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.....

An Easy Black Belt Test!!!

OOPS!!!

So much for my good intentions: two posts and that was it. BAD ME!

Well, let's see if I can do better. David is now a Black Belt as of July, 2010 and there is a new BB test this coming December.

I am loving this BB test!!! All I have had to do is hem the candidate's pants and put patches on them. That's it, nothing else because no one is testing in our house. No weapons to buy, no extra practices, no having to help write a paper and oral presentation. Nothing. Zip. Nada!!!

And we did not have to pay anything!!!!!! Well, the embroidering on Alex's new dobock, but that was $15.

I will take photos, maybe video and thank you cards for the Black Belt Board, but I can breathe easily. Very easily.

Funny, though, the lack of stress over this belt test almost worries me....