Candidate Journals

Today is August 31st, we have officially made it to September. That flew by very fast, but I am grateful to have been able to accomplish all that I have this month. One major improvement is that my shin and legs do not feel like I am walking on hot coals as I walk / jog. That may also be due to my shoes I brought ,but the consistently of walking / jogging has helped. Thought I am not where I used to be and I have to take more breaks , I am happy with this. I am also proud that I have been able to teach classes at the Dojang. That has been a fun addition to my weekly routine. This month will be a little challenging, with my wife having to sing on the praise team on Wednesday nights. I will have to go to Harrisburg or Huntersville...

Thursday was OK, I did not go to the Dojang  today. I did end up going on a walk, which ended up being about 3 miles then I came back home and worked on my requirements to end the night. It’s almost the weekend, I can’t wait.

Today was color belt testing, I went to the dojo and assisted with the test. It was good to see them be able to display what they have been working on over the last couple weeks.  We didn’t have black belt class or sparring, I will have to make up for that. I will probably go to Harrisburg on Friday to get those extra credits I need.

Today started out pretty good. I was able to get some rest last night and watch some sports. My wife had us go to a skating event with my church and I’have not  been skating in years, so my shins were very sore for most of the day not to mention my skates were huge because I have ginormous feet This afternoon after church I came in and completed an essay for school, then I went on a walk with my kids for a bit. I’m really from there. I can put in my requirements and it was pretty much downhill for the rest of the evening because I have to work tonight

Today was a struggle from start to finish. I have been exhausted all day , no matter what I did I could not sleep yawning and the bobble head. So in between sessions I jumped on the treadmill and did my requirements. It helped, but untimely on my lunch break I crashed on the couch. I can definitely say I am ready for the weekend and some good rest time . 

Tuesday's are my long day , I get to the Dojang directly after work. I help with a class, take classes  and then do PMAA. Nothing was unusual about today. I completed my class assistance credit and did some review with the color belts. Tomorrow is sparring and black belt class, I am kinda looking forward to that , it is just very challenging. 

Today was the actual move in day for my son at his college, though he has been there for about a month for band camp. We did not move anything in , but went to visit him for a bit before he had to go off to band practice. After that I took my wife out for Brunch and then we headed back to Charlotte. I slept the entire ride back, which was much needed. When we got back home I knocked out my requirements and tired to go to the track for jog but they were packed and another was closed. I drove around a bit and remembered there was a soccer field in Huntersville I used to take my kids to. I drove over there and there was a trail that I was able to walk/ jog on. I ended up doing for miles before dusk hit and the...

This morning I got up and went to to the 8 am first dan and up trining. Saturday is always a fun day and I love starting my day off with Teakwondo. After class I was able to get get a mentor session in , work on staff form three and double stick one. I think I have them mostly down. At one I went back to the Dojang for the self defense training and was able to work on second Dan special. I would say I have made some good progress and as we hit the middle of the cycle I am locking in to get everything done. 

I am ready for the weekend, this week has been super busy for me. Balancing, work , the cycle and school has been difficult. Some how I have made it to Friday eve. On Friday I plan to go to Harrisburg for their black belt class again to get ahead. I saw an email from Master Chelly that we have a self defense seminar at my Dojang on Saturday, so I also plan on being at that. I am trying to rack up all the extra credit and experience's  that I can. 

Today started off interesting, I somehow hurt my thumb and toe yesterday in black belt class. It was stiff for majority of the day, which was not easy, due the fact I type all day long. I pushed through  the unpleasant feeling and knocked out my requirements. Tuesdays are my longest days at the Dojang. I got there early to assist with a senior tigers class, took the teen and adult class and then PMAA to finish the night out. I will not be able to go to the Dojang tomorrow for class, so I will need to make up one sparring credit. 

That swing from Sunday to Monday is always rough, especially with Football being back on.  Yesterday I spent a lot of time outside doing yard work , cutting the grass and spraying for insects. Today I struggled to get out the bed to start work, but once I got rolling I knocked out my sessions for the day and my requirements between. This evening I went to Harrisburg for their black belt class. Master foster taught class , it was high energy and fun. It is always interesting visiting other Dojangs and learning and expecting their classes. I plan on going to the my Dojang tomorrow to assist and knock out some requirements. I am thinking of going back to Harrisburg on Friday for their Black belt class and sparring class. I just want to get ahead, but this Wednesday I won't be able to go to my school black belt...

Saturdays are also the best, it is my only actual day off with out working at night  or doing the day. I have a great time at black belt class and was able to get a mentee session in. After class I went to my professional stretching appointment, this is week three and I can say it has mad a major difference in my mobility. the first week of the cycle I was stiff and having trouble with mobility. I look forward to future sessions and progressing. this will I have to finish my last two papers and I would have finished everything but the community services project. Last night on the black belt group on face book , I saw Master Evins post several of the staff and stick forms. I saw Anyo iso, which is he only thing I do not know for this cycle.  I will be working...

