Spring 2026 Black Belt Cycle

Candidate Journals

King Tiger Tae Kwon Do Black Belt candidates blog daily about their journey: their thoughts and feelings, their struggles and successes; their pain and their encouragement. Follow along on their journey; words of encouragement are always welcome!

Journal 41

Pretty cool day. I did my requirements in the morning then went to my friends house for a sleepover l. We made some chocolate banana bread with strawberries because we normally bake every sleepover. Anyway that’s pretty much it, we’re watching a horror movie now.

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Journal 41

Pretty average day again. I have a lot of projects though so that’s not fun at all. One of them I’m doing on one of my favorite music artist so that’s cool I guess. I went to black belt class and sparring after my run. I also got a mentor session where we worked on board breaking. That’s it.

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Journal 40

Alright day. Got up early and finished some requirements. At school we didn’t do much. In engineering we built a cardboard house so that was cool. Then I came home and went straight to a dentist appointment after. Finally I went on my run, then went to class to finish some more requirements and help with the adult class. I still have some minor requirements left to knock out when I get home. Excited to go to bed.

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Journal 39

Same day as yesterday honestly. I had a test today and finished part 1 of a project. My legs felt worse today but I still ran so I’m chilling. I’m not going to class tho so I have time to rest them. Now I’m finishing the rest of my requirements. That’s it.

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Journal 38

Pretty tired today. Did all my hard workouts before school then I did my easy ones after. I didn’t run though because my legs were tight and I didn’t want to risk re injuring anything. Back to running tomorrow tho I’m still on pace. I also helped with the adult class and got a mentee session in. Anyway that’s all.

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Journal 37

Fun day. Got up early and did my requirements then went ice skating with my friend. It was hard at first but I figured out most of it. My hands got really cold tho. Anyway that’s it.

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Journal 36

I had a chill day today. This morning I got up pretty early and went on a run. It actually felt way better outside than it did the last couple of weeks. I then did all my requirements and went to my friend’s house until 8pm.We baked a cake. I’m just getting back and I’m pretty tired. Anyway that was it.

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Journal 35

Today was pretty decent. We had our first complete day of school in around a week, so getting up early was irritating. My friend overslept so I couldn’t see her so that sucked. I did do good in all my classes so that was good. Got home and did my run, then went to bbc and sparring afterwards. Sparring was really fun actually. That’s it.

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Journal 34

We had to go back to school today, but it was a delay, so I guess that’s cool. Did a couple projects then knocked out my run when I got home. My friend also came over to help me do my self defense and kicking so that was fun. Now I’m just doing homework until class later.

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Journal 33

Today was pretty chill. This remote day was definitely better than the last one. I got my work done in a couple hours then went on my run. Then I came back and finished the rest of my requirements. I also went to a bbc today so that was fun. Anyway that’s it my day was boring.

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Journal 32

I’m writing this so late but I didn’t want to lose my streak. Nothing really happened today tho. I was able to run outside instead of walking so that was cool. I had way more work today so I didn’t get to start my workouts till the afternoon. I was able to take the PMA class tho and that was pretty cool. Anyway that’s it.

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Journal 31

We had a remote day today and were having another tomorrow thank god. I did my physical requirments early after I got all my school work done. School work was easy too we barely got anything new. Then me and my mom went on a 2 mile walk so I could get some miles in. Hopefully it’s better outside tomorrow so I can actually run. Anyway that’s it.

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Journal 30

Pretty boring day. I had stayed up late last night to finish two of my essays, but I ended up waking up early to do my requirements. Since I was so tired I went back to sleep and didn’t get up till 5pm. I didn’t go outside either sadly but maybe the snow will slightly be there tomorrow. Anyway that’s all.

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Journal 29

It has never snowed this much down in Charlotte In my entire life. I woke up and it was around 2 inches, it’s 10 when I’m writing this and it’s up to 10 inches where I’m at. After I didn’t my requirements me and my brother went outside and sledded down the hill and did other snow stuff for a couple hours, then came inside for lunch. Then I got some school work done and now I’m watching the golden knights game while writing another one of my essays. Anyway I hope this snow doesn’t melt too soon cause we didn’t finish our snowman.

