Candidate Journals

Good luck tonight to everyone testing. I’m nervous and excited!!

#41 3/5/2025 Today I had a sparring and black belt class. I miss Instructor Max, he made sparring so fun. Master Opey was the teacher today and it was fun too. With Master Opey we went over hurricane side and back kicks. The hurricane back kick is my kick for breaking. I am working hard to get it right. #42 3/6/2025 Today we completed the community service project. I love being able to help people. This was one of the best parts of cycle. Mom is always telling us to be helpers. We shopped, put the bags together and took them to Lake Norman. I hope to go to a class there soon. #43 3/8/2025 Testing day. I passed!!!! I ran my mile in 9 mins, 35 seconds faster. I made an 84 on my written test, I am so glad for that one. One part I worked hard for was...

#50 3/19/2025 Today is black belt class, sparring and mentor sessions. I am completing my last mentee session. I want to thank everyone who has helped me with my black belt journey. Especially: Master Opey for being my mentor. I have learned so much! Master Weeks for telling me to get my stances right. Mikey, Zeke, Roman and Sabrish for being mentees. Leo for being my testing partner this weekend. Antoine for answering my questions. I really enjoyed this cycle and all the work. It was hard and fun! Good luck to everyone testing this weekend!!!  

#26 2/18/2025 There is testing today for the color belts, so no class. I have to say I need the break, this cycle has been tough already. I got my 3 pullups today! They are calling for snow tomorrow. I love snow. I would be fine with lots. But tomorrow is Max’s last day teaching sparring, so I actually don’t want snow this time. No quote today. #27 2/19/2025 No class today. Again, happy to have a break, my ankle thanks the weather. But sad Max didn’t get his last class. His energy is always so fun. I will miss him. I made my black belt video and my mom posted it for class. Since I got 3 pullups, I want to do 4 for my next video. I have run dry on quotes. #28 2/20/2025 Just another day without class. Working on essays, getting all my forms and exercise completed....

#16 2/8/2025 Today was black belt class. We did bocho dan one step and some forms. Also tomorrow is the super bowl and I’m supa excited. I hope the Eagles win and I am also happy about the halftime show. I like Sza and Kendrick Lamar. Here is a quote I found “You never know true beauty until you see the earth from space.”   #17 2/9/2025 The Eagles won! I was nervous before but when it started the Chiefs had no chance. They could not get through the defense and Patrick Mahomes forgot how to throw! Anyways, now that football is over, it’s just soccer lets go Arsenal! Here is what the Eagles head coach said, “to be the greatest you have to be surrounded by the greatest.” #18 2/10/2025 I probably should have talked about this earlier, but I have some small goals I want to do. I want...

#12  2/4/2025 Today I shall talk about football. I usually go for the Detroit Lions, but since they started playing like they were a high school football team, