Spring 2024 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!

Jordan Small-3/1/24-#50 pt.3

Hello, today is my actual #50 journal so I most likely wont be posting anymore.  Today I went to school, and had band, I got new reeds for my clarinet so that was cool.  After school I came home, and did my homework, then I went to the black belt class.  After that I came home, and did my requirements.   Bye! Have an outstanding day! 😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁

  35 Hits

Jordan Small-2/28/24-#50 pt.2

Hello, today when I woke up I got ready, and did some of my requirements, after that I went to school, and did some more requirements.  At recess I ran 1 mile on the football field, after school I did some of my homework, and finished my requirements.  Then I went to the 6:00 class, and took it.  When I got home I did the rest of my studying.     Bye!

  26 Hits

Jordan Small-2/27/24-#50 pt.1

Hello, today I went to school, and had Spanish, and we learned about Spain again.  After school I came home, and did some of my homework, and did my requirements.  After that I went to King Tiger, and had a mentor session, then I took the 6:00 class.  After that I came home, and did the rest of my homework.       The reason that it says #50pt. 1 is because I counted wrong, and that is 2 journals ahead so I still have 2 more.   Good night!

  34 Hits

Jordan Small-2/26/24-#49

Hello today I went to school, and had PE so i ran 28 laps around the basketball court, and then at recess i ran 1 mile.  After school I had a tutoring session then I went home, and did some of my homework.  After that I left for class, during class we worked on staff form 2.  After that I left, and did the rest of my homework then did my requirements.     Good Night!

  35 Hits

Jordan Small-2/25/24-#48

Hello, today I woke up, watched church, ate breakfast, and then went to the track to run my first 2 miles.  After that when I came home I did some studying for school then I ran my second 2 miles at the track.  After that I went to my grandmas to spend time with her, then I came home, and did my requirements.     Have a nice night!

  31 Hits

Jordan Small-2/24/24-#47

Today I woke up in the morning and got ready for Saturday black belt class, today in class we did poomsaes with sticks, and portions of Koryo.  After class I came home, and studying a little bit then I went to the track to run 2 miles, after that I came home, and studied for the written test then I took a nap.  Then when I woke up my dad and I went out to the track to run 1 more mile.  After that I came home, and took 1 more nap  until I had to eat, and do my requirements.

  43 Hits

Jordan Small-2/23/24-#46


























Hello!  Today I had band, and our band teacher wasn't hear so we had a sub, and we just watched a movie.  After school I came home, and did my homework, after that I went to black belt class.  During class we practiced kicking defense 1,2, and the gave us the written test answers.  When I got home I did my requirements.     Bye!

  39 Hits

Jordan Small-2/22/24-#45

Hello! I went to school, and  had  art in the morning then I had a math test, I didn't get a good grade so I am going to retake it.  After school I went home, and did my homework then I went to the 5:15 class to assist.  After that I had my last mentee session that is required, then I took the 6:00 class.  After I took that I took sparring class.  I was decently tired, but I still had to do my requirements when I got home, and so I did.       Byeeee!

  40 Hits

Jordan Small-2/21/24-#44

Hello, I woke up, got dressed, my nana brought me to school, and I had fun there, because we had band.  After school MY DAD CAME BACK FROM THE HOSPITAL!!!!!! then I did some of my homework then I went to King Tiger for a mentee session, and I assisted in the 6:00 class.  After that I went home, and did the rest of my homework then I did my exercises!     Byeee!

  35 Hits

Jordan Small-2/20/24-#43

Hello!  Today I was off school for a teacher work day, so I got ready then picked  up my grandma to go to my dads room in the hospital to see how he is doing.  When we dropped her off with my dad, my nana and I left to go home so I could do my studying for school.  After that I went to pick up my grandma, and bring her home, then I went to King Tiger.   GRANND MASTER LEE WAS AT OUR SCHOOL!!!!!!! I was so exited to work with him, and practiced speed and focus drills and we also did meditation, so that was fun.  After I got home I did my exercises!     Good night.

  36 Hits

Jordan Small-2/19/24-#42

Hello, today I had a long day, I woke up at my nana's house, then we went to get Chick-Fil-A, after that we went to pick up my grandma to go visit my dad in the hospital.  When we got there we took turns having two of us go into my dads room, then we left my grandma there with him to spend time with him.  After that my nana, and I left to go to my house so I could do my exercises, then after that we came to pick up my grandma, and bring her home.  After that we came back home and rested.         I hope you all have a great day!

