When I started training in TKD a little over 2 years ago, it was at a small club that only met on Tuesday & Thursday nights, & Saturday mornings.  I think on a good day there might have been a total of 40 or 50 students when all the classes were added together.

Since then, the club grew to the point that it had to move to a larger facility.  After the move, enrollment began to climb even more.  It's been amazing to watch the growth.  Before Hurricane Ike blew through our area, the club was on the verge of having to move up to academy status.   Enrollment was hovingering around 100 students, and would have as manor or more test than the academy in a neighboring town (our 2 schools have been testing together for quite a while.)

After Ike was finished with our area, we found out that the neighboring academy had been pretty well destroyed, while the club had only minimal damage.  So the obvious solution was to have the 2 schools join forces until either repairs could be made or a new location found for their school.  That has meant that what was going to happen soon, happened sooner than was expected.  The Vidor TKD Club is now the Vidor TKD Academy.  Even when the other school gets a new location, it will continue on as an academy, & continue having classes 4 nights a week & on Saturday mornings ---- WOOHOO!!!

Also since re-opening after the storm,  there have been quite a few new students enroll.  I can't tell you what it's like to see the white & yellow belt class have so many students!

Since Ike came through a week before a belt testing was scheduled, that testing ended up being delayed until at least some of the schools in our area could re-open.  That also meant that instead of the testing being at the Jr High gym (which is really huge) on Friday, Sept 19th, it had to be broken into 2 parts, with about half testing on Saturday, Sept 27th & half testing on Saturday, October 4th.  One little side-effect of that enabled my husband and myself to test for our 1st Degree Lvl 2 Black Belt and our Lvl 2 Trainee Instructor during the course of the 2 testings.  If it hadn't been for that little quirk, we would have had to have waited for the next testing on Nov 14th to test for Lvl 2 Instructor.  It meant a lot of extra work & practice for us, but it was worth it to be just that much closer to a goal of being able to teach TaeKwonDo full time.  I wouldn't trade a minute of being able to work with the kids for anything! 

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It's been a couple of months since my last blog, so it's past time to update things.  The biggest events for me were the Texas State Tournament in June, and my house finally being finished!

I've got to admit that it's been a bit of an adventure to find ways to practice with my yard being full of construction materials.  Definitely worth the effort though.  During the 4-1/2 months of rebuilding, my husband and I managed to successfully test for Sr Red Belt and 1st Degree Level 1 (Probationary) Black Belt & to compete in a tournament (I got 3rd in Sparring & Free Form).  We also got to help run a couple of the competition rings at the tournament.  We only got to do scorekeeping and timekeeping, but the chance to learn first-hand what it takes to run a ring was a lot of fun.

Now that things at home are starting to get back to normal, I've started preparing to test for my next belt (1st Degree Level 2 Black Belt -- sometimes called the "Name Belt") and to test for Level 2/Trainee Instructor.  The belt testing will be in September & the instructor testing will be in November.  I guess I'm going to be staying pretty busy for a while, LOL.  That's ok, I wouldn't have it any other way.

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Sometimes I think I must be at least a little crazy. I mean, who in their right mind would plan on competing in a tournament only 4 weeks after testing? Belt testing was on May 30th, award ceremony was on June 3rd, and the tournament is on June 28th. That works out to about 3 & 1/2 weeks to learn my new form & get my free form worked out.

I'm not too worried about the free form. I'm starting with the free form I did as a blue belt last year and tweaking it to bring it up to black belt level.  Like adding a few moves that I've learned since then, or maybe changing some moves completely.  Some of them may speed up to CAT 2 or slow down to 1/2 CAT.  Whatever I decide to do with it, I know that I'll have fun doing it.

It's trying to learn my regular form that's keeping me up late some nights. I think I've pretty much got it figured out, so it's down to the repetition and polishing. I just hope I have enough time to get it polished enough to actually compete.

Maybe I sound like I'm worried about getting it done. Well, maybe I am a little bit. But if it weren't for the challenges I face, life would be no fun at all...lol.

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One of my TKD goals has been attained.  My husband and I tested for our 1st Dan Black Belt this past Friday night (05-30-08).  It was finally time for something that I was both looking forward & dreading.

I could go into detail, but I guess it was pretty much like all belt testings.  Except, once I was able to relax, I actually had more fun than I ever expected.  Especially during the part that I had been dreading the most.  The 2-on-1 sparring round.

I wasn't looking forward to having to spar 2 black belts at the same time.  But when the round started, it got very obvious that the 2 black belts that I was facing were basically just playing.  They just smiled way too broadly.  And when they started to smile so big, I relaxed.  When I relaxed, I started laughing.  When I started laughing, I just started having fun with the whole thing.  Not exactly what I expected, but that's what made this testing even more special.

After the testing was over, we took the sound equipment back to the academy.  Our instructor met us there and sort of let the cat out of the back.  Normally, you don't know for sure whether you made it or not until the awards ceremony the following Tuesday.  Well, Ms Carroll met us at the door, grinned really big, and said, "Congratulations!"  I kind of had the feeling that we had made it, but that definitely ended all doubts.  It feels so good to make a goal that I had set for myself (officiall) almost 2 years ago.  (Unofficially, I had wanted to be a black belt for most of my life.  Just didn't know anyplace to go for training.)

Now.....on toward the next goal.....level 2 trainee instructor.... 

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Two really cool things happened at TKD class tonight.  The first was that it was announced that my instructor, Glenda Carroll, passed the test for 5th Degree Black Belt at the recent Ho-Am Tiger Rock Festival in Mobile, AL.  I didn't get to go to watch her test, but those that did told me that she looked great when she tested.  I can't help but be happy for her.  I saw how hard she practiced and worked for it.

