Taekwondo Tournament Pics From This Weekend

[Hooper]

The second half of the tournament season has started, after our winter break. It was good to see all my old friends from the competition circuit again. My boys did great. This was the first competition for my youngest. For years he has been patiently watching his brothers compete and bring home trophies, and now he got to win his own. He was so proud, he was about ready to burst. He won 1st for weapons, and "Board Breaking Power" for his forms. He did his entire form on his own, the only one in his ring who did.

My oldest took 1st for sparring, 1st for Xtreme forms, 2nd for standard forms, and 3rd for weapons. He was just getting over the flu, and was pretty drained. My second oldest took 3rd for sparring, and 4th for forms. Which is a huge improvement for him on the forms side. He has typically been in the lower tier for scores for his form, so coming in 4th was a giant leap for him.

I took 2nd for forms, 2nd for weapons, and 3rd for sparring. I blocked a beautiful kick by my oppoenent, he did a jump round kick, and I blocked it perfectly... with my chin... ouch.

Then I had an Xtreme seminar, how to execute and teach Xtreme moves. Ouch. Two hours of jump splits, jump kicks, cartwheels, no hand cartwheels, 540 kicks, and 720 kicks. I landed on my posterior so many times I think I broke my tailbone...

But enough verbage, on to the pictures...







My son is in the black uniform







My second oldest is in black gear on the right for this picture.

[Hooper]

I'm on the left in these two pictures...

[rockota]

your kids could kick my ass....

[Hooper]

Originally Posted by rockota

your kids could kick my ass....

Mine too, and to an even greater extent everyday..

[purevil71]

I tried Tae Kwon Do and wasn't NEARLY flexable enough for it, so I stuck with Hap Ki Do instead.

Looks like your kids have a very bright future in the sport, Olympics maybe??

[Hooper]

Originally Posted by purevil71

I tried Tae Kwon Do and wasn't NEARLY flexable enough for it, so I stuck with Hap Ki Do instead.

Looks like your kids have a very bright future in the sport, Olympics maybe??

Up to them. They can take it as far as they want to..

The oldest is really into the fancy stuff...

[WBlackie]

Nice pics, your kids have some skills. I got to 2nd degree black belt a few years back.

[rusted]

The pic of your youngest is priceless there with the trophies.

2nd boy coming out of his middle-child shell maybe?

Oldest boy looks like a logo for TKD products.

[Hooper]

Originally Posted by WBlackie

Nice pics, your kids have some skills. I got to 2nd degree black belt a few years back.

Thanks. I am very proud of them. They work really hard at this sport. My oldest puts in between 8 and 10 hours a week.

I test for my 2nd degree next month. My oldest is already 2nd degree. He will top out at 3rd degree for a while. You have to be 18 to be 4th degree. Not sure what he will do during the interim. Work on his Xtreme performance moves I think...

[ironpig70]

preparing your kids for the day when guns are outlawed i see

[Hooper]

Originally Posted by ironpig70

preparing your kids for the day when guns are outlawed i see

Yep. They are my personal bodyguards...

[ironpig70]

Originally Posted by Hooper

Thanks. I am very proud of them. They work really hard at this sport. My oldest puts in between 8 and 10 hours a week.

I test for my 2nd degree next month. My oldest is already 2nd degree. He will top out at 3rd degree for a while. You have to be 18 to be 4th degree. Not sure what he will do during the interim. Work on his Xtreme performance moves I think...

didn't know you had to be 18 for the 4th. whats the top notch for degrees???? i'd think he'd just keep going and when he hits 18 he will be way ready for 4th or even maybe a couple more. i think its great that you found something your kids love that teaches them so many lessons that they will use for their lifes namely discipline and the fact that if you want something you have to work for it. tired of this shit where every kid gets to play and everybody gets a trophy so that nobody has bad feelings.

[Hooper]

Originally Posted by ironpig70

didn't know you had to be 18 for the 4th. whats the top notch for degrees???? i'd think he'd just keep going and when he hits 18 he will be way ready for 4th or even maybe a couple more. i think its great that you found something your kids love that teaches them so many lessons that they will use for their lifes namely discipline and the fact that if you want something you have to work for it. tired of this shit where every kid gets to play and everybody gets a trophy so that nobody has bad feelings.

Learning how to lose gracefully is an important lesson to learn. This particular activity gives the kids a chance to learn how to win, and learn how to lose, gracefully. My sons have had to learn how to lose, and it hasn't always been easy.

The first part of this year was very hard on my second oldest. He moved up a division when he became black belt. He is the youngest in his ring now. He went from winning most of the time, to not even placing most of the time, and it has been a great learning experience for him. It was difficult for him, and he would get upset, but he eventually learned to look for his *personal victories*... scoring better, placing higher, the little steps that lead to big change. He has plowed through it, and has started placing again.

Next year will be a tough one for my oldest. He moves up an age division. He will be competing with the 11-13 year olds, and will be the youngest in the ring. He will have to get used to not winning every time also, although he has had his spells when he didn't placein the past and has learned to deal with the dissappointment. Nationals will be a big test for him in two weeks. Regional competition is one thing, national competittion is a whole other world.

So, you are right, they learn that if they want to win, they have to put in the time and effort.... lots of time and effort. You win, or you don't win. It is pretty cut and dried.

[Hooper]

Originally Posted by ironpig70

didn't know you had to be 18 for the 4th. whats the top notch for degrees???? i'd think he'd just keep going and when he hits 18 he will be way ready for 4th or even maybe a couple more. i think its great that you found something your kids love that teaches them so many lessons that they will use for their lifes namely discipline and the fact that if you want something you have to work for it. tired of this shit where every kid gets to play and everybody gets a trophy so that nobody has bad feelings.

Yep, you have to be 18 to reach 4th degree.

Highest is 9th degree, but there is only ever one 9th degree at a time in the ATA. It is hierachical, a handful of 8th degrees, a fair number of 7th degrees, and it works on down...

I am hoping he will stay with it during that long period between rank advancement. That is what the XMA training is for, to keep him working on new material, so he doesn't stagnate and get bored.