  35 Hits

Jordan Small-2/18/24-#41

Hello:(, today I woke up very tired, and my dad was down stairs watching church, so I slept a little bit longer.  After that I rested for so long, and then my dad had a really bad stomach cramp so he went to go to CVS to get something to calm it down.  Then we came home and we rested, but then he randomly started to breath really hard, then he asked me to get him some Pepto Bismol.  His stomach was really bad so he had a hard time breathing so I called my nana to tell her what was going on, and she said she was going to come over.  When she came over it got worse, so my dad told her to call 911, and they came and took him to the hospital, so we went there, and he was getting fluids put in him.  So we figured...

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  42 Hits

Jordan Small-2/17/24-#40

Hello, today my dad had some work issues so I couldn't make it to black belt class sadly:(.  But my dad went to the chiropractor, and after that I ran 2 miles.  Then I came home and did some homework, after that I took a small nap then went to run 2 more miles.  When I finished my dad and I went to get Rita's Italian Ice.  When I got home I rested again then did my requirements, after that I ate dinner then did some of my book reading.  After that I ran 1 mile, and rested again and now I am about to do my last mile!       Good Night!

  39 Hits

Jordan Small-2/16/24-#39

Hello, today I had band today, but we had no air conditioning so we went to the football field to play instead.  After school I did my homework then I got dressed then went to class, during the Black Belt class we worked on hapkido 1,2,3,4,5.  When I got home my dad ordered McDonald's, but they got my order wrong so we had to go there and order a new one.  Then I did my requirements.         Good Night!

  43 Hits

Jordan Small-2/15/24-#38

Hello, today I went to school, and had art, it was pretty fun, because we were drawing faces (mine looked very creepy).  After school I did my homework, and some of my requirements.  Then I went to class, today I took the 6:00 class, and I took sparring class.  After that I went home and did the rest of my requirements.   Good Night!

  48 Hits

Jordan Small-2/14/24-#37

Hello!  Hello! Today I went to school, and had chapel in the morning, then after chapel we went to math class and played trashketball, and I made 8 3 pointers!  After school I did some of my homework, then I went to King Tiger, when I got there I did a mentee session then I took the 6:00 class.  After that I went home and did the rest of my homework, then I did my requirements (I caught up on sit-ups today).       It's late good night!

  56 Hits

Jordan Small-2/13/24-#36

Hello!  Today I went to school and had I had a bible, science, and reading test, I was pretty confident with them.  Then I had Spanish class and we learned about Spain.  When I got home I did my homework then I went to class, I assisted in the 5:15 class, then I had a mentee session, and a mentor session.  After that I left King Tiger to go home, when I got home I ate Burger King and then worked on some of my written test answers to study.  Then after that I did my requirements, and I caught up with my push-ups.         Good Night! 💤😴

  44 Hits

Jordan Small-2/12/24-#35

Hello!  Today I went to school and had a better day than normal, because I had PE!  After PE I had a Literature test and I got and 100, after school I had tutoring for math and science.  When I got home I did some of my homework then went to King Tiger and had a mentor session and worked on staff form 2.  After that I assisted in the 6:00 class,  When the class was over I got my book signed and went home, after I got home I did the rest of my homework and then ate dinner.  After dinner I did my requirements.       Bye!  Have a great day!

  41 Hits

Jordan Small-2/11/24-#34

Hello, trough out the week end I traveled to Baltimore, I was intending to go to my sisters baby shower, but unfortunately I ended up having a head ache and wasn't able to go :(.  I expected do my requirements while I was gone but I wasn't able to to.  Today I was able to ketch up on poomesae, pull ups, and plank.  I am going to try to get done with every thing I fell behind on through out this week.       Good night!   The 49ers better win -_-.  🏈

  53 Hits

Jordan Small-2/8/24-#33

Hello! Today I went to school and had art today and then I had a decently hard math test, and I wasn't that confident with it :(.  After school I did my homework then did my requirements, after that I had Burger King.  I couldn't get to Sparring Class today, because I was on a tight schedule.  So my dad just cut my hair for our trip to Baltimore tomorrow!       Good night!

