12 Days - Day 8: Taekwondo Again

Josh competed in another Taekwondo tournament earlier this month. This was the first tournament where we had only one child competing, which meant we didn't have to go early for Carley's division and wait around for Josh's division. Technically we had a shorter tournament day but we were inadvertently given the wrong check-in time for Josh and were at the venue two hours early. Oops. 

The tournament in October was a national UWTA competition and drew a lot more competitors. It is also the end of the UWTA year so there is a top-four competition in each age division for sparring and forms (black belts only). Josh is actually working towards top-four in sparring for October 2015 and is the reason he competed against 15-17 year old black belts at these recent tournaments. Top-four is based on competitors' points which are earned by competing in and placing in UWTA tournaments. 

The December tournament was a smaller, local tournament so Josh did not have the stiff competition that he did in October. He also had not been practicing water polo five days a week for at least six weeks and did not have the endurance he had in October. 

Ultimately, he took first place in sparring. This kid, I swear. 

He is pretty darn cool in that black belt.

12 Days - Day 7: Black Belts!

I started to post about a Taekwondo tournament from this month when I realized I still have not posted about the black belt testing and tournament from October! Here is October. Bet you can guess what tomorrow's post is! 

Josh and Carley started Taekwondo in 2011. Three years, many tests, hardwork and much determination later, they tested for and earned their 1st-degree black belts!

Black belt testing was held on Friday night, the tournament was Saturday during the day and Saturday night was the belt ceremony. We spent the weekend in Reno. 

The black belt testing was fairly quick moving once it got started. The students had to perform their forms, free-sparring and break boards to pass, although in August was a pre-test which really determined if the students would pass or not in October. 

Carley set the goal to reach black belt and then she wanted to move on to something else in order to learn something new. Since this was her last tournament, she decided to only compete in forms. Unfortunately she did not place but she had a great attitude about it. She was there for her black belt and that she did earn!

Josh competed in both forms and sparring. He was bumped up an age division to 15-17 year olds even though he is only 14. Here's the short version: 

1.  Josh is continuing in Taekwondo
2. UWTA (United World Taekwondo Association) year runs October to September 
3. Black belts can earn points toward a top-four competition the following October

I may repeat some of this stuff in tomorrow's post. 

In order for Josh to shoot for top-four, he had to compete as a black belt and in the age division in which he'll compete in October 2015, which is 15-17 year olds.

Josh was close to placing in forms. He was in a 3-way tie for 4th place, there was a rematch and he took 6th. Sparring is what he loves to compete in though. He was up against some big guys and had not practiced sparring in 4-6 months! Walt and I even talked about how that might be the first time Josh "got schooled" in sparring.

What little faith we have in him. Josh went out there, competed against 1st, 2nd and 3rd-degree black belts and HE TOOK THIRD PLACE! I was floored. I seriously was and still am completely floored. He has so much natural ability. If he really honed that and practiced, he could probably go somewhere! 

Right now he's going for top-four. I think that's pretty great. 

 When a competitor is hurt, the one who caused the injury is supposed to kneel facing away until the match is ready to begin again. 

After a long day of tournament competition, we grabbed some dinner, got dressed up and headed back to the venue for the black belt ceremony.

It was so impressive to see my kids sitting there in their black belt, tea ceremony with their black belts and certificates in front of them. I start to whell up with tears just thinking about it.

The students are sat in rank, age order so neither Josh or Carley got to sit by friends.

The tea ceremony went on and on and on. I felt back for the kids having to sit for so long on the floor in tight, cross-legged position. They were definitely happy when the ceremony was over.

This is not a good picture but it's the group of kids from Josh and Carley's Taekwondo school who tested and recived their black belts. So stinkin' cool. 

Okay, I loaded these videos of Josh's sparring matches to YouTube back in October. If you are interested in watching them, I think they're pretty great. Watch below or check them out on my YouTube channel. 

Here's a few notes:

The 2nd match was against Michael, who goes to the same Taekwondo school as Josh. In fact, they went to the same elementary school for a year or two, as well. Josh and Michael often have to compete against each other in sparring since they're the same age. Josh always wins but Michael is such a great sport and just laughs about it. It's become somewhat of a running joke.

The 3rd match is the only match Josh lost. The opposing guy is a 3rd-degree black belt and took 1st place in this competition.

Josh may have kicked the guy from the 1st match and the guy from the 4th match in the nuts.

Another Taekwondo Tournament

Carley and Josh had another successful Taekwondo tournament last weekend. 

Carley's division had six competitors in Poomsae (forms) and two girls in sparring competition, counting Carley. She earned first place in both! 

Josh only had three boys in his division but also took first place in both Poomsae and sparring. 

I couldn't be more proud of these two kids! 

Waiting in staging.

Pep talk from her instructor, Mr. Weithington.

Just beat the one other girl in sparring.

After recieving her two 1st-place medals.

Josh starting his form.

Waiting for awards.

Josh waiting for an exhibition (just for fun) match with an older boy.

Two 1st-place medals, again.

An Olympian and An Olympic tournament

Josh and Carley recently had the opportunity to attend a sparring seminar with Terrence Jennings, 2012 Olympic bronze medalist. He ran them through several exercise drills, did a question-answer session and then posed with them for pictures.



The next day they both competed in their first Olympic tournament. Olympic-style sparring is different than the Point sparring than they have been doing. Instead of the match being stopped at each point, competitors attempt to get the most points in two 60-second rounds.



Josh took second in his division. Carley did not place but did her best. Both were frustrated for a variety of reasons but this was a learning experience on several levels. We will all know better what to expect when they compete in another Olympic-style tournament.









I couldn't be more proud of these two.

Finally Another Post

Here is a quick update of the past six weeks. I have been horrible about posting to the blog, which seems to be fizzling out. I don't want the blog to go away. I have loved updating everyone who reads about what we do as a family. After the Great Hiatus, it seems not too many come back to read. That coupled with me photographing less then the blog started to fizzle. So if you're out there and you read this let me know. Be like the Whos in Who-ville in Horton Hears a Who and make yourselves heard so this very small blog will not have to die.

On to this post.

We went to the county fair in May. Mainly we went to see the Demolition Derby but we enjoyed a few other things while there, like cotton candy.

 

The kids rode one ride. This sort of trap-your-kid-in-a-hamster-ball-and-let-them-run-on-water type of ride.

They loved it.

The Demolition Derby was fun. There were three rounds in the Derby and after each one Carley excitedly asked "is there another one!?"

The only woman driver won the Derby. You go, girl!

Father's Day was simple and quiet. It was during Walt's work week so we had our barbeque "dinner" at noon so he could get to sleep. 

Carley loves all holidays. She helped me make the Super Dad sign in the photo above this one. She also modeled three outfits to see which one her dad wanted her to wear on his day. Man, I love her. 

Josh and Carley walked in a parade with their Tae Kwon Do school. 

They handed out fliers with coupons for free classes. 

The kids and I made an overnight trip to Red Bluff to visit family. Leyton, my nephew, had a sleep over at my dad's house with us. 

Leyton showed the kids how to do flips off the diving board into the pool. 

Josh was so nervous that he'd do a back flop. Sure enough, his second attempt ended in a back flop and it stung! That was enough for him for now. 

We planted a garden this year but it isn't as productive as the first garden we grew. Carley and I started these flowers from seed. I can now cross another item off my Life List: #45 grow flowers from seed to bloom. 

Taekwondo Photos