Colony Days Parade

Sheila, Christopher, Alanna and Megan participated in the Colony days parade with their Karate club. Christopher, McKabe and another boy were taking turns kicking and punching the "mountain" while Alanna, Megan and a few other young students sat on the float.

Sheila passed out fliers for the club and candy. The black and brown belts from the club did demonstrations as the walked along.

Spring Belt Testing

After doing the required forms, sparring and breaking a board with a front snap kick, Jason earned his green belt in Tae Kwon Do on April 19th. While he passed his test, it served more as a reminder of just how much more he has to learn.

Due to the differences in the coloring of rank belts in Tae Kwon Do and Karate, and the frequency of testing (Jason has had two belt tests in between the karate belt tests), Jason was able to catch up with Christopher in belt color (though Christopher really out ranks his dad). In actuality Jason's rank is equivalent to Alanna's rank.

UPDATE:

Oh yeah...and the Karate Kids just had their belt tests this last weekend. Christopher advanced 1/2 a step (same as the rest of the green belts), Alanna advanced to green belt and Sheila earned her orange belt.

This summer they will be going once a week and Megan will be joining them. If we ever do another family portrait we'll have to do it in our martial arts uniforms. :)

The Martial Arts Weekend

This weekend was a martial arts weekend for the Bailey family. Christopher & Lance (my cousin Miki's husband) both participated in the Alaska Region Tournament-2008 for Shotokan Karate on Saturday. Christopher received two bronze medals for his efforts in intermediate kata and intermediate kumite. Lance also earned two bronze medals in those same two events (at the black belt level) as well as a gold medal for team Kata and a silver medal for team Kumite.

Celeste will be disappointed to hear that her brother earned two gold medals (forms and sparring) at the USAT Alaska State Taekwondo Championships-2008. This was a qualifier for nationals, so in theory I could go to the national Taekwondo Championship.


In Taekwondo, the points are awarded for hitting the chest protector of your opponent. (I believe kicks to the head count for points to, but my three kicks to my opponents head were dodged, so I don't know if that is indeed the case.) These points are generally earned through kicks. Punches can be thrown, but rarely count as they must result in a "trembling force."

I only had to spar/fight one person, but you never realize how long a minute is until you are forced to don a lot of gear and kick another person while they are kicking you. I thought the three rounds would never end as I was sucking in air. After the first round I was down by one point; at the end of two I was ahead by one point; and by the end of the match I'd managed a two point lead. My instructor was very pleased that I was able to earn one of my points with a punch. He said I hit my opponent so hard he staggered back a step. :)

My instructor shot some video and took some pictures. Once I get a copy, I will post them for your amusement.