Where Have All the Black Belts Gone

When Ariana & Alex went for Black Belt, they were two of six: the only girl and the youngest (plus the longest time with Sheryl -Alex). When David went seven months later, he was one of four - all of them munchkins next to him.

This last time, it was just one kid - and it was questionable at times whether or not he would make it. He was light on the attitude and a few other things.

So, it is now March of 2011 and POOF! everyone is gone. Half of the ones who went for BB with A&A no longer attend (Geoff is still around, but he IS Sheryl's hubby, so that's a given) and only one of the kids who went with David comes occasionally, the other two are gone.

Even David has dropped down to two days so he can attend his jiu-jitsu classes on Mondays.

The two girls who are up for Black Belt are going to get their belts and leave - one because she is moving to India and the other wants to try new things.

This is not even counting all those who have dropped out when they get close to red belt. POOF!!!

Sheryl says this is normal, but how do you build a school that way? Our kids want to learn, want to be challenged, but they need more than each other...

Too Much Bad Weather!

Thanks to the abundance of Mother Nature's misplaced weather, there have been no classes since Monday, but since we only go every other Monday, the kids have not had class in a week. And there is no class today.

Bummer.

Guess we are going to have to go on Monday.

BTW, David has been teaching some of his Jiu-Jitsu to the kids. Ariana is doing better than Alex....

Sparring is Back!!!

Last night the class went back to one of the kids's faves:sparring! Not sure why throwing punches and kicks at your friends is fun, but they really enjoy it! The one caveat is that A&A are not allowed to spar one another due to the fact that they do not take defeat to each other very well.

I have seen them spar dozens of time, so I have become accustomed to watching it and rarely ever flinch. Last night, I was actually yelling at Alex to keep his hands up and move (he was standing still, sparring Lizzie) - something I never do, but due to the noise of the nearby squash courts, I had no choice.

Yep, sparring in the squash courts. What else can we do?

Sheryl and Geoff REALLY need to leave Lifetime.

Every Other Monday

Martial Arts is not just a sport, it is an integral part of our lives. Ariana and Alex are both upset because we have quit Monday nights and have let us know their displeasure. Last night they went because they needed to practice what they had learned from Mr. McGilvery on Saturday. They were 2/3 of last night's class - and had an absolute blast. Nothing like private classes!

Well, as long as Mr. McGilvery continues to teach every other Saturday, then they will attend the following Monday class to review what they have learned.

Not exactly what they want (they rather enjoy going 3 times/week), but it seems to have pacified them - for now.

Bad, Bad Tae Kwon Dos Mom!!!

I have been bad. We are no longer attending Monday classes due to the Lifetime idiocy of placing us in the Squash Courts. Wednesday I babysat Sheryl's foster daughter (oh, so cute, so little!)while Geoff took the kids and today, Saturday, I went to the Stamping Convention in Grapevine instead. (David took the kids and came home with the stress.)

Bad, Bad Tae Kwon Dos Mom!!!

I have not been there, but I am feeling SOOOO calm. It is a great feeling.

Does the Chinese Longevity Stencil make up for skipping the classes?

Not Such a Happy 5th Anniversary

Next week Alex celebrates his 5th anniversary studying Tae Kwon Do with Sheryl. FIVE YEARS!!! Over 250 Weeks! He is the only remaining original student from that first session left. He has been through everything with Sheryl at Lifetime and has come out a Jr. 1st Dan. He does not remember NOT studying TKD, and only grudgingly accepts that Sheryl has not always been in his life.

We believe a 5th year is a milestone to celebrate, but unfortunately the powers-that-be at Lifetime Fitness in Plano don't see it the same way. They think the best thing is to grow other programs, sending ours to the Squash Courts so we no longer upset the precious Yoga program. Yeah, that's the way to congratulate a long-standing program: piss off the very members who made it grow.

Real Smart, Lifetime.

So, here we are, do we celebrate the 5th anniversary, or do we look outward? We don't want to leave Sheryl, but how much can the kids learn in the Squash Courts with the noise level and the Squash Mafia attempting to intimidate the parents and students?

Some anniversary.

Katana Jealousy Reigns

Okay, Alex LOVES swords. I mean he REALLY LOVES SWORDS. Heck, the kid has a couple dozen lightsabers, several foam swords and a wooden one. His favorite, though, is his bokken that I got him for Xmas two years ago. He loves that, often taking it out to 'create a new form'. The only thing he would like more than a bigger bokken (he has the child size, Ariana and David have bigger ones) is a katana.

Katana, the famous Japanese sword that was designed to behead someone with one stroke. It makes hari-kiri quick.

In other words:SHARP. David has one. It is kept in our room. Alex loves to try to get it down. He can almost reach it. Darn growth spurts!

We (David, Sheryl, Geoff & myself) all agreed that Alex could have a katana when he is twelve, for his third degree. He grudgingly accepted that - until last night.

Last night Zach, the Black Belt candidate got his katana.
Alex was present.
Alex was mesmerized.
Alex was jealous.
Alex wants to know why Zach gets a katana for 1st Dan whereas he has to wait until 3rd Dan.

Explaining that Zach will be 12 next month and is doing the katana because he really wanted to do the sais (think mini tridents) but waited too long, sort of mollified my little sword fanatic.

Of course, the belt test is Sunday. Who knows how Alex will feel on Sunday when Zach actually gets to use his katana.....