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I have just returned back from my blue tag grading. I think that it went well. I made a bit of a mess of one on my patterns as I spotted my husband at the back of the room (I wasn't sure whether he was coming to watch or not as our little boy has chicken pox). I put my hand up and asked to start again. I hope that this was the right thing to do. I know that I didn't achieve an A grade (which my instructor would have liked), however I will be quite happy to pass and move onto some different techniques.

I was chuffed that my terminology was no problem - see that CD really does work! 5 questions no stress!

Now I just have to wait and see. I will be very surprised if I fail. Any-way keep you posted.

Tags: Grading

Had my pregrading last night. I cannot believe how nervous I was. I am just hoping that in two weeks time I will be OK. Perhaps I have got the nerves out of the way. I don't think it really helped that I had been to a wedding the day before. Even though I was very restained as far as the alcohol was concerned I don't think that and the the lack of sleep really helped...!

We do our pre-grading in Korean as I think the idea is that it speeds the pre-grading process up. Now I have bought a Korean CD and listen to it faithfully on my way to training I am getting much better at hearing the Korean words - although the gentleman on the CD is rather well spoken - so the words do sound quite posh! After all my practising I can't believe that I had a complete mental block on one of the line work set moves. There were only two grading at 6kup and the other guy kept copying me so when I faltered we both stood there looking blank. I am kicking myself - but hey as long as I can grade in 2 weeks I don't mind. I would rather make mistakes in the dress rehersal so to speak.  
 

I have just retured to training after hurting my back (see previous blog) and my trip to Spain (rain, rain & more rain). Second session back fitness test - what luck!

I thought my fitness was getting better and then I had three weeks out with little or no exercise - unless you count walking around Portaventura theme park all day eating Candy Floss (or Candy Fluff as the kids now call it!)?

I did OK. Well, I got about the just above my score as three months ago. 306 - don't ask me if that is good or not because I have absolutely no idea! I was pleased with my efforts - and a good deal of encouragement from my fitness partner.   

I have hurt my back - how you ask - starting my mum's lawnmower! I have been walking about like a decrepid old woman. In the end I decided to visit a Chiropracter. I did think that with time, and lots of painkillers, it might have healed itself. Glad I went as I almost feel back to my old self again. I have unfortunately missed a week and a half of TKD! I have really missed it but I thank my lucky stars I am not grading on Saturday...phew. Plus I am off to Spain next week and don't need to be confined to a sun lounger (or do I?).

Tonight is pre-grading. I am not grading this time around but I am trying to learn my Korean terminology because we are doing line work in Korean...ahhh. It will be good practice though.

I learn the words but I can't hear them! I know that sounds odd - it was the same as when I tried to learn French at school. I would learn the words but when it came to listening for them it all sounded the same. I am not sure if it is the echoey hall of whether I am getting deaf in my old age (well, I'm not really THAT old).

I don't want to show myself up tonight, nor do I want to copy everyone else. What can I do? I have tried a couple of websites where you can listen to the sound recording of the words but it doesn't seem to help much.

It doesn't really help that I am feeling unwell, I was in bed before the children on Friday night with a raging sore throat. I feel a great deal better now but probably could do with an early night rather than a pre-grading.
 
I WILL go tonight but how I get on - who knows. My brain is full and I don't know my Palkup from my you-know-what...

Just come back from training and I feel really riled. I have been working with a young lad the same level as me. All he did for the whole hour was mess about.

I don't know whether I am frustrated with him or myself. How should I handled it? Initially I tried to humour him but eventually I found myself getting really cross. I think that the more he wound me up the more did it.

I used to teach disengaged young people and I believe he has some behavioural issues. I don't go to train with my teacher hat on - I am, and want to be the student. I also don't have the same power as I would as a teacher of a class, so are my hands tied?

Should I have spoken to the instructor or found another way to handle him? I appreciate that attending TKD is good for him but I felt that he was obstructing my learning and my enjoyment of the class.

Sorry to moan. I am sure that I should be more supportive of him but actually felt like doing something else to him...!

Had a pre-pre grading last night and unfortunately I am not quite ready to go for my blue tag in May. Even though I was and still am disappointed about it, I have only been back in training for 7 weeks and can't really expected to be back at green belt standard yet.

My instructor was very supportive and said that there wasn't loads that I had to re-learn just a few bits and pieces. I know that I don't really know my patterns instinctively enough so they go to pieces under pressure.  I have only been learning 3 step for the last couple of weeks (I don't think we did 3 step when I trained before). So all in all I have gained myself an extra 3 months.

I am looking on the bright side. I have been working really hard at trying to relearn everything, but I want to enjoy Tae Kwon Do and not be stressing about it. Afterall, if I achieved my blue tag by the skin of my teeth I would be moving on to more difficult things without being fully comfortable with the moves up to my current belt level. 

Don't get me wrong, it is not all about gradings to me. I had just set myself a target and I was disappointed that I hadn't achieved it. I think perhaps I was setting myself too bigger challenge in too shorter time.
 
In reflection probably I should be feeling a bit of relief rather than disappointment...and probably in a couple days I shall.

It least last night somebody gave me a green belt so I am no longer training wearing a yellow belt with a dodgy sewn on green tag and confusing everyone utterly!

I have just re-discovered everything that I used to love about Tae Kwon Do, after 13 years out: The discipline, the exercise (without feeling like I am exercising), the people and the sparring - in particular the sparring.

I can vaguely remember why I stopped. My degree at Uni was heavily coursework orientated and by the 4th year too time consuming for anything else but work, work, work. I felt I did not have enough time to devote to both TKD and my course. Not only that but the cost too. A poor student struggles to find £30 a month when you are already living on beans on toast!  

After that I was working in the food industry (and so was my husband). Not the most reliable career with regards to time as the hours could be erratic...

Then I decided to train as a teacher and work at the same time...

Then came the children... 

Things have now really settled down. I have moved back to my home town where my parents' live. My husband has now a job with better hours - and my mum is on hand to babysit - so time to do something for me.

I look forward to training. Twice a week I can go out, forget about being mummy for an hour or two, and work on that baby belly! I feel so much better.

I have come back in as a green belt (well actually I am wearing a very old yellow belt with the green tag stitched on - as I mislaid my green belt at some point). I have got a bit of catching up to do but it is beginning to return. I am already thinking about my next grading as it gives me something to aim for. I doubt I will be ready in 6 weeks but hey, if you don't try...!