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.


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gold-white.

Today was belt-promotion day! But not for A...G was promoted for the first time to gold-white.

G has been interested in starting karate for a bit- he has been practicing at home with his brother for ages, and really has fun with it. We have to be careful - with his asthma issues, being exposed to cold & flu viruses usually is really rough on him, taking him down for weeks and often including nebulizer, inhalers, steroids and ER or urgent care visits to get him breathing again. So, we all thought that this summer would be a good time to try it out and see how it goes with all of that since it is not the peak virus season and he has had a pretty clean year so far - and so for the past two months he has been in karate!


Today was his very first belt promotion. He is quite shy compared to his very outgoing brother, and was very nervous about today. We sat right behind him during his promotion, cheering him on. Of course his brother cheered the loudest when he was given his belt! :)


And his brother was the first to hug him when he came off the mat.


He was so happy to get this belt - he has been talking about it all week, and was so proud of himself today. Way to go G!!!

photo of the day::ready for action

a first.

Last weekend A competed in his very first karate tournament. He has had the opportunity to enter before, but we knew he would let us know if/when he was ready to do more than just classes. This time when the tournament flyer was passed out, he told us he wanted to go and compete!

A is an intense sensitive kid. Huge crowds, bright lights, lots of noise ... all can be tough for him, so we knew to keep it steady and follow his lead to help him manage his first experience in a gym with over 1,000 people (it is the largest tournament in the state).


He practiced and practiced all week (he had his brother play judge) - from walking on the floor and approaching the judges, to his form, bow, and exit. He was ready, excited and determined!


We didn't go too early so we didn't have to sit for too long, but we went early enough to watch several of the black belts from his karate school compete in weapons. Sitting in the stands and cheering for people he knows was a great way to loosen up and get a feel for the place.

When it was his turn to do his form he was cool and totally focused. I was impressed that he was not flustered at all with all that was going on around him. He was awesome! :)


I love watching my boys as they make decisions, try new things, grow and expand their world, and pursue their interests. I'm so proud of him. He's quite an amazing kid!

solid gold!

A has moved up to solid gold. Lots of practice, hard work, and enthusiasm! Sweeeeeet!

Promoted!

Brown-White!

Belt.

Last weekend we celebrated A's belt promotion to red-white. He was happy and very proud - not only has he moved up through the levels, but he has stayed with it for one year!


Being in karate is what he wanted to do, and after an entire year of classes several times per week, he still loves it. A is an intense kid, and I know that having the same instructor in the same room in the same building with the same uniform has really helped him focus and stay interested. Students do change, but he has been in a pretty stable core of the same kids and so is comfortable being there and is in his element - without constantly changing people dynamics.


I love that he has had something that is 'his own' in a non-competitive environment with continuous challenges, yet also fun and a great physical outlet for a kid with a lot of energy.

Congrats sweet boy!

blue-white.

This weekend A had a belt promotion...to blue-white.


His little brother was very proud of him.


Yay!!!

moving forward, stepping back.

While I had a major step backwards with my back over the weekend, A has been moving forward. I had to miss his karate belt promotion on Saturday (bad, bad back!), but he came home so happy and proud to show me his new purple-white belt.

The seeds have also been moving forward, and I have been taking pictures...hope to share more soon!

White-Green.

A is an all or nothing kind of boy. All meaning 150% live and breathe it. Nothing meaning it is the worst thing EVER in the world. When he showed an interest in karate I didn't know which way we would go. After almost six months he is still into it, loves it, and is super excited about going to class a few times a week, every week!


Karate has been awesome for him. A is an intense boy and some things can be 'too much'. So, while he is in a room full of kids for the class, his focus is on the instructor. While the noises can be very loud, they are based on moves, and everyone does the same thing at the right moment. While it is a group class, it is really an individual sport for him. And while it is an exacting sport, his instructor is a happy gentle soul who is great with kids. Transition into class is exactly the same every time - and they get to wear a cool uniform. He really enjoys practicing the specific moves and combinations, and remembers every little detail. He loves it.



Today was a belt promotion. He was able to do a solo moment to show a combination. He did some great kicks and had a grin from ear to ear the entire time. He about popped from happiness when he got his belt and shook hands with all the black belts there, and chatted about it non-stop all night.


I love seeing how happy he is and how much he LOVES karate. It should be about doing what you love and finding something that is your own. And it is surely his thing. He is proud of himself today, and he should be! He has worked hard for this belt. Good job, sweet boy.