Pictures from belt test September 9th, 2006

HapKiDo Belt Test Sep. 9th,2006

Aug 27, 2006 - 43 Photos

Belt Test Success Story.

We had a nice turnout for our belt test on Saturday September 9th, 2006. Those testing for belts were. Richard (Cho Dan Bo), Rachell (Cho Dan Bo),Steve (Cho Dan Bo), Spencer (Cho Dan Bo), John (1st Gup Brown Belt), Logan(1st Gup Brown Belt), Lizzy (2nd Gup Brown Belt), James (4th Gup Red Belt), Tina (4th Gup Red Belt)

Going to the max

Just when you think you'll never get it right it starts to come together. I been struggling with some of the spin kicks we're required to do for our belt testing. Like the spin roundhouse. Suddenly today I think I actually am doing quiet well at the spin kicks as my sparring match with a cho dan bo showed me getting lots of them in that he couldn't block.

Good news, Master weatherly has just made it as grand master status. Now we can call him grand master weatherly.

Cooling off

The heat seems to be more tolerable or I'm just getting used to it. Hapkido is going great and I'm busy working on my Cho Dan Bo requirements for my belt test coming up on September 9th. I have to figure out how many hours of practice I have in class. I figured since I've started on September 19th, 2005 I've been in class for 326 hours. That's a lot of time. I've seen lots of people come and go and seen much improvement in myself and others around me. My children have done a lot of training also and have come a long way to make it to where they are. To anyone who is into martial arts please stick with it. It is really worth it in the end. To grow and develop mentally spiritually and physically to improve yourself you will effect the lives of others around you in ways that can't be bought.

Heat of the Summer

Boy, were in it now. The sweltering heat has just started, as next week will even get hotter. The humidity is real high and that makes working out in the evening that much more fun. Sometimes durring class I start getting this glazed look and roll my eyes. I've mad eit so far without passing out in class. That would be embarasing.

Testing has moved back until September 9 at 12:00 pm. Since there will be quite a lot students gone at that time. You know summer vacation and all. That makes it 5 months between testing sessions. My family should definitly be ready for testing. Lizzy should be ready maybe even for high brow belt. James and Tina might be ready for a double test.

Final Fu

MTV has a new reality show on called 'Final Fu'. Missed the first night but last night they had someone who is in HapKiDo fighting in the second of two sparring matches. His apponant was a Tae Kwan Do Artists. He did say he never did sparring in a point match so was not used to it, and lost. The other guy had two warnings on head contact though. Boy they should see our matches we always go for the head shot. I got someone so hard on the mouth once and because he wasn't wearing mouth piece and it chipped his tooth. It is very important to wear your safety equipment. Talked to my brother yesterday and asked if he wanted to come watch our belt testing next month. It is currently scheduled for the 12th of August and James and Tina are going for their red belts, Lizzy is going for her brown belt, and I'm going for Cho Dan Bo.

July

Next week is Venition festival in Charlevoix. We were going to have belt testing this month but with the summer in full swing and people getting busy with vacations Mr. Bruce decided to have belt testing next month. Good, more time for me to go over my requirements for Cho Dan Bo. I will be testing for 1st gup and Cho Dan Bo. Cho Dan Bo is the belt right before Black Belt and usually your required to stay at that rank for 6 months, at least, while training for your Black Belt. I figure this will be my last chance at double testing if at all. Rachel and Richard are going to be testing for their Cho Dan Bo belt also, and they are already 1st gup's.

This week was an intesnse week as far as workouts go. Since last week was a holiday week and there was no class mon tues wed it made for quite the workout getting back into things. Not that I forgot anything but my body seems to like to relax like last week and this week it has been working extra hard. Tuesday Harlin and I both were commenting on when we did folding elbow lock and getting back up we had a rush of blood down to the feet and felt light-headed for a bit. Then on Wed. at the end of class Harlin was working on yudo throws with someone else and landed on his shoulder hard. Hope he only brused the shoulder and recovers quickly.

No Class

Nice sunset on 6-28-06 returning from HapKiDo class.

For the next week we have a break in training so no classes for this weekend due to the holiday. No class on mon,tues,wed either. There is a possibilty of going to class on wed if Mr. Bruce calls. I also have a key so I could go on saturday if I want. It is nice to have the space to rolls and kicks when working out. They also have nice wave master bags and the bobs to knock around for a while.

Weds. we did a three minute free-for-all on the bobs and kicking bags and it really works your endurance. Hard to believe that three minutes can be so long. No wonder boxing matches only go 3-5 minutes.

Ah the humidity

Man, how the humidity effect a workout. We did a lot of exercises yesterday but even when we were practicing our wrist locks (downward wrist lock, downward elbow lock and outer wrist lock) we were sweating a lot. Joel made it back to class. In the summer lot of people take breaks and don't go to class as often. Me on the other hand I'm a bit excessive. I'll go every chance I get. Some others might be able to go somewhere else and have enough space to practice kicking and techniques with others. I don't have someone (besides my children who are a lot smaller than me) to train with besides going to class. So I go every time. What will make me better in anything I do, Practice, Practice, Practice. Nothing else will do.

Some clip I found at YouTube.com
This guy does a triple kick while spinning. Amazing.

Hapkido

Just last year, 2005, my family and I started going to classes at Northern Martial Arts in Charlevoix. Since we've started my three children and I have been attending on a regular bases. James, Lizzy, and Tina go two to three times a week and I like to go all four days of the week that the school is open. James and Tina have reached 5th Gup rank which is blue belt two red stripes. Lizzy and I are more into it and have been attending more. Lizzy has reached 3rd Gup rank which is red beld with two brown stripes, and I have 2nd Gup or Brow belt with one black stripe. We plan on making the next tournament in Fenton next weekend. We haven't been to one yet. They'll have sparring, form, and board breaking.

James, Lizzy, and Tina are doing great in the HapKiDo class. James is growing a lot this year and he seems to be struggling with controlling it. He has improved greatly the last two months and shows a good understanding of the basic throws. Last night we worked on tai otoshi(body drop throw). Tried to get him to do osoto gari(major hip throw) but since he's shorter than me he has trouble loading me up on his hip to do the throw properly. But he tries and he is doing very well. Lizzy loves the spotlight and so loves the attention she can get. If she can stay focus on things she does great in class. She hasn't had any problem with staying focus latey and has been going to class with me for most of the time. She just made her test to go to 3rd Gup. James and Tina are 5th gup. James likes going to class and does well but I think he's still a little weary about the throws and when we have sparring night on wednesday night he would rather stay home with Mom. Which is OK. Tina is doing a lot better and even is staying quiet in class and listening to the instructor. I wish I could go back in time and start HapKiDo when I was Tina's age. Think I'd be black belt by now.

If you ask me what my goal in this is. My goal is not to just have a family of black belts, but to have a family that will be involved in something together . Not to brag about how we can beat up on people but knowing that if something happens and someone tries to hurt my children they are at least prepared to fight back and win. I realize that the statitics are not real good for an entire family to stay in something for a long time, but my hopes are in it. My dreams and hopes in a martial art family.

HapKiDo

The other day something hit me durring practice. I was remembering the time I was doing Aikido and when we did the wrist throws we would actualy jump over the others arms. My wrist being sore, I wasn't quit getting the air row thing when recieving the all directional throw. Mr. Bruce said just jump in front of the person. After that I was doing a lot better. My wrist hasn't been hurting and I'm getting better on the air rows. I'm still working on the air rolls.