Today I was so sore , sparring and black belt class caught up with me. After work I went to the dojang and knocked out some requirements. I was able to show my mentee bolo form, that was my first time teaching it and it was not to hard. I am defiantly looking forward to the weekend, I need some rest. 

Today I went to the Dojang and completed both Sparring and black belt class. Wednesday's are defiantly tough with both classes back to back. Somehow I made it through. Along the way my chest porter and gloves wanted to decorate the mat and decide to pill everywhere. That was a fun addition to class today. 

Today I took time off from class and did not go to Dojang. Today I just felt like I was coasting my way through things and needed a moment to re focus on the goal. I knocked out my requirements between sessions and work on some forms last night while I was up for work. Tonight while up I am going to read over some resources to finish one of my papers for the cycle. Tomorrow I should be back up and motivated for sparring a black belt class. 

Today I had a serious case of the todays, I did not feel like doing anything. I really had to push my self to get anything done at work and my requirements. Some time this happens, but I persevere through and get things done anyway. I did not go to the dojang this after noon, but I am going to be three on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. 

On yesterday was our pre test, we did not end up having to run in the morning, due to rain. On the physical portion I did well, I made sure to give it an effort. Instructor Rob was my partner, we always have a great time training together. This morning, I went to church with my family. Afterwards I went for a job / walk to get my pre test requirements completed. I checked the weather before I went out, but it was completely wrong. It drizzled the entire time, but I was committed to finishing. Ill be honest I am a former shadow of my previous running , but I got it done , dispute the shin an ankle pain. I am going to continue to push and see if I can improve my time for our post test later in the cycle.    

Today I had the day off due to a dental appointment. That went well my month was numb for about five hours after the appointment so I could not eat, because I didn't want any mistakes of biting through something I could not feel. After my appointment I took my kids shopping for some new school shoes and to the barber shop. My two youngest start kindergarten and fourth grade , which is great for them and even better for me since I work from home. Later after I got home I completed my requirements and just took it easy. Tomorrow is the pretest so I looked over my instructors manual to refresh my memory and got my stuff out for the day so I can get up and head to the track in the morning. 

Looks like I forgot to journal on yesterday , by mistake. Not sure how when I was up all night for work, but I will make an extra effort to stay consistent. To catch up Wednesday was very busy as always with sparring about black belt calls back to back. I am always drained by the time that is over , but I was able to knock out some leadership 2, mentee and a mentor session. On Thursday I knocked out some requirements early after getting up. I when to the Dojang tour six ish , because I was instructing the family class. I think things went great and the students had fun. After class I was able to work with Master weeks again , just to fine tune some color belt things for our pre test on Saturday. 

On Monday, my wife and I took my Oldest son to his college, for his band camp. It was an emotional filled day. We got him all set up to start band camp and in transitioning into his first year in college. Really took  me back down memory lane, I can remember those times. While my wife and mother-in-law were getting him set up, I watched my younger children in his dorm hallway. I worked on some poomsae and self-defense while I was waiting.  When I got back home, I finished the rest of my requirements and did my best to relax on what was left of my day off

Sunday was a great day, I went to church with my family and severed on our security team. This was a special one due to it being my oldest son last Sunday at home, before he went off to band camp and college. After church we came back home and I set out to get a good walk , in the nice warm weather. When I got back home I finished my requirements and passed out on the couch until I had to get up for work later.  

Today was a very long day for the weekend. I went to Black belt class this morning, we worked a lot on our black poomses. I feel good about Taebeak and where I am. After I left black belt class, I took my youngest son to meet his kindergarten teacher. Then it was  time to go to the seminar at Lake Norman, Master Marcus broke everything down and we had a great time.

Today I did not go to the Dojang after work. I took to day as a self care day after yesterday, which was intense. I did schedule myself a professional stretching appointment. That went very well and my body feels much more limber and a loose. Yesterday after sparring and black belt class I was very tense, so this was very helpful. I am hoping to atlas once a week or every other week get this done, I see how it will benefit me through the cycle and with my over all mobility. Tomorrow starts the week end, I am so looking forward to the poemsae seminar and some good boxing on latter that eventing on Saturday.

Today would qualify as a hard work day. I managed to complete my requirement between sessions and practice staff 3 again. I think I have it some what down now. Later after work I took my son to work in uptown, I had to think of all the alternative routes and street ways to go around traffic, so I could make it to the Dojang on time. This defiantly reminded  me why I like working from home. When I made it to the Dojang I took sparring class and then black belt class. I can tell I am getting in better shape but I still have ways to go. 

