Flying Double Side Kick

I didn't take this one, but I'm in it. Hapkido Black Belt Test today and I demonstrated a small part of my third degree test that I hope to take about this time next year.

I'm the blur in the air about 4 feet off the ground.

Bob

This guy is Bob. I kicked him in the head and beat him with a stick.

Black Belts

Black Belt test today at Champions Hapkido. There were 3 ladies that did an amazing job demonstrating skill, art, determination and confidence.

One first degree and two 2nd degree.

Proud of the ladies.

Flags

Hapkido is a Korean art that was brought to the United States. One of the men that brought it here was Chong S. Kim, we call him Grand Master.

Swords

Bamboo swords in the rack

March Belt Test

Today was belt test day, well belt promotion, we did our tests during class the last few weeks and today was a celebration and awarding of the belts. With all the students at the school ranging from kids to adults they ran two ceremonies. I chose to go to the early one and celebrate on the mat with Ethan and Junia.

We started out warming up with everyone on the mat. You can see Rog, me and one other mom were the only adults in the early session. Junia, Ethan and Reed are in there too.


Everyone did some kicks.


Then the white belt and Little Ninja Graduates showed off their stuff.

Front fall.


Side fall.


And blocks. Ethan got to be Junia's partner.


Junia's friend Arlie was out there too.


they discussed their hapkido skills.


Then everyone got to break boards.






There was a Kung Fu demonstration by Sifu Lopez and some of the instructors demonstrated parts of their black belt tests. This included the Walters brothers doing some flying kicks and Mr. Zlada demonstrating chair defense. Quite impressive, Ethan was very excited to see his instructors show off.

Then they awarded belts. Master Connard handed them out.


Mr. Birkholz (Uncle Bill) tied on Junia's belt.


After Master Connard handed out the belts we went down the line and were congratulated by all of the instuctors.




Ethan's friend Christopher.

A little extra

Well, I didn't get started on the push up challenge yesterday due to an unbearably long problem at work that had me on the phone for 6 hours but that's another story. So I knew I had to start today, I guess I get motivated to complete things by telling other people about it.

While getting the kids to wind down before bed I told Ethan about the challenge and showed him the plan then it was his job to count. For today, starting at week 3 the plan is 14 + 18 + 14 +14 + max. On set 2 Ethan wanted to sit on my back, that didn't work too well. Overall it was difficult in that I was shooting for good form but I was able to complete all 5 sets. Set 5 I did 30, the plan calls for "max (at least 20)" so I met that with a little extra. Feeling good.

Then I went to hapkido. We never know how many, if any, push ups we'll do during warm ups but I should have know when Mr. Birkholz stepped up to lead class there were going to be a lot. I ended up with just about 150 push ups today.

Hapkido Dodger Demo

Every year the Jan Mu Wan Hapkido association gets together and does a demonstration before an LA Dodger game and today was the day. Ethan, Junia and I joined a couple hundred students from the 6 schools around Southern California gathered today to go out on the field before today's game against the San Francisco Giants. We got to go out on the grass, it was way cool.

Here's some of the group waiting to go on the field.


Then we ran out to the third base foul line.


First everyone did a show of some basics. This included everyone from Little Ninjas up to black belt... then technique demonstration.

Here's Rog taking a black belt fall.


Grand Master Kim demonstrated the cane technique on the Dodger vision.


Master Connard took out Mr. Sullivan.


And the kids and I got our picture taken on the way off the field.