promoted times two.

This weekend we had a karate promotion. This time it was both boys. G was promoted to orange-white, and A to solid GREEN!!!!!


Several of those kids are turned around backwards looking towards the camera because A was cheering SO loudly for his little brother that the whole room was enthusiastic about G's belt. :)


This is G's last belt for a bit as he (asthma boy) takes a class break during peak cold/flu season (he'll start again in the spring). He has had 4 months of karate and has really liked it - it works right in with his break dancing, he says. :) Happy boy!


This promotion for A marks 2 years since his very first belt promotion. Karate is something that he asked to to, he loves doing, and he wants to continue. Being in karate is his decision, and this has been the ONLY class he has ever taken that he has been interested in more than a few weeks. He loves the focus and precision. The routine. The exactness of things. And of course he has an *awesome* instructor.

As he has been going along, many of his older karate mates have been invited to join the black belt team. This is basically moving it up a notch - from taking karate and doing kids classes, to making a commitment to take karate to the next level, focus on the goal of the black belt, sparring, and moving into weapons. The instructor formally invites each kid when they are ready. They of course want kids who are dedicated and physically ready, but also those who they feel are emotionally/mentally ready to do this.

A has been hoping hoping hoping that he would get that letter inviting him to the black belt team. And finally, a few weeks ago, it was time. The invitation requests that the candidate write a formal letter to the instructor accepting the honor, stating their goal of achieving a black belt, and signing a two year commitment to karate to work on that goal. Of course he said YES this is what he wants and he understands what that means. He dictated his letter to me, and worked with me on typing it into the computer and had some help with spelling and wording here and there, but he did it. Printed and signed. He received his blue pants, his black belt team patches, and then this weekend his new belt. Wow!

I have been a little worried about how he will transition into the classes with older kids/adults which include full body gear, a bit more self discipline, and of course weapons. I know he can "do" it, but being a very sensitive kid who relies on routine to help him manage himself in group environments (and who has a hard time with the restrictive feeling of pads and straps of the body padding), I hope he can smoothly navigate the ups and downs of all of that now - different people in classes, different expectations. Of course all I can do is support him 150% in what he does - and know that he is an awesome kid who will figure it all out. This is his commitment, and I have seen how wonderful karate has been for him and how much he loves it. And I have seen how great his instructor is with him, and how supportive the other kids in his classes are...a great environment for him to step up and do karate as a big kid, compete, and get more into the sport.

Oh my boy is growing up!


This is one proud mama.


.