  48 Hits

Jordan Small-2/7/24-#32

Hello,, today I went to school, and had chapel in the morning, and after that I took ELA then went to Band class and practiced my clarinet.  After school I went home and did some of my homework, then I went to the dentist.  After the dentist I went to Tae Kwon Do class and had a mentee session the I took the 6:00 class.  When I got home I finished my homework and did my requirements.   BTW thank you Grand Master Evins for the Jr. Instructors Camp credits!                                                                                                                          ...

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  48 Hits

Jordan Small-2/6/24-#31

Hello! Today I woke up went to school, and had a history test and I think I did pretty well on it.  After that at recess I ran a mile and a half on the field.  When I got home from school I did some of my homework then I went to class, during the 5:15 class I assisted and did leadership 1.  After that class I did a mentee session with my mentee then took the 6:00 class, and worked on Keumgang and First Dan self defense.  When class was done I got everything signed and left for home, when I got home I did the rest of my math homework and did my requirements.         have a nice day!     BYEEEEE!!

  43 Hits

Jordan Small-2/5/24-#30

Today I went to school and had a bible and science test I think I did pretty decent on them, then I had PE with was boring for once :0.  After school I did my homework and then went to class.  During the 5:15 class I assisted and did leadership 1, after that class I did a mentor session with Master Marcus, and worked on knife self defense.  Then I took the 6:00 class and we did poomsae and self defense in the back, when I got home I ate and did my requirements.     Have a nice day or night!

  51 Hits

Jordan Small-2/4/24-#29

Hello, today was pretty nice, because I got to sleep in A LOT but I woke up in the middle of church so that was depressing-_-.  After church I ate lunch and did some school work, after that I read with my dad and did half of my requirements.  Then my dad and I went to pick up my grandma to got to Ruby Tuesdays, because that is one of here favorite places to eat.  After that we dropped her off and went home, when we got home I did the rest of my requirements.       BYE!!!

  52 Hits

Jordan Small-2/3/24-#28

Today I woke up at Jr. Instructors Camp, and had around 3 hours of sleep, when I woke up I changed into my uniform and sat on the mat ready for breathing exercises.  Around 3:00 my dad came to watch the ceremony, and pick me up.  After that I just rested for the rest of the day.   BYE!

  47 Hits

Jordan Small-2/2/24-#27

Today I went to school and it was the last day of missions week so the schedule is back to normal.  After school I did my homework and studying and then got ready for Jr. Instructors Camp!  I got there at about 6:05 and then waited for it to start, I hardly got any sleep because the movie went on until 1:00.     Goodnight!

  49 Hits

Jordan Small-2/1/24-#26

Hello!!!  Today I went to school and had FUN, at recess I was digging the whole time until we had a lock down drill and went into the woods.  After school I did some homework then went to Tae Kwon Do, during the 5:15 class I assisted.  In the 6:00 class I did warm-ups and took the class, after that I took sparring class.  When I got home I did the rest of my homework and did my requirements.                                                                                                 Have a very nice day!

  48 Hits

Jordan Small-1/31/24-#25

Hello!  today I went to school and had chapel, that was the only unusual thing about my school day.  After school I did my home work and then went to class, during the 5:15 class I lead punches and kicks, and assisted.  When we were done I had a mentee session the took the 6:00 class, after that class I went home and did my requirements.     Have a nice day or night!!

  43 Hits

Jordan Small-1/30/24-#24

Hi, today I went to school and had a bible test and I got an 100!! after school I had to got to talent show tryouts.  When I got home I ate dinner and went to class, I assisted in the 5:15 class, and leaded warm ups.  I took the 6:00 class, and after that I practiced for the talent show again.  When I got home I did my homework, when I was done with my homework I did my requirements.       Have a nice night or day!

  46 Hits

Jordan Small-1/29/24-#23

Hello Guys!  today was a busy school day, today when I went to school I went to ELA class and did grammar and composition, after that we went to chapel, because of missions week.  After that we went to PE and we did a beep test, then I had a math test after PE, after school I did my homework and went to the 5:15 and the 6:00 class.  During the 5:15 class I leaded warm ups, after that I had mentor session with Master Natasya, AND Instructor Courteny.  And when that class was over I practiced for the talent show at my school, when I got home I ate dinner and did my requirements.

  42 Hits

Jordan Small-1/28/24-#22

Hi, today was pretty nice, when I woke up I watched church and also ate breakfast, after that I ran a mile.  When I finished I did some studying then I watched the Ravens game (no spoilers if you watch football), while it was still going on I went to my grandmas and finished the game.  When I came home I did my requirements and now I am about to sleep.     Goodnight!