Today was my long day, I went directly to the Dojang after I got off. I thought the family class today, It is always an honor to be able to be able to teach a class. Let a long a very large class like the family class is at our Dojang. Thank goodness I had help from a few masters and instructors to help with small groups. After family calls was over I took class and was able work on some things. My lass class of the day was PMAA , where we are reviewing. Today was good , I am not to tired but I look forward to some good rest. 

Yesterday was Monday and boy it was a struggle to get back into the groove of the week. By late afternoon I was finally able to feel like I was ok. I knocked out my physical requirements  and took Monday as a rest day. I did not go to class but plan to the rest of the week. 

This morning I woke up before everyone in my house, so I decided to go get a run in before starting the day. It was the perfect time to go around 8am the sun was up but was not hot and very little people and cars were out. The thing I like most about running is exploring and seeing new areas I just have not driven thorough. I did just that and ran to a new neighborhood, a good distance from my home, ran to what was a dead end and went back home. Five miles later I would say it was a good way to start my Sunday. I spent the rest of the day with my family, relaxed and knocked out my requirements. This week I am going to knock out two papers , I finished on last week so I am in a decent place. 

One thing I have learned from my first week back on the cycle is how important rest and recovery is. Prior to this cycle I just got up, ran for miles and trained. This go around I am much more conscious of my body and how it is responding. This as some persecutive for me on how valuable it is to take care of your body through rest and recovery. Stretching has also become my friend so that I can continue to be flexible and mobile as I progress thorough the cycle. I was able to get a mentee session in yesterday and knock out my requirements after Black Belt class. 

It is finally Friday and the start of the weekend. It was seen a challenge to get back in the groove of being on cycle and working at the same time. I think that overall I did a good job. Today  I knocked out my requirements early in the day and hoped on SNKRS to grab a pair of shoes that released for WNBA all star weekend. After I got off I took my two youngest kids to the last day of vacation bible school and I went on a run at a near by park. It was pretty decadent beside the cramp I caught half way through. I hope by next week be back in the grove of running so I can get my time back at least close to where it was. After coming back home I spend time updating my book and the website so I could have...

Today was ok, My body is defiantly starting to feel the effects of cycle. I am sore from sparing class on yesterday, but I did some stretching through out the day as I completed my requirements. This eventing I thought the family calls and worked on forms with the students. It went pretty well , I look forward to leading more classes. Well that is one week of classes down , I look forward to what comes next week. 

Yesterday was a lot I must admit. I went to the Dojang directly after work, I thought I was going to be teaching sparring due to Master Opi being out of town at the Hangmadang. I did not end up having to teach , Master Hurskey from the UNCC Taekwondo program came over and lead class. He explained they do a lot of sparring on the current tournament cycle and one of his students was a current heavy weight champion.  Let me tell you it was no joke, five minutes in I was at heavy breath. I was able to learn some really great drills and techniques to add to my teaching bag. I now realized that I am no longer a twenty something year old , this morning I am paying for it with soreness. Over all it was a great day and I was able to get my first...

Today was a very full day for me. I got to the Dojang around 6 today and helped with a class. In between classes I was able to complete a mentee session while waiting for the actual class I was taking. After I completed this session , Instructor Gabe and Mark had brought some mats out and and we worked on rolls for a while and we started our Teen and adult class. when this class was over I went to PMAA class to end the night. After I got home I realized I had done a lot. Luckily I was able to get all my requirements done prior to going to the classes today. 

Happy Monday everyone. My day started off very exciting I over slept  through my alarm and rushed to work. Luckily I work from home so that was only me running across the house to throw a polo on , to log in the computer. After I calmed down from the sprint I did and was able to get into the flow of the day, things went well. In between sessions I focused on knocking out my requirements and was able to complete those by mid afternoon. On my lunch break I knocked out my jump rope for the day.  The rest of the afternoon I rested and planned out my week of classes so I can get those requirements completed. As I look back at my day I almost caught a case of the Mondays but was able to push through and have a great day. 

This weekend was very fun, I was able to watch boxing both Friday and saturday night. Anyone who knows me , knows I am a die heart boxing fan. Especially  in the summer because I really do not watch baseball or soccer so I spend a lot of time watching and seeing what fights come one through out the summer. On Saturday my college roommate came over with his fiancé,  we had a great time. This morning I went to church and did my service on the security team. Later on after I got back home I went for a four mile walk around a few neighborhoods , it was a very warm day indeed. However it felt great to be outside, enjoying the sunshine. I am in need of some new running shoes, my college roommate runs half and full marathons so he suggested some shoes for me that I...