparring. I don't learn anything."<br /><br />A girl in the changing room complained, too. "I hate sparring. I don't think I'm good at it."<br /><br />I find that children don't really seem to understand sparring. They just flail away, and don't even look at the target. If they spar with other children their size, it's chaos. If they spar with adults, they're outmatched (usually, just because of size and experience).<br /><br />If I spar with a child, I end up not getting a good workout. I'll spar for just a while, then I do some teaching ("Here, try this combination") Since I'm a black belt, I teach sometimes, so I'd appreciate any ideas about how to make sparring a good learning experience for all involved.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9923264.post-14849982969770980592007-05-15T16:46:00.000-05:002007-05-15T17:01:41.489-05:00Behind the BeltDoes anyone out there get Blackbelt Magazine?<br /><br />I picked up a copy at the library today, and read an article that I wish I'd written! (That happens to writers sometimes.) <br /><br />The article was "Behind the Belt," by Jim Morris, who's a freelance writer and martial artist (Karate), and it was in the March 2007 issue of Blackbelt Magazine. I wish I could provide you an internet link, but I can't find it on the mag's website--perhaps they don't archive all their articles.<br /><br />In the article, Morris addresses questions that people often have about martial arts. Most people have odd notions. Morris says early on:<br /><br /><em>. . . when I tell my friend I'm taking karate, he mocks me. He assumes a karate stance, gets a kamikaze look in his eye and "karate chops" me, complete with a banshee yell.</em><br /><br />:-)<br /><br />Yeah. <br /><br />Morris goes on to answer some questions people ask, like whether he could "take" a 280-pound ex-con who lives on his street. Morris's answer--no. "I'm not learning karate so I can beat people up." When pushed, he points out that even a thug has tender shins, eyeballs, and ears that could be attacked if necessary. Karate isn't needed for street fighting!<br /><br />Another question: "Even if you're good, what are you going to do against a gun?" <br /><br />First Morris points out the way the media tends to overplay the danger of violent crime in an ordinary person's life (a theme I've written about before, too). Then he says:<br /><br /><em>I took up martial arts for one reason: physical activity, but stayed for a host of reasons. People have noticed a difference in me, too. Several friends have said, "you seem different." I ask them how.</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>"Just more . . . relaxed. Calm."</em><br /><br />I so enjoyed this article--it was a nice contrast to so many of the magazine's other articles--about MMA, "survival fighting," and phrases in ads like "transform any man into a walking, breathing weapon of mass destruction." (really) To its credit, the mag also has some reasonable columns and good advice about martial arts . . .<br /><br />I hope you have read this article, or <em>will</em> read it--and I hope you enjoy! If you do, let me know what you think.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9923264.post-18277465902146409182007-05-13T21:14:00.000-05:002007-05-13T21:29:48.623-05:00WatcherA man I didn't know was hanging out at the dojang Saturday. He wasn't one of the dads, and he wasn't a student. He must have come in sometime after class started, because at some point, I saw him watching our class from the hallway.<br /><br />I was teaching (Justin had asked me to take over because he wasn't feeling well), so during a break, I went over and introduced myself.<br /><br />(As the teacher, and as a black belt, did this for two reasons: to extend hospitality, and also to find out who he was--for the safety of our students and our school.)<br /><br />He told me his name--Ron--and said he was just there "working out" in our weight room. "We were here a couple of weeks ago, too," he said, and I remembered seeing two men working out then, too.<br /><br />As I organized the small group of students into a rousing game of noodle hockey, Ron came into the gym itself and worked out with the heavy bag--punching it, and then kicking it with some nice side kicks. He also swung some num-chuks. He was good! <br /><br />After he worked out for a bit, he sat on the floor by the wall and watched. By that time, I was having the students work on combination kicking.<br /><br />When class was over, we talked again. <br /><br />"You're obviously a martial artist!" I said.<br /><br />"I trained with Mr. Hughes back a long time ago," he told me. <br /><br />"You're not doing martial arts now?"<br /><br />"I've been doing some boxing," he said. "But I might get my grandson to some classes. He's six."<br /><br />I gave Ron a newsletter and encouraged him to bring his grandson.<br /><br />"And feel free to come in and work out with us if you want," I said.<br /><br />"Maybe I will. Or I can help out anytime, if you want."<br /><br />I think I understand a bit of where he's coming from. He needs to watch and see what it's like before he commits to coming back (or not coming back). He obviously used to be good at TKD--so it might be difficult to come back. Even though he knows the basics, and his muscles remember the important moves, he's probably forgotten some things. So he needs to think about it.