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Journal 28

Today started off rough but it got better. In school I was drained because I messed up my sleep schedule while on the “ break “ we had during the ice storm. Then I got a lot of work due next week but hopefully since we’re getting snow storm pt.2 that’ll push back some due dates. When I got home I knocked my mile out and my friend came over to help me with my kicking and self defense so that was fun. I also taught her how to do a hip throw. Then I had black belt class and sparring and sparring was great. Some new people came today and they were fun to watch and spar with. That’s pretty much it. I hope we wake up to actual snow this time, but I’m not getting my hopes up in clt. 

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Journal 27

Today was cool. After school I got to go help with the later testing. I got to help with self defense and some board breaking for the first time so that was alright. I also got to spar. 

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Journal 26

Today was a remote day so it was pretty easy. I did feel pretty under the weather tho so I did a lot of resting today, but my tempature is back to normal so I should be fine for school tomorrow. I also finished my book today so I hope to get started on the one pager tomorrow. Hopefully I’m well enough to help with testing tomorrow.

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Journal 25

Today was a good day. I did all my requirements early and even ran 2 miles outside. Tomorrow is remote learning so I get to stay up a bit later to watch the sharks game. I got some leadership credits today aswell, and a mentee session. That’s it.

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Journal 24

We had an off day today for school and we have another tmrw so I’m glad. I did actually get back to running today and my calf was fine so I’m glad that’s back to normal. Though since I can’t catch a break my throat is acting up so hopefully I’m not sick. I went to my friends house after all my requirements tho so that was fun. Now I might stay up late and watch some hockey if it’s on.

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Journal 23

It was a good day. I did all my requirements before I went on a walk outside with my friend and cousins. It was mostly ice not really snow but that’s what I expected. Then I got home and took a nap. Hopefully school is cancelled Tuesday too.

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Journal 22

Pretty alright day. I got up and immediately started my requirements. Later I walked a mile and a half with my friend since my calf still hurt a bit. Now I’m working on a 500 piece puzzle I’ve been here for like 4 hours doing it I’m almost done. Anyway that’s it.

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Journal 21

Definitely an interesting day. I went to class today but I pulled my calf muscle during sparring so I think I need to rest a bit more. I’m probably going to leave this short because I’m very tired, but that was pretty much it.

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Journal 20

Pretty normal day. We didn’t do much in school but get test scores back and I did alright. Came home and did my requirements, but I didn’t go to class. My leg feels slightly better? I can’t really tell but we’ll see tomorrow. Now I’m just practicing guitar. Also doesn’t sound like we’re getting all that snow but oh well.

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Journal 19

Pretty alright day. First period I had a test and got a 96 so that was really good. Then I had another quiz which was easy. I got home, finished all my requirements before class, and now I’m heading home. My leg is treating me better than the previous couple of days so that’s good, but my kicks still aren’t 100%. Good news tho I’m going to start getting ahead in studying for the written test. That’s it.

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Journal 18

Back to school sadly. I didn’t have much work but that’s because I have reviews to do for tests later in the week. I did most of my workouts when I got home but I had to cut that short for studying so I’ll do the rest after class. That’s pretty much it today wasn’t eventful. I heard we’re getting snow this weekend tho so hopefully that gives us a couple days off next week.

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Journal 17

I had a chill day. I immediately started my requirements after breakfast and got everything done before 1 expect my run. I did the 2 miles around 3pm and the temperature was way better than yesterday. I didn’t go to bb class today because my right leg was still bothering me but I’ll definitely be there tomorrow. I didn’t get to practice guitar as much as I wanted too tho because of cleaning and other stuff but I’ll get back to it in the morning after I do some workouts before school. Anyway happy mlk day!

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Journal 16

Nothing eventful today. I got up and did some of my requirements. I practiced guitar for around an hour though so that was cool.  Then I went on a run later in the afternoon because I was hopping it would be warmer but I was very wrong. My hands were basically purple by the time I was done. Then I took a nap which made me finish the rest of my requirements later but that’s fine. I think I messed up my right leg though. Behind my knee makes it feel like I’m snapping something when I kick so I might not do sparring this upcoming week. Hopefully that starts getting better, and luckily it only affects my kicking so I can do the rest of my requirements.  That’s pretty much it.

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Journal 15

I got up around 10 today which wasn’t too late for me. I managed to knockout around 60 pages of my book then practice some guitar. My run was good today I just missed my pr by 2 seconds but I’m sore so I’ll cut myself some slack. I’m so glad it’s a 3 day weekend cause I really need to catch up on my sleep. Now I’m gonna watch hockey.