  50 Hits

Jordan Small-1/27/24-#21

Hello Guys!!  Today I went to Saturday black belt class early in the morning.  During that class they had the tv and did a zoom call with Grand Master Evins and we did some drills and self defense with a partner.  After that I got my book signed and left, when I got home I ran a mile on the treadmill.  After that I did some studying for school, then took a 3 hour nap, when I woke up it was 4:00 so I had a snack then I ran another mile on the treadmill.  After that I did some of my requirements then ate dinner, after dinner I did the rest of my exercises, and now I am getting to run my last mile for the day!     Have a very nice day

  46 Hits

Jordan Small-1/26/24-#20

Hi, today when I went to school and had a field trip to the Catawba Science Center, I've been there a few times and it has been fun.  We also went to a Harriet Tubman play.  After that we came back to school and normally in the end of the day we have advisory, but we just watched a movie instead, because we just came back from thee field trip.  Then I went to the Friday black belt class and we worked on hapkido almost the whole class.  When I got home I did my requirements, and now I am about to go read my book for school.

  49 Hits

Jordan Small-1/25/24-#19

Hello!!!  Today I went to school and had a science test that I didn't study for 😑, but the thing is we got to play on thee computers after that.  Later in school I had to make up a math test, I kind of forgot how to do it but I was fine.  After that I went home and did my homework, when I was done I went to the 5:15, 6:00 and the sparring class, I took thee 5:15 class and in the middle of the classes I did a mentor session.  In the 6:00 class I assisted in class and led punches and kicks, when I got home I did my exercises.       bye!

  38 Hits

Jordan Small-1/24/24-#18

Hi, today was a mehh day, only because it was raining almost the whole day.  When I went to school I had not as much fun as normal, because it was raining.  After school I did my homework, and then I did some exercises, after that I went to tae kwon do, while I was there I did class assistance.  When I got home I did my exercises.   Have a nice day!

  54 Hits

Jordan Small-1/23/24-#17

Hello!  Today I went to school and had fun, after school I went home and did my homework, for some reason my teacher gave me materials to study but she made the test tomorrow.  So I had to study that a lot, after that I ate dinner before I went to class today.  Today I took both the 5:15 and the 6:00 class, and after that mee and 2 other people practiced for the talent show I have at school.  When I got home I ate a small snack then did my exercises.       Have a nice night or day!!!

  47 Hits

Jordan Small-1/22/24-#16

Hia everyone!  today I went to school and had a math test I was pretty confident with what I wrote, and I hope I got a good grade.  When I got home I did my homework and ran a mile, after that I got dressed for class and left.  When I got there I asked if I could do leadership 1 in the 5:15 class , but there were new people so they needed to do it.  After instead I just assisted in that class, and for the next class I asked to warm ups and they said yes so I did.  In the middle of those two classes I asked to do a mentor session with my mentor, then after that I went home and ate dinner and did my exercises.Make sure to have a nice day!!!   :)

  55 Hits

Jordan Small-1/21/24-#15

Hello, today was a pretty chill day, when I woke up I went to the store with my dad, because we needed to get some this for my nana.  When I got home I worked on reading and math, after that I ran 1 mile.  When I was done I took a shower, when I got out I went to my grandma's house to hang out and also start watching the Chiefs at the Bills game.  When I got home I did my exercises, and now I'm finishing the Chiefs game with my dad.       Have a brilliant night or day!!!

  50 Hits

Jordan Small-1/20/24-#14

Hello!!  Today I had to wake up pretty early for Saturday black belt class, after that I went home and took a 3 hour nap until 1:00.  After I woke up I helped my dad take down my Christmas tree, and then it was time to watch the Ravens game.  Then when it was over I ate dinner and did my requirements and after that I did some studying for my math test on Monday.  When I was done I did the last thing I had to do for my requirements.         Have a nice night!

  58 Hits

Jordan Small-1/19/24-#13

Hello!  Today I went to school and had a pretty nice day, at recess I had some fun but it wasn't the best recess, because I had nothing to do but talk to my friends.  After school I did my homework, and after that I went to the 5:30 black belt class.  While I was there we did hapkido and I kind of got left out because I didn't have a partner until I formed a triangle with 2 other people.  After I got home I did my requirements.