<br /><br />I remember when I started TKD. I started out as a watcher, too, watching my kids do it, when I'd always been intrigued by martial arts and part of me wanted to join in. It took a while before I let myself take the plunge! I didn't know if I wanted to make that kind of committment, or if I maybe wanted to channel my energies elsewhere.<br /><br />Watching for a while helped me decide.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9923264.post-82289098474028939762007-05-10T15:03:00.000-05:002007-05-10T19:31:02.481-05:00Indomitable Spirit"Mom. Have you decided if you're going to Tae Kwon Do tonight yet?"<br /><br />Robbie's been bugging me for the past two days. I told him I wanted <em>him</em> to go 3x a week, but I'm not sure <em>I'll</em> do that, too.<br /><br />Finally I decide to go. He's pleased.<br /><br />Often Robbie and I are doing different things during class: I'll be up with the black belts, and Robbie will be elsewhere. So I don't always know what he's doing.<br /><br />At one point, he comes up to me and says he's hurt his elbow. "I fell on it," he tells me.<br /><br />"Ow," I say. I don't want to show too much sympathy. He's got to learn to suck it up.<br /><br />Later, when we're sparring, I hear someone saying "Robbie, are you OK?" I look over at him. Robbie has stopped sparring, and looks back at me with a red, angry face and tears starting in his eyes. I found out later that he got . . . uh . . . kicked . . . But he continues on.<br /><br />In the past, he might have gotten angry enough to yell and stomp off--yes, angry about an accident: it's always been his way of dealing with things. He gets excited--good or bad excited--and his temper gets short. Anything can tip him over the top, even an accident. But we're working on that these days. It's part of his "Jedi Training."<br /><br />He's angry now, but he's not exploding; he's not giving up.<br /><br />At the end of class, Master Hughes calls on students to recite the student oath. Chris can't remember it; neither can Ashton. Robbie does. He's called on at the right time. "Self-Control. Indomitable Spirit," he says.<br /><br />I know those are hard for him. I'm glad he's doing better.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9923264.post-79048996567137289062007-05-09T10:53:00.000-05:002007-05-09T11:06:34.800-05:00A New Challenge<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB6TlLulz0fMMZy6_sXWnO-QKJfE8VhhvqT7505wcUHxxXo1mUsKVOYKEoyI1L9jbZTF71J0cdDUQj4pz2NAhawS9HdIPCRmfyds3_mHtTk8-kFX32QNl5wEgsirmTmRryrqgo/s1600-h/bo.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5062592159330932050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB6TlLulz0fMMZy6_sXWnO-QKJfE8VhhvqT7505wcUHxxXo1mUsKVOYKEoyI1L9jbZTF71J0cdDUQj4pz2NAhawS9HdIPCRmfyds3_mHtTk8-kFX32QNl5wEgsirmTmRryrqgo/s400/bo.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>In my last blog post, I told you about writing to the Kojokan sensei about learning bo at their school. Well, I got a reply today.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>He remembered me ("I remember you well, since you initially became interested in martial arts training after watching one of our shows," he said) and he encouraged me to come down to the dojo and try out a class. Bo classes are Saturday afternoons.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>His suggestion is that I begin with some lessons this summer, and come when I can during the year to continue my practice. "To be truly proficient with a weapon requires regular training, becoming one with a weapon will not happen on an infrequent basis" he said. I agree.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>To me this offer sounds perfect. I was thrilled that he was willing to take on a student from another school. I will let Master Hughes know about this--my guess is that he'll encourage me to try this new challenge.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9923264.post-18348516224740972832007-05-06T19:46:00.000-05:002007-05-06T19:56:03.174-05:00Too cold and wetDespite looming clouds, we drove over to the Renaissance Faire today. The newspaper said it would be sunny and warm, and that the rain would hold off until tonight.<br /><br />The newspaper was wrong! It started drizzling as soon as we got to the Faire, and didn't let up all afternoon. In fact, it poured!<br /><br />We didn't want to wander out to the encampments, or do archery, so we went with Bonnie and Jacob to some of the vendors. Here are Robbie and me in one tent, hiding from the rain.<br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGB1c5c5wSe647N4pahs2ko_C2R8b7aUyjB_X5UWUkhN7-lsXmo_YFI_WCmlUMbgg2WkLmdjphr9JKyCRWunLD7ehZsS7Xq3z1LMPbZ5prq33fxCgmvwWbAfgzyS-FMfzj7Tel/s1600-h/renfaire1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5061614465860572466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGB1c5c5wSe647N4pahs2ko_C2R8b7aUyjB_X5UWUkhN7-lsXmo_YFI_WCmlUMbgg2WkLmdjphr9JKyCRWunLD7ehZsS7Xq3z1LMPbZ5prq33fxCgmvwWbAfgzyS-FMfzj7Tel/s400/renfaire1.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p>We also really enjoyed watching this glassblower. We hadn't seen him before at a Faire, and it was nice to stand by his kiln! He made some cool creations.