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Journal 14

Today was pretty decent. Got up and did some workouts and practiced my guitar. School was boring. I can home and decided to run my mile on the treadmill since it’s like 2 degrees outside. I got a lot of credits today which was really good and that’s pretty much it.

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Journal 13

Today I didn’t over sleep so that was good. I got all my normal morning workouts in then made it to school. School wasn’t really eventful other then the fact I got sent home with so much homework, but I just finished my workouts early so now I have time to do homework before I go assist with class later today. It was pretty cold outside so I ran the treadmill on incline today and that was really hard but I managed to get my mile without stopping. Hopefully I get to watch some of 2nd period of the sharks hockey game today when I get home. Oh, and I’m also gonna pick guitar as a new hobby because I really like music so I think it’ll be pretty cool. That’s all.

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Journal 12

Today wasn’t that great honestly. I overslept so I didn’t have time to do the amount of workouts that I normally do in the morning so that was frustrating. School wasn’t any better, but I will say class was really fun and I’m close to getting my 540 tornado so that’s exciting. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

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Journal 11

Other normal day. I got up early to do some workouts before school. In school we have this mini project in English 1 with song lyrics that we got to pick so I thought that was cool. I got home and got my mile back down. I can’t wait to run on the track again to run without elevation. All my requirements are done except jump rope so I plan on doing that at class today. Now I’m just finishing up some homework, and hopefully I have time to watch hockey when I get home after class but it’ll be pretty late. That’s all.

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Journal 10#

Nothing really happened to day. In school we actually started doing work which I wasn’t too fond about. I wasn’t crazy sore until after the workouts but I was able to get my mile time back down after my slow one yesterday. Then I watched some hockey. Decent day. Sad about my birds tho 💔

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Journal 9#

Today I had woke up around 12 because I went to bed so late which wasn’t that ideal. I ended up going to the mall then coming home to do my requirements which was pretty hard because I was so sore, but I managed. Anyway Go Birds 🦅🦅

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Journal 8#

Today was pretest day so I had to wake up like I was going to school around 4:45. I pr’d on my mile today so that was really good. The poomsae part was good aswell. I really need to study for the written test tho cause that was hard for me. Then I got my hair braided and did the rest of my requirments. Pretty decent day.

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Journal 7#

Today was actually pretty good. School was chill, but I do have homework. I knocked out all my workouts and PR’d on my mile. Then I got some credits for my classes. Excited for the pretest tomorrow.

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Journal 5#

I had got up at 4:35 today so I’m still very tired. I did some requirements before I left for the busstop, then when I got home I ran a mile and did the rest. Now I’m about to head out for class. Then before bed I’ll read some more. Thats all for today it wasn’t eventful.

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Journal 5

Underwhelming day. I finished all my requirements earlier than I normally do so that’s good, but school was really tiring, and I have some homework. I’m going to assist with the junior tiger class today then get my weekday black belt class in. Hopefully my mentee is there so I can get that done too.

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Journal 4#

Today was chill. It was my second day back to school, so they're starting to give out assignments again. I knocked out half of my requirements before I had went to school so I don't have much left to do now. I plan on finishing another essay tonight hopefully so I can get those out of the way. Runnings the miles have gotten easier though so that's good. 

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Journal 3#

Today was the first day back to school for the second semester. Getting up that early again after a break is always rough for me considering I like to sleep in. This semester we got a whole new set of classes so now I have to start over and meet some new people, but I do still have people from last year to talk to in my new classes so I guess its not that bad. After school I ran a mile then did my workouts. I went to go help out with the junior tiger class then attended my weekday blackbelt class. All in all it was a solid day. 

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Journal 2#

Today I had gotten up earlier than I normally do on Sundays to get my hair cut sadly. I've been sore all day, so I guess that means I did good yesterday. I made it to page 116 of my book and plan on getting more reading in after I finish my workouts, eat dinner, then practice snare. Im preparing to go back to school tomorrow which shouldn't be too bad considering I have easy classes this semester. I wasn't able to go on my run today so I plan to get in 3 miles tomorrow so I can cruise for the rest of the week. 

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Journal 1#

 My name is Aahlei, and I'm a boho dan. Today is the first day of my first black belt cycle, and I'm really excited. Today I went to the early morning sparring class, and then had a mentor session. I'm about to begin my work outs and go on a run. I'm also currently on page 100 of Atomic habits and I'm finished with two of my essays. 

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