Super Cup 2008

Today, Alex participated in her first ever Taekwondo competition, the Super Cup. There were three categories: poomse, board breaking and sparring. Alex competed in the latter two. In practice they have always used a foam piece that splits apart when hit hard enough. So you can imagine our surprise when we found out that the competition would require the use of REAL wooden boards! And she DID IT...she broke her very 1st board with the axe kick!!!! You go baby! She took home second place in board breaking and first place in sparring. It was a very long day and she has been practicing so very hard. We are so proud of you, Alexandra!!!!

Above is a picture of Alex and her trophies once we got home. I had fortotten the battery to camera, so I will have to wait on my aunt to upload her pics. But I may try to put together a few minutes of it up to youtube. We'll see.

Going Green

Today was another big day in Taekwondo, Alex was awarded her green belt! She had her testing on Tuesday and did wonderfully. She has been practicing her poomse and besides leading with the wrong foot, soared through the rest of the program. Here are a few pictures form the testing...

Neck Hit...


Board Breaking...


Showing respect...


Sparring (that's her behind the blue circle)...

She passed!

Today, Alex was awarded her yellow belt.

My Baby Did It!!!!!

Thursday was yellow belt testing at Taekwondo. Alex has been working really hard at her blocks, attacks and counting in Korean. Her only problem is that she is so self critical. If she doesn't get a move on the first or second attempt, she just shuts down. She has come so far in just the couple of months she has been taking classes, but still...she is only four. And she is so incredibly stubborn. Well last week they told us that she would be eligible to test for her yellow belt.

It is funny how mothers and fathers parent in such different, and often opposite, ways. A mother tends to protect and often hold a child back for fear of failure. A father, on the other hand, will push a child out of their comfort zone and challenge them to try. So of course I didn't think Alex was ready to test yet, and Shawn just kept saying to "let her try". But I didn't want her to shut down or freeze. I didn't want her to fail. This is all still relatively new to her and I thought she should gain a bit more confidence first. Still, he wanted to at least give her the chance.

So last night I sent my baby, alone, out into a group of over 90 testers. She looked terrified. I was completely sick to my stomach. I was never a nervous test taker. But being a mother is so different. All of my hopes and desires reside with this little person. For 45 minutes, Alex sat in her group and watched the others testers test. She kept looking over at us with those pleading eyes, as to say "please just take me home". But she was brave and waited her turn. And when it was time, my little girl got up in front of 90 other participants, 8 judges and nearly 150 spectators.

Master Lim started to bark out commands and my baby did it! Being the littlest tester, she kept up with the rest of her group. She may have had the wrong hand/leg at times....but she had the techniques correct. She had good timing and did each move with pride and determination. I could even hear her yelling her hi-ya's over the other 7 kids. She was amazing. She wasn't perfect, but I think she nailed it. I still can't believe how well she did! Shawn and I went crazy. It was the proudest moment of my life!!!!

We won't know if she passed and got her yellow belt until class on Saturday. I am not sure the exact criteria. Like I said, she did miss a few steps...but I don't know how critical they are with the white belts? It doesn't matter though...we thought she was FANTASTIC...and even better...she thought she was FANTASTIC!!!

Here are a few pictures...

Hiey Yah

Alex was insistant this Fall on taking karate. You can imagine how surprised we were that she chose Martial Arts over a pretty little pink tu-tu, but once she makes up her mind there is no changing it. So she is now enrolled in Master Kim's Taekwondo. Today was her fourth class and by golly is she ever cute! Though she doesn't understand why she is cursed with the white belt when all she wants is a red belt. But I guess that gives her something to work for. Master Kim is very strict and Alex is learning a great deal of respect and self discipline. I just LOVE this class and think it is so great for her.