<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKNILP7MHMpahJA4TXFmMn-sAXuDq8gVRANMUUaZxiJ-_90bNcPU0GJK8j1WcgrJgDeT56tVePiJjUXAJ17Ut7HgJ6F8LX9y-fWFmqLA8Qt3WntQTS11YTcFTaKsohfg4ba90f/s1600-h/renfaire2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5061614470155539778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKNILP7MHMpahJA4TXFmMn-sAXuDq8gVRANMUUaZxiJ-_90bNcPU0GJK8j1WcgrJgDeT56tVePiJjUXAJ17Ut7HgJ6F8LX9y-fWFmqLA8Qt3WntQTS11YTcFTaKsohfg4ba90f/s400/renfaire2.jpg" border="0" /></a> I was sorry not to be able to hang out with <a href="http://www.kojokan.com">Kojokan</a>, the samurai arts school which always has a demo team at the Faire. I did see the sensei briefly, and said hi. </p><p>I sent a message from their website to see if it would be possible for me to come down and learn bo. . . we'll see what comes of it!<br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9923264.post-33073416577161727642007-05-05T19:31:00.000-05:002007-05-05T19:45:26.226-05:00Clothing makes the PersonRobbie took these photos of me today in class. I wanted to get a nice "TKDmom the blackbelt" photo--maybe I'll put it on the top of my blog.<br /><br />Vote for your favorite:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVwsYlJQkLuLaIVgJKNZewppGeXHg6mClWB9o4zJts6AWpetHNPhh-UW_RzfRs_ic7TABHdqVIggLbD_XW0GKecC8xzzYAZaNqbqf6kWqeibvQkO-jG6t_lfuCtbOM-pBf2aMV/s1600-h/bbmom.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5061239828748244226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVwsYlJQkLuLaIVgJKNZewppGeXHg6mClWB9o4zJts6AWpetHNPhh-UW_RzfRs_ic7TABHdqVIggLbD_XW0GKecC8xzzYAZaNqbqf6kWqeibvQkO-jG6t_lfuCtbOM-pBf2aMV/s400/bbmom.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq9NcJ77TRmowChjglhReb5M3TwcgapPpPOpoRYy3Ev9UYaj8ZAeTL9hemSISUB77poec3zFJkT9PvcfBvFvkVyG9COKvQpRZKKrDNbNWPo_M4JUeRIDgujeias5q3GpokOP5V/s1600-h/bbmom2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5061239833043211538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq9NcJ77TRmowChjglhReb5M3TwcgapPpPOpoRYy3Ev9UYaj8ZAeTL9hemSISUB77poec3zFJkT9PvcfBvFvkVyG9COKvQpRZKKrDNbNWPo_M4JUeRIDgujeias5q3GpokOP5V/s400/bbmom2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I like wearing my new red "black belt club" uniform. It's nice to have a new uniform, one that's still crisp. And of course, the black belt. I'm feeling its meaning more strongly every time I put it on.<br /><br />In the afternoon, there were graduation festivities at the college. I went over for the Phi Beta Kappa initiation (it's an honorary society) and Baccalaureate. Here's my other "uniform" for those sorts of things.<br /><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmlFS5jcfOBkZ062vv4o5NtQhERB2hlF1wDnkeB1vCkn8Zv8vsxrNJfCFOWaMbsCOZ5YxeGlWqnLH9VNP5fS9rjh6_pdgNcoEK5ulodwMpF3tlYuzMw_KoBez2B6t8PwqL5xK/s1600-h/phdmom.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5061239833043211554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmlFS5jcfOBkZ062vv4o5NtQhERB2hlF1wDnkeB1vCkn8Zv8vsxrNJfCFOWaMbsCOZ5YxeGlWqnLH9VNP5fS9rjh6_pdgNcoEK5ulodwMpF3tlYuzMw_KoBez2B6t8PwqL5xK/s400/phdmom.jpg" border="0" /></a> I'm wearing my Dad's mortarboard here. I almost wore his doctoral hood (that's the colorful thing), but it's for engineering . . . my degree's in English. The colors of the hood symbolize your degree and your university. Dad's has a brown interior, while mine is "old gold." Still, maybe I'll just wear Dad's anyway next year.</p><p>It was fun when we processed into the big chapel/auditorium where they held the ceremony. The grads-to-be went first, and as we faculty came in behind them, I heard people say "oh--here come the faculty!" Everyone turned around to see us in our ceremonial robes and colorful hoods!</p><p>Something about wearing these two "uniforms" is very special to me. They certainly do symbolize two important parts of my life.<br /><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9923264.post-81934587710415234072007-05-04T11:14:00.000-05:002007-05-04T11:23:44.699-05:00The storyTaeKwonDoMom is ready to take her grades over to the registrar. She's spent the past few days grading papers--about 120 individual projects, she's figured out with the help of a calculator. Her brain is fried.<br /><br /><br />She sighs, turns off the radio in her office, and glances at her desk, covered with papers, folders, and books. She decides to ignore the mess, for now.<br /><br /><br />At the registrar's office, she says hi to the woman behind the desk. <em>Is her name Kay? Or is it Esther?</em> She can't remember.<br /><br /><br />"Are you done then?" the woman asks her, taking the grade sheets.<br /><br /><br />"Yes. I'm done. And ready for summer."<br /><br />There's such a nice rhythm to the academic year. Though scholarship, study, reading, and writing are never-ending, classes have a definite beginning, middle, and end, just like a good old traditional novel. TaeKwonDoMom likes this aspect of her job.<br /><br /><br />After she drops off the grades, she heads to the movie rental place. She goes directly to the movie she wants and signs it out. Driving home, she turns on the "oldies" station and sings along to "Deacon Blues," a song that was popular when she was in high school.