Second Degree Black Belts Under Their Belts

This past 4 weeks is a blurr... Very busy around these parts, so much so, that I have neglected blogging about life lately. Still busy, but I'm feeling the need to share what's been going on 'round our homestead.

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First off, Nick and Nolan have reached another milestone on the taekwondo front. They've worked hard and earned their 2nd degree black belts! Let me hear a "woot woot"!

Then (2004)

(Look how cute! Nolan is even sporting his bowl hair cut... I loved that hair cut.)

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Now

October 2010

(no more bowl cut... just a nice wrist brace to support the injury he sustained merely 24 hours before during P.E. class...)

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Poor gimpy, had to sit out during the self defense portion of the test. Hard to protect yourself when you can't grab the intruder attacking you.
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Nick's attacker was this lady, and he seemed to have absolutely no problem taking her down.

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Nolan should be extra proud of his ability to break through 5 different boards because he had to use his left hand for two of the boards and kicked the other three. I was amazed! Way to go Nolan!

(We have video of them breaking their boards, but for some reason I can't upload onto this blog...you'll have to check it out on facebook when I get the chance to load it there. It's pretty darned cool!)

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Each student was required to write an oral report to present in class. Second degree testers had to write about "respect" and first degree testers talked about "How taekwondo has affected their lives". I think this was my favorite part of the whole test. Nick and Nolan did a wonderful job and some of the other students had very touching things to say. I have no doubt the instructors really liked this part of the test too, it was so nice to hear how the students appreciated their teachers' dedication and hard work.

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I'm proud of my kids for working so hard towards this goal. They have spent countless hours in the dojo learning new skills and mastering old ones. I wish I had a fraction of the coordination, balance, and strength they have from learning taekwondo over the past 6 years. Way to go boys! You rock! Be proud of yourselves, not many people can say they've got a 2nd degree black belt...it's quite an honor.