  44 Hits

Jordan Small-1/18/24-#12

Hello,  today I went to school and we finally went out side for recess to day and I had fun.  After school I ran on my treadmill, then after that I took to the 6:00 class, and after that I took sparring.  When we got home from sparring I did my exercises.     Have a nice night or day!!

  65 Hits

Jordan Small-1/17/24-#11

Today I went to school today and had to stay inside for most of the day, even recess:(.  After school I ran a mile on the treadmill and then it was time for class at 5:15.  I assisted in that class and after that I did a mentee and mentor session.  When I got home I did my requirements.             😁

  44 Hits

Jordan Small-1/16/24-#10

Today I woke up to go to school, and when I get to school I normally stay in the gym until It's time for class.  At recess I ran a mile on the field.  Then after school I did my homework, and after that I went to the 5:15 class and did leadership 1.  In between the 5:15 and the 6:00 class I did a mentee session with my mentee. After that I took the 6:00 class, when I got home I did my exercises.   Byeeeeeee!!!

  40 Hits

Jordan Small-1/15/24-#9

Today I was off, I ran a mile on my treadmill then I did my exercises.  After that I ate lunch and played video games.  I didn't do much today but run on the treadmill.:)

  46 Hits

Jordan Small-1/14/24-#8

Hia Guys!!!!!  Today I woke up at about 11:00 today, that is not normal for me I normally wake up around 9:00ish so that's interesting.  After I ate breakfast I went to the track to run a mile.  When I came home from the track I played video games with my friends until 3:00, then I did my exercises.  Then after that I went to Ruby Tuesdays with my dad and grandma, after we left I my dad and I went to drop off my grandma at her house.     Byeee!!

  53 Hits

Jordan Small-1/13/24-#7

Hello!  Today I had to I had to wake up early to do the running portion of the pre-test.  After I ran, my dad told me my time was 23:08, I was decently happy with that but I didn't want to try to hard.  After that I went to King Tiger Lake Norman to attend the black belt class at 8:15.  After that I went home and my dad went out, so my nana came and watched me until my dad came back.  Later on in the day I did my exercises and played video games.   :)

  40 Hits

Jordan Small-1/12/24-#6

Today at school I had a math test and I was pretty nervus, but I managed to get trough it without problems.  At recess I ran a mile on the football field after that I did push ups and sit ups with my friends.  When I got home I ate and after I ate I went to Friday black belt class.  Wile I was there we were graded on our self defense after I got home I ate dinner.

  42 Hits

Jordan Small-1/11/24-#6

Today I went to school and had to study for a math test tomorrow.  After school I did my homework and my exercises, after I did that I went to sparring class.  Sparring class went pretty well and after that I ate dinner.     Bye!!!!

  44 Hits

Jordan Small-1/10/24-#5

Hi, today my school did not have a delay sadly, but I did have a longer recess.  After school I did my homework, I had a head ache so I couldn't do my exercises at that moment.  After I took a small nap, my dad and I went to Pizza Hut to pick up our order.  Then when we got home ate, and my head ache got better so I could do my exercises.       Have a nice night!

  47 Hits

Jordan Small-1/9/24-#4

Today I was off school and I relaxed most of the day and while I was at home I did my exercises.  After I did my exercises I relaxed again until 5:15, when I went to class I assisted in that class.  After that I took the 6:00 class and marked of poomsae and self defense for the day.         I hope you have a good night!!!!!

  45 Hits

Jordan Small-1/8/24-#3

I the morning I got ready for school, at recess I ran a mile around the field with my friend.  After school I came home and did my homework, then I went to swim practice.  After swim practice I came home and did my required exercises.

  53 Hits

Jordan Small-1/7/24-#2

I woke up in the morning and I got ready, then I ate breakfast and went to the track to run a mile.  My original plan was to run 2 miles but I decided to only run 1, because my stomach was cramping. After the mile I went home and did my requirements.  After that, all I had to do was Poomsae and self defense and so I went to my grandmas house for a while, then came home and did the rest of the things I needed to do.

  42 Hits

Jordan Small-1/6/24-#1

In the morning when I woke up and got ready for the pre-test, the running part of the pre-test was pushed back to the 13th of January because of the rain. I didn't really study for the written portion of the test so I studied a little bit in the car driving there.  When I got there I was a little nervous, but for the most part i was fine.  I was pretty confident with everything I did so at the end of the cycle i hope i do good.

  50 Hits