<br /><br /><br />At home, she makes herself a lunch and takes it out to the living room. She pops in the DVD and turns on the TV. She's been wanting to see this movie for a long time--even signed it out one weekend . . . and then didn't have time to watch it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwm9wAF6qkWSggVG_4fCZPYw4LSrKeTvav1UvMQWlX-wju7bGqJaaLpECNuovoNUiNbf8SHbK_7uHrrGRfNeNunv2bMxg_U4EHolouq5yq4w7EPGCuTgf2n4axZPqaZenJZqcB/s1600-h/fearless.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5060741762865763570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwm9wAF6qkWSggVG_4fCZPYw4LSrKeTvav1UvMQWlX-wju7bGqJaaLpECNuovoNUiNbf8SHbK_7uHrrGRfNeNunv2bMxg_U4EHolouq5yq4w7EPGCuTgf2n4axZPqaZenJZqcB/s400/fearless.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><em>I love the end of the semester</em>, she thinks.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9923264.post-3573752042210245382007-05-02T08:30:00.000-05:002007-05-02T08:32:28.784-05:00Another conversation<em>A conversation at my department's end-of-the-semester lunch:</em><br /><br />Mary: What's that bracelet say? Black . . . ?<br /><br />Jane: Black Belt.<br /><br />Mary: Oh! Are you a black belt now?<br /><br />Jane: Yeah, I am. I tested in February.<br /><br />Mary: I didn't know that!<br /><br />Jane: That's why I was so fit . . . and TIRED during February--I was training six times a week!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9923264.post-58010652812577400562007-05-01T09:59:00.000-05:002007-05-01T10:06:23.887-05:00Four ConversationsFirst conversation:<br />Jane: Good to see you, Justin! We missed you in class Saturday.<br /><br />Justin: (shaking hands) I was in Des Moines with friends. Haven't gotten much sleep. Hey, who's teaching?<br /><br />Jane: Now? You are! You're senior.<br /><br />Justin: Oh great. . . I'm feeling grumpy. Well if I'm teaching, we're going to spar.<br /><br />Second conversation:<br />Jane: (as we're working on some excruciating leg exercises) Doing OK?<br /><br />Robbie: I don't like this.<br /><br />Jane: It'll be over soon.<br /><br />Robbie: I don't like Justin's workouts!<br /><br />Third conversation:<br />Justin: I want to do a flying side kick over these pads. (He gestures to the long gymnastics pads folded up along the side of the dojang.)<br /><br />Jane: Longways? You're going to have to work up to that. Robbie's been practicing his flying side kicks.<br /><br />Robbie: I can jump over five of the blue kicking pads!<br /><br />Fourth conversation:<br />Jane: (on the way home) So what did you think of noodle hockey?<br /><br />Robbie: It was OK. I just played defender the whole time.<br /><br />Jane: That game doesn't have positions! You just chase the ball like a kitty and do lots of body checks. That's what makes it fun!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9923264.post-9501428635077088512007-04-26T21:36:00.000-05:002007-04-26T21:49:12.657-05:00Mom TeachingSince Robbie started back to TKD, several people have given me well-intentioned warnings about trying to be my son's teacher. <em>It's not good to teach your own child, your child will try to resist your teaching, let others do it,</em> that kind of thing.<br /><br />I certainly am very glad that I don't have to do all the teaching. It's great for Robbie to get instruction from some of the best instructors I know--Master Hughes and Ms. Pryor. And I'm glad he'll be around our large corps of black belts, all of whom know him at least a little, and want him to do well.<br /><br />All those people are going to be such great mentors for Robbie. All of us, but especially young people, need to be around people who care for us, and want us to grow and learn--people who'll help us to do that.<br /><br />But I've also been teaching Robbie a bit. And--this may be surprising--he takes my instruction very well. <br /><br />People who know Robbie might find this surprising. He's very strong-willed and he's got this high-energy (ADHD?) thing going on, too. <br /><br />But in the past few years, I've noticed that he really listens to me and is willing to let me teach him in many situations.<br /><br />I'm the one who has helped him with music since the summer he took keyboard lessons (we didn't yet have a piano). When I asked him to practice, he usually did. And he worked with me on some simple teacher/student duets, going over tricky spots at my suggestions. Same with his trumpet. I'm the one who gets him to practice, and I helped him rehearse for his contest piece. Parts of it were tricky, and required me to have him stop and play it over several times. But he did well; he got a "1."<br /><br />So it hasn't been a surprise to me that Robbie will work on his form and kicks with me at the dojang and even here at home. I give him praise and corrections in the way I give them to the other students. And he's fine with that. <br /><br />I think it'll be OK to be the mom teaching--especially since I'm not the only one teaching.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9923264.post-11636993650302111862007-04-24T10:00:00.000-05:002007-04-24T10:34:28.812-05:00Winners<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_CccR_3JmDEm6jHq04IVDpJ_LZ1m0MrKJHc6vrfAH_QZOJzbAbrhpj6PMui0UpXRGpWaGODCRFb6sCLgQaf4nKxd3EY26NQ6gx7s2cqWZ6GydRy7z4JCH4Y5DlJ8eNSH2he9f/s1600-h/winners.