Great golf outing and hard work to come

  The golf outing is over but what a great day. It was terrific to have all the different people connected to our school get together and enjoy a beautiful day on the course and be able to share lunch and dinner together. The laughs were non stop and not just because of what I wore. My pants did get noticed however. I can see this golf open quickly becoming an annual event. It is great when we can spend time outside class. It is nice to learn more about the people you train with and more about their families.   We head back to class this week with summer camp starting again. There are some big groups joining us these last three weeks of camp. There is only a few weeks left before tests. Color belts and black belts have important work to do. We have a lot of fun and sweat ahead of us.

Great team, great decisions.

  Once again the demo team stepped up and did an awesome job. They gave the kids at the camp we visited today a great time. Not only did they then put on a great demo some of the members did segments they had never done before. Power kicks, triple kicks,nunchucks, bo staff and flying kicks made for a great show. These kids came in early this morning practiced for nearly an hour then went to the event, came back ate lunch, rested and helped with the evening classes.
  It turned out to be a good night when one of our students brought in free tickets to our local semi-pro baseball team. As each class ended students and instructors slowly slipped out to meet at the ball park. Being the last to arrive I was worried I was going to miss most everything. Luckily I was able to watch the end of the game. I laughed as my son and the other kids retrieved foul balls and gift towels all of which also got autographed at the end of the game. A very well run program.
  My highlight came as one of the families came to me to say thank you. Their daughter a member of our mighty mite program came to me gave me a hug and kiss and gave me a picture she colored. As we were leaving the game I had a chance to talk to an old friend and former student. I asked her if she would be coming back to join us. I told her when I had returned after my previous absence it was the best thing I had ever done. She asked me to explain why it  had been such a good decision. At that same moment the same little girl came running up to say goodbye again and jumped in my arms giving me a big choking hug. I explained to my old friend that this was the reason it was such a good decision.

First day back in class.

  I always wonder what it takes to build confidence in someone. In some students it is board breaking. You see it in their eyes when that first board breaks. Some students it is the first time they compete. They get out on the mat and give everything they have in front of a crowd and after that there is no stopping them.  The same goes for working through the first belt test. Sometimes it is sparring and maybe getting that first head kick. Then there are those students who can't exactly make the connection. Some have immense amounts of talent but just don't see it in themselves. I try very hard to use positive reinforcement over and over with those students who struggle.
  I especially get hung up on people who claim they can't spar or can't spar well. Like anything it is something that takes practice. Perhaps going to an extra sparring class and always listening to your instructor or coach. They can see the big picture as you progress from match to match. For some reason probably because of fear of contact, sparring can take the longest time to build confidence.
  I understand every personality is different and some people just don't like to spar. I just wish I had the magic trick to bring students around quickly and full of confidence. I guess this is why it is called learning and if it was easy everyone would do it.  

Vacation is over.

  Kudos to our demo team. Once again they are volunteering to give up part of their summer vacation to help introduce Tae Kwon Do to other kids. So far this summer our demo team has given introductory lessons and demonstration to hundreds of capital district kids at 4 different summer camps. This Thursday we go to our 5th summer camp. Some of our demo team members do this while also working with students at our own summer camp and also attending regular classes in the evening. It is great to see this kind of healthy dedication and teamwork.
  I unfortunately keep hearing about a rash of serious drug use going on at a couple of our local schools. I can't help but hope that our students when confronted with these choices are strong enough to make the correct ones. The dedication and hard work of these kids makes me confident in their ability to follow the correct path that has been laid out for them.  

  First day back at class. Kids all had a pretty good day. Needed to work on forms. I know it is summer but a little practice at home goes a long way. The adult class got a welcome back workout with plenty of cardio. We worked up a good sweat, worked on our forms and finished up with a nice stretch.
  Sometimes I wonder if it is better when students come in totally motivated and ready to go or when they come in a little slow and we can draw that never quit attitude out. I suppose as long as everyone works hard and learns something new then it's a good day.

Vacation is over but Shark Week is here. Back to the world of kicks to the head tomorrow. It has only been a week but I really miss all the students and our team. There is a lot going on this month so we really need to hit the ground running. Before the end of the month everyone (color belts and black belts) has to be ready for Septembers tests. We have Black Belt prep classes and Black Belt power classes. The golf outing on the 10th and Great Escape trip on the 23rd.

It's a bad week to be a seal but a good week to be a golfer.

  The continuing saga of one sport assisting with the performance of another continued tonight. We enjoyed a trip to the bowling alley. Like golf I am definitely not a great bowler. Our third game started off with me getting 3 strikes in a row. I know it is not exactly winning the Super Bowl but it is good for me. I am not sure if years of TKD helped me but it was another fun day. 

  We started the day with a visit to the USS Slater in Albany. If you are in the Albany area and have not visited this ship you don't know what you are missing. It is an amazing piece of history. The restoration done on the ship is incredible. Not only have they found original radio equipment but pieces such as original time period magazines, books and crew pictures. The guides are extremely knowledgeable and can answer almost any questions even those from 11 year old boys who want to know how everything works. The ship is named for a sailor killed in action. He stayed at his gun during a kamikaze attack and took a direct hit from a kamikaze. A great experience learning about the sacrifice and conditions our navy members worked under during WWII. Also a great memorial to the sailor it is named after and all those that served.