YELLOW BELT!!!

Matthew and Jacob started Taekwondo about 7 weeks ago! Troy has always wanted to put them in - and we have some friends that are really into it. They pointed us to a FANTASTIC place - and we LOVE it! Zachy will start when he turns 5!

Taekwondo is STRICT!! The boys have to pay attention, answer "Sir" to the master and instructor any time they ask them to do anything. They also learn specific kicks, stances and forms. In class, you have to demonstrate that you are paying attention and practicing at home...and if the master feels like you have been doing a good job, he gives you a stripe that corresponds with the next colored belt - yellow for the boys. They need 2 stripes to be able to test for the next belt!

After 7 weeks, the boys were ready to test for their yellow belt! (You start off as white). So we practiced and practiced! They had to know:

1 - How to count from 1 to 10 in Korean
2 - The white belt kick - hammer kick
3 - 14 basic forms of Taekwondo

You test for the Grand Master (like the grandpa) and 3 masters! They did FANTASTIC!!! The other kids testing for yellow were all 8 years old or above - and my boys held their own!

After they tested for everything we practiced...the master announced that they would have to break a board with their white belt kick! WHAT?! We hadn't practiced this at all!!

The boys lined up - Matthew was second in line. He tried his first time and was a little light - but the second time HE NAILED IT!! Broke it right in half. Then Jacob was up - he broke it his FIRST TRY!! They were so proud! (Even some of the older kids had to try a couple times to break it!).

Oh...and now they get their yellow belt and a TROPHY! And they keep the wood they broke! So cool!

Needless to say - we love Taekwondo. It gives the boys confidence - give them the ability to learn something, practice it and then demonstrate their ability in testing situations! Great life experience!