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057009831017332690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_CccR_3JmDEm6jHq04IVDpJ_LZ1m0MrKJHc6vrfAH_QZOJzbAbrhpj6PMui0UpXRGpWaGODCRFb6sCLgQaf4nKxd3EY26NQ6gx7s2cqWZ6GydRy7z4JCH4Y5DlJ8eNSH2he9f/s400/winners.jpg" border="0" /></a> I was curious about Master Kim's tournament. A handful of our students went on Saturday, and I wanted to know how they did!<br /><br />Clearly, they did well. Here are some of the winners with their trophies. Our school was given that plaque recognizing our achievements at the tournament over the years.<br /><br /><div></div><div>Despite the trophies, not everyone was pleased about the tournament.<br /><br />"I heard the judging was biased," said Ms. Pryor.<br /><br />"But isn't that the way with all tournaments?" I asked.<br /><br />"Let's put it this way," she said. "When you go to tournaments, why do you go?"<br /><br />Hmm, cool question. "Well, I like training for tournaments, and getting my form to be the best it can be, and I like performing and showing everyone what I can do, and I like being there with you guys, and sparring with new opponents . . "<br /><br />"But when you go, you go to win, don't you?" Ms. Pryor asked."<br /><br />"Oh. Yeah. Yeah, I guess so." I felt kind of sheepish, like I'd answered the wrong way. "I did like winning firsts."<br /><br />Later I realized that we were viewing TKD in two different ways: TKD as an art vs. TKD as a sport.<br /><br />I tend to see TKD as an art. I've never trained in any sport, but I've trained in music and dance. So I see TKD as like those things: you train so you're ready for a kind of performance. Some people will like it, some won't.<br /><br />On the other hand, some people see TKD as a sport, usually people who've trained in sports and like sports. You train so you can be better than your opponent in a competition. In sports, there are (usually) clear rules about how to win, so if you do it really well, you'll win.<br /><br />If you think of TKD as an art, a tournament can be fun, satisfying, enjoyable . . . but only if you've trained your best and you don't get performance anxiety.<br /><br />If you think of TKD as the latter, a sport, you'll probably enjoy tournaments where the judging seems more objective, but only if you've trained your best, "give 110%," and you WIN!<br /><br />I bet most people think of TKD as a kind of combination of these two . . . </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9923264.post-71072302396585651902007-04-21T15:45:00.000-05:002007-04-21T15:52:35.977-05:00Busman's HolidayI taught class today. It may be the first time I did the entire class by myself. <br /><br />"You're a good teacher," Brittany said to me during one of the breaks. <br /><br />"Thank you," I said. "Teaching's kind of my thing."<br /><br />Both teachers were gone today--there's a tournament at Master Kim's. A handful of other students went to the tournament as well. And it seems like lots of people had other things going on. So I said I'd teach.<br /><br />I'm used to handling a class, so that part was fine. I did write down a list of what I wanted to do--didn't want to blank out in the middle of it! The class ended up doing a bunch of ballet-inspired exercises: working in front of mirrors, for example, and foot limbering exercises. And of course we did the usual forms and combination kicking.<br /><br />Everything went well, thanks to some helpful black belts: Patrick, Raiden, June, and Brittany. I got home tired and satisfied.<br /><br />Robbie went with me, too! He had a good class--he really can fly on those flying side kicks!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9923264.post-69124324325750619982007-04-20T10:56:00.000-05:002007-04-20T11:03:28.684-05:00An injuryNot my injury this time, Brian's. He's hurt his back, and now I'm without my trusty workout partner. <br /><br />His injury is something called a "herniated disc" and it mostly takes time to heal--several weeks, I understand. My friend Karen says she spends a weekend lying in bed on ice packs when her disc problem bothers her. <br /><br />I hope I can stay motivated without Brian on the floor saying "let's go through our forms." And I seriously hope he's better very soon. <br /><br />Any of you readers have any advice for Brian? I'll pass it on to him.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9923264.post-88341557433746603242007-04-19T08:35:00.000-05:002007-04-19T08:50:12.000-05:00CeremonyOur belt ceremony was yesterday evening.<br /><br />It was great to see Annette and Vince, two adult students, get their yellow belts.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0kUbGRJWFoyWjGTyV0zf5rXOUcJDOm5va7sgewgTeD2yyc1jYnUhzN14JJjiEUALn7gNyXejZCoqAvU72vPAACjbN0ZUP6Dsx-ux_6eRf0kP4ca2hpZhYmyF1VH-yF_a9kwDV/s1600-h/yellow.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055135734922624962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0kUbGRJWFoyWjGTyV0zf5rXOUcJDOm5va7sgewgTeD2yyc1jYnUhzN14JJjiEUALn7gNyXejZCoqAvU72vPAACjbN0ZUP6Dsx-ux_6eRf0kP4ca2hpZhYmyF1VH-yF_a9kwDV/s400/yellow.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />We were all proud of James, Kevin, and Ashley for getting their black belts.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmx87FswGbHzSHTGkEqPLSt8M-wzvAwqmg55UkyIiWSmUVUR3GWlPUYU6tnpeVtDQvfOM_-pH9inxl2YyDlKYrCCAo-6_hxYRGplA-Va1cfXhMSJTw7BZKW5QA-NRGZePNYOBF/s1600-h/bbs.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055134493677076354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmx87FswGbHzSHTGkEqPLSt8M-wzvAwqmg55UkyIiWSmUVUR3GWlPUYU6tnpeVtDQvfOM_-pH9inxl2YyDlKYrCCAo-6_hxYRGplA-Va1cfXhMSJTw7BZKW5QA-NRGZePNYOBF/s400/bbs.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />There are a lot of black belts at our school--here we are!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi55AYXqShuwOJJzhMlwplI-sXR5rXU3antHTY_5l5MMdS9LDFeu9N06EPgWcCg6xpzfLW5OkHcS6g7z7dPS1pnatx4IN_dFNpCaagKz0vLcf4UOQhPtTCFlXyzNa6UfmtQhj60/s1600-h/bbs2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055134497972043682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi55AYXqShuwOJJzhMlwplI-sXR5rXU3antHTY_5l5MMdS9LDFeu9N06EPgWcCg6xpzfLW5OkHcS6g7z7dPS1pnatx4IN_dFNpCaagKz0vLcf4UOQhPtTCFlXyzNa6UfmtQhj60/s400/bbs2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />and here's our trusty photographer, Brian A.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg515ckhhtmdDqOKwKBQ3JxrFuqnU2A-GGt2unb-Tif3jHbZlc25ZtBeJUXB0W64kO637I9mWliqwJ2O_c4XBnmoi-QcNUFFb9F4Lot8dyEHjUllPBqnRCTbGqG4gv-YYmtUtpZ/s1600-h/photographer.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055134493677076370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg515ckhhtmdDqOKwKBQ3JxrFuqnU2A-GGt2unb-Tif3jHbZlc25ZtBeJUXB0W64kO637I9mWliqwJ2O_c4XBnmoi-QcNUFFb9F4Lot8dyEHjUllPBqnRCTbGqG4gv-YYmtUtpZ/s400/photographer.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />But the best thing was that Robbie was there--as a student again!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqpcxiyFAdnergrBgCO8xPU_y7TiHZG4Upp9zl6DgjV7W52J9Ybnu0x_EhBjiKYL1_2kLe4oaVWeEelnKH4sPPlOkJsMedXOTHdsXTa-u8RN0n0BHDm1MAaSe7y9UrqQaV6hlL/s1600-h/robbie.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055134497972043698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqpcxiyFAdnergrBgCO8xPU_y7TiHZG4Upp9zl6DgjV7W52J9Ybnu0x_EhBjiKYL1_2kLe4oaVWeEelnKH4sPPlOkJsMedXOTHdsXTa-u8RN0n0BHDm1MAaSe7y9UrqQaV6hlL/s400/robbie.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />He decided to start TKD again. About a week ago, in response to some problems he's had controlling his temper, he told me "I need Jedi training."<br /><br />"Jedi training is available," I said. "Do you want to start tae kwon do again?"<br /><br />"Yes," he said.<br /><br />I'm glad to have him in class. Yesterday, we stuck together, and went through Chun-Ji and basic movements. He takes instruction from me pretty well.<br /><br />I also look forward to my fellow black belts helping him learn--not just the moves of forms, but also those tenets of TKD: Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverence, Self-Control, and Indomitable Spirit.<br /><br />As I said to someone at a TKD party the other day "it takes a village."<br /><br />I'm glad to be part of this "village" where we all care for each others' children.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9923264.post-47133973333952706992007-04-16T13:09:00.000-05:002007-04-16T13:23:25.734-05:00On my ownI had a dream last night that I was at the dojang working on forms during class, and I was almost completely unable to do the forms. Each time I'd start a form, my arms and legs would just get weak, my moves would get sloppy, and I'd forget the moves.<br /><br />I think that dream was a sign. I haven't worked out since Monday's class.<br /><br />So I went over to work on forms by myself today. <br /><br />I don't like to work out alone. It's hard to get a good workout when there's no one to push you! But Brian, my usual workout partner, had a meeting, so there I was, alone. I didn't feel completely sloppy and inept--the way I did in that dream. But I know that my strength, power, and precision are just not what they were a couple months ago. My stamina is lacking, too. By the end of the workout, I was just walking through the forms, too tired to put everything into it.<br /><br />Maybe this is going to be a new challenge in my martial arts journey. People have told me before that it's harder to stay focused on improving when you're a black belt. We black belts need to help teach, and we don't have the constant pressure of tests to keep us going. My next test is in 10 months! <br /><br />So here's the question: How can I stay focused and fit and continue to learn and grow as a martial artist over the next few months? I have a goal of doing all my forms once a week, but I've done poorly with this goal. I also want to work on sparring, but I can't make it to Wednesday's class for a while, and that's when we practice sparring.<br /><br />How do you other black belts out there manage it?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9923264.post-19000086266401140372007-04-15T12:28:00.000-05:002007-04-15T12:33:46.117-05:00Display<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2-4xMG_n1IkKLWcA7KCsLUVgImo0p1qemP3f8iioWM-_8mv8PfFRY_VKUY4wWOrwaPM1ix4yzmwjoiABz-S8ST3mOo7uMIgIgMvbQ5SkETFksWQ1ZeZR7kTFtXNpp54RKcWAE/s1600-h/belts.