The second thing is that I got my first taste of something that I have to deal with at my next testing when I go for 1st Degree Level 1 Black Belt...2 on 1 sparring.  I was the 1.

I guess I had better get used to it pretty quick...only 3 weeks left until test day.  The truth is, I had been really dreading what it would be like to spar 2 people at the same time.  In my head, I knew that I would have to  stay on my toes, but now the rest of me really knows it too.  And it kind of surprised me that I enjoyed more than I thought I would, because sparring isn't exactly my favorite part of TKD.

I can do forms, 1-steps, & 3-steps all day long and not get tired of it.  But sparring...well, let's just say, I can take it or leave it.  I know it's a necessary part of martial arts training & there are times when I have a good time with it.  But there are a lot of times that I'd really rather not have to do it.  Like the days when I don't quite feel 20 or even 30 years old (which is a lot of the time considering I'm a 45-year-old grandma...lol)

Then again, there's nothing like the feeling of self-confidence of knowing that I can take on more than 1 person at a time if the situation were to call for it.  And the truth is, I'm more than willing to do whatever it takes to get that black belt, not for just the belt itself, but also because it's a stepping stone to my ultimate goal of being able to teach TaeKwonDo full-time and opening my own school. 

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"Acceptable losses" can mean so many different things in different situations.  To a military commander it can mean the number of casualties in a battle.  To a college student it can mean the number of hours of sleep lost while cramming for an important exam.  To me, it means doing whatever it takes to learn a new skill or pass a belt testing in TKD.

I'll never forget how important it is do do a hammerfist properly when trying to break a board because of a bruised wrist received by doing it wrong.  Or how important it is to hold even a foam sword properly because of straining the same wrist while trying to block my opponent's strike. I can be pretty sure that I won't make the same mistake.  At least not in the same way...lol.

My husband and I have a goal of eventually opening our own TaeKwonDo school.  To get there, there will be a lot of time spent in training, sore muscles and joints, and more than likely some bruises along the way.  Those are what I call acceptable losses, because its all worth it when I see the kids in class doing so well at testings and tournaments, and learning skills that will help them in life.

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It's been a while since I've had a chance to blog about anything...so I'm just going to do a bit of an update on everything I can think of.

I didn't get to go to the ITA Spring Festival in Mobile, AL this past weekend. I'm kinda bummed out about that, since my instructor tested for her 5th Degree Black Belt. She'll find out in a couple of weeks whether she passed or no changed.

A friend of mine and her kids did get to go, though. She said she didn't win anything, but her daughter brought back 3rd in forms and her son brought back 2nd in forms and sparring. She's so proud of them. I am, too. They're great kids.

There was an upside to not making the tournament, though. I got to spend the weekend with my grandkids (& my daughter and son-in-law, too.) It was a very good thing I did because they're leaving for Pennsylvania tomorrow. They'll be there for the next 3 years. After that, who knows where they'll be sent. My son-in-law is in the army, so they go where they're told. They plan on coming back to Texas for Christmas or on leave from time to time & maybe I'll be able to go out there once in a while. Who knows?

As for my house, it's been almost 3 weeks since any work has been done on it. Until today...the new roof has been started on. The bathroom/laundry room extension has a new roof now. The rest of the house is supposed to have it's new roof sometime this week as well. I'm learning not to hold my breath, though. I have no idea when the wiring & plumbing & drywall are supposed to be done. Time will tell.

In the meantime, my hubby & I keep on keeping on. In amongst all the chaos, we still have all our TKD related activities to keep us busy. If it weren't for martial arts, I doubt I'd have any grip on sanity (whatever that is...) at all.

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I just found this awesome poem while surfing and I just have to share it. Hope everyone likes it as much as I do.

I Am A Martial Artist
by Karen Eden

I am a martial artist.
I see through different eyes.
I see a bigger picture
when others see gray skies.

Though many can't conceive it,
I stand...facing the wind.
My bravery, not from fighting,
but from my strength within.

I am a martial artist.
I'll walk the extra mile.
Not because I have too,
but because it's worth my while.

I know that I am different,
when I stand on a crowded street.
I know the fullness of winning,
I've tasted the cup of defeat.

I am a martial artist.
They say I walk with ease.
Though trained for bodily harm,
my intentions are for peace.

The world may come and go,
but a different path I'll choose.
A path I will not stray from,
no matter, win or lose.

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I ran into my parents in WalMart the other day. I asked them to come to my next belt testing on May 30th. (I know it's still a ways off, but with my parents, plans have to be made well in advance. They're always going off on some trip or other. Plus my Dad works offshore.) The reason this particular testing is so important to me is that my husband & I will be going for our black belts.

I don't really know how to take their response. My Mom said, "Are you SURE you want us to be there?" I mean, if I didn't want them there, would I have asked them? Of course I want them there. Yes, I realise I might not make it, but I still would like to know that they are there cheering me on.  If not, I would have waited until I knew I had gotten it and only invited them to the award ceremony.

I'd also like for my kids & my in-laws to be there. It's not likely that my son can come, he's in Germany. Nor is it all that likely that my daughter & her family can come, they will have just moved to Pennsylvania. And it's only a little more like for my in-laws to be there, they live about 3 or 4 hours away. But my parents live right here in the same town. I'm even planning on asking my brother & his family to be there. (They live in the same town, too.)

I guess sometimes, the little girl in me still wants to know that my Mom & Dad are in my corner & proud of me.

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