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5053708494528961346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2-4xMG_n1IkKLWcA7KCsLUVgImo0p1qemP3f8iioWM-_8mv8PfFRY_VKUY4wWOrwaPM1ix4yzmwjoiABz-S8ST3mOo7uMIgIgMvbQ5SkETFksWQ1ZeZR7kTFtXNpp54RKcWAE/s400/belts.jpg" border="0" /></a> I got this great belt holder for my birthday/Easter. Maybe you've seen them in catalogs, but this one was custom made for me by my brother. <br /><br />I didn't know if I'd have a black belt to put on it--I figured I'd be WEARING my black belt. But I did get an extra black belt. As you can see, I tied it on the top (the "roof") of my rack.<br /><br />All this is in our living room, up on top of one of the bookshelves, a kind of TKD shrine. You can see my trophies and medals there, too. <br /><br />But I'm going to be getting more. I'll get a certificate soon, and I have that beautiful sword that I should display as well. All my TKD stuff could really take over the house . . .Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9923264.post-87667724067175676932007-04-14T15:28:00.000-05:002007-04-14T15:43:24.144-05:00Not testing at the TestToday was the first promotional test when I didn't test!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKDTMnv8-JGXZqo4FUPpg4d1wyQ3o_DPBTLZJ9405IvwawcNII2pfC0HH6BRALwsc7TQUxz69ascvBWYB9LVDZwAX_Ezd1xDCGP8_5_8ZXoSCJcO0FosThaC5xlTPcGynt4CUM/s1600-h/tkdmom.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5053386487945878274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKDTMnv8-JGXZqo4FUPpg4d1wyQ3o_DPBTLZJ9405IvwawcNII2pfC0HH6BRALwsc7TQUxz69ascvBWYB9LVDZwAX_Ezd1xDCGP8_5_8ZXoSCJcO0FosThaC5xlTPcGynt4CUM/s400/tkdmom.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Black belts are expected to come to the promotional tests dressed up (i.e., not in our uniforms), and be ready to help.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubMwEuYPOzh4YGSmEoJ75YhqjqPzToL6S8t0dhNBodgaJTTz40bAVbdXNcJY8zX5XKYo7VJGyyU9nf9iCYcYHjI-WrwAaO_3pRQ7AG1a93ne2nyPKnAoO0oZBKJNn4eCSjkrt/s1600-h/kids.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5053386487945878290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubMwEuYPOzh4YGSmEoJ75YhqjqPzToL6S8t0dhNBodgaJTTz40bAVbdXNcJY8zX5XKYo7VJGyyU9nf9iCYcYHjI-WrwAaO_3pRQ7AG1a93ne2nyPKnAoO0oZBKJNn4eCSjkrt/s400/kids.jpg" border="0" /></a>Up at the front is the judges' table; <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRgHrz7HxqaCi1LJoe99A-7jXkpwS-4xCPdF9Om3-p0_ZDS6bbFSNEed0arvaEixu4mNzZtudlf7zQe_btejZGDA-ijku4L-DNl09sFz2tbuJ-cqAk42xiJEWp3EMtkYySbO4D/s1600-h/judges.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5053386492240845602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRgHrz7HxqaCi1LJoe99A-7jXkpwS-4xCPdF9Om3-p0_ZDS6bbFSNEed0arvaEixu4mNzZtudlf7zQe_btejZGDA-ijku4L-DNl09sFz2tbuJ-cqAk42xiJEWp3EMtkYySbO4D/s400/judges.jpg" border="0" /></a> about 7 black belts sit there to judge the students who are testing. I didn't expect to judge since I just got my black belt. Instead, I sat at the side, watching for ways to help.<br /><br /><br />Kevin, Ashley, and James were all testing for black belt. They were all ready.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidrZcI4CRcPbYMZ_cWxqzRS7CeIteeBrnExR9-CJb6BSDzVQ3_0hBpLqfnoV3c0oW9FYmTO1aB0Zc7Jshm6tAT9pOPfQAnbIIeTjKJj9R1cM1NkiwQjKoNra4YHO1x8RsnT7vs/s1600-h/testers.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5053386492240845618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidrZcI4CRcPbYMZ_cWxqzRS7CeIteeBrnExR9-CJb6BSDzVQ3_0hBpLqfnoV3c0oW9FYmTO1aB0Zc7Jshm6tAT9pOPfQAnbIIeTjKJj9R1cM1NkiwQjKoNra4YHO1x8RsnT7vs/s400/testers.jpg" border="0" /></a>After the test, most of the black belts went out for lunch--I couldn't join them, though. I'd gotten a babysitter until 2:30, thinking that would get me through the test (11-12:30 or 1) and part of lunch. But they couldn't get a table until 2:30, so I came home. Kind of a bummer.<br /><br /><br />At the test, I was talking to Justin about forms. "I had planned to do my forms once a week," I told him. "I'm not keeping up!"<br /><br /><br />"Last time I did them was when you came up to visit!" he said.<br /><br /><br />It's hard to stay on track when you're a black belt--lots of people have told me that. You don't have regular tests. You spend time helping the newer students instead of working on forms.<br /><br /><br />For me, one hard thing has been having to cut back on workouts--to just 2x a week. I'd love to go 3x a week, but it's hard to fit that in. Maybe this summer.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9923264.post-62619716997173930582007-04-13T16:22:00.000-05:002007-04-13T16:34:36.576-05:00Hockey FanI wanted to write a post about hockey.<br /><br />Last Saturday, I went to my very first ever hockey game with my family. It was Bill's idea--he'd read about our minor-league team online somewhere and decided he needed to see it.<br /><br />Well, I'm always up for something new! Bruce and Eli stayed home (both feeling a bit tired), but the rest of us went.<br /><br />It was more fun than I thought it'd be. The game was fast-paced, easy to follow, and BEAUTIFUL to watch! The players are young, and they seem to have no sense of mortality or "what if I get injured?" They went at full speed: turning, dodging, weaving, skating forwards and backwards. And then BAM into the boards! All-out play.<br /><br />Most people think of hockey as "that violent sport." There certainly was some rough stuff. Players would shove or punch each other, but then they'd move on--no brawls, and everyone seemed to get over it quickly.<br /><br />That is, until the 3rd period. Then this really odd thing happened, twice. After a face-off or stop in play, two players would suddenly throw down their helmets and gloves, and stand in Fighting Stance. Others would clear away, and the refs would just stand by, eventually separating the two players, after they hit each other with bare knuckles and attempted to pull each other to the ice. Then, the refs would send the 2 fighters to the penalty box.<br /><br />It was so odd--like it was planned!<br /><br />I asked Brian about it--he loves hockey. "Testosterone," he said. Well, yeah. The whole thing was pretty testosterone-heavy. But I'm still puzzled about those little bare-knuckled sparring matches in the middle of the game.<br /><br />Oh, our team won! But it would have been fun either way.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9923264.post-26793447507753360962007-04-11T21:20:00.000-05:002007-04-11T21:31:33.616-05:00TrustAt TKD on Monday, Ms. Pryor was teaching. That's always good. <br /><br />Well, it's always good at TKD. I love the way our two teachers' approaches are different--we learn different things and in different ways from each teacher.<br /><br />About mid-way through the class, Ms. Pryor said "let's have some of the men black belts up here. The bigger ones."<br /><br />She had six guys stand in two rows facing one another at the front of the room perpendicular to the stage. They linked arms with the guy across from them.<br /><br />"OK, Jane--go up on the stage."<br /><br />I did, and I knew what was coming next. I went and stood on the stage in front of the guys with my back to them. <br /><br />"This is all about trust," she said--to me and to everyone. "You have to trust the people you work with enough to know they'll catch you when you fall. Go ahead and fall back."<br /><br />I did.<br /><br />They caught me.<br /><br />"Were you scared?" said Jason, incredulously, when I joined the rest of the class.<br /><br />"Not really," I said. "I trust them."<br /><br />"I can't believe you weren't scared!" Jason continued.<br /><br />"Well, I've actually had a lot of practice with that sort of thing," I admitted.<br /><br />As one of the smaller people in any group I was in when I was in my teens, I was often the one chosen to do the "trust fall" or to be lifted up by my youth group cohort (with only their index and middle fingers . . . has anyone done that?). I was the one who got picked up and tossed around during playful gatherings--thrown into snow, pools, other people's outstretched arms.<br /><br />Well, maybe it was that. Or maybe it was just that I trust those guys.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9923264.post-66590102238417183622007-04-09T21:21:00.000-05:002007-04-09T21:31:05.162-05:00Easter weekend in IowaHere are a couple pictures from my family's visit to the dojang on Saturday. Here's 11-year-old Gabi breaking a board. That's my red leg in front; Master Hughes had them mirror me so they could get the kick right. That was a great teaching technique. I'll have to remember it.<br /><br />Oh, did I mention I got a new uniform? The red uniform is our Black Belt Club uniform. I joined--it makes sense to join if you plan to test for Black Belt and First Degree.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY4onys_wPatrE7tXNB427JNKPk-_UXU29LKmvw_Ohid0vEHC4SJlKP2EZ_yZQdN8nmOowiFAMfr5LseHqLrl-wykzdYzuydQtnMKRkSTPVJq4T6snQE1KiupmltuPL8HE61qp/s1600-h/boardbreak.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051619353716710082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY4onys_wPatrE7tXNB427JNKPk-_UXU29LKmvw_Ohid0vEHC4SJlKP2EZ_yZQdN8nmOowiFAMfr5LseHqLrl-wykzdYzuydQtnMKRkSTPVJq4T6snQE1KiupmltuPL8HE61qp/s400/boardbreak.jpg" border="0" /></a> And here's 9-year-old Maggie. Watch out, board!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj6rbFiFXBjP-oDEHgIsF2UQd1GGK1m_FZjf_0wR3YGvGhrw8bLt5QiPq025PqfdJStrDvl2szxrrAUaMLqui63GipTa7-LsiJBpoH9erQ5ak5NBP9RHbvliJ0lnRF62Id578B/s1600-h/boardbreak2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051619358011677394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj6rbFiFXBjP-oDEHgIsF2UQd1GGK1m_FZjf_0wR3YGvGhrw8bLt5QiPq025PqfdJStrDvl2szxrrAUaMLqui63GipTa7-LsiJBpoH9erQ5ak5NBP9RHbvliJ0lnRF62Id578B/s400/boardbreak2.jpg" border="0" /></a> Someone will have to send the photo of 13-year-old Anna breaking!<br /><br />Here's what Justin found when he stopped by at our Easter dinner.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJEUoL6Shgm7Q-xWs9tkVCEzhZ-QYi9Z5pkybWw_8XcRilPSSuLNw3nV3LcZtpLcoH1nc4B2AJf2RITOQYldrK2guKkt8gdwwIXY3m51BjsGDj1y4dTngk5A8s9S8UAp81OyL/s1600-h/bigtable2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051620414573632242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJEUoL6Shgm7Q-xWs9tkVCEzhZ-QYi9Z5pkybWw_8XcRilPSSuLNw3nV3LcZtpLcoH1nc4B2AJf2RITOQYldrK2guKkt8gdwwIXY3m51BjsGDj1y4dTngk5A8s9S8UAp81OyL/s400/bigtable2.jpg" border="0" /></a> Martial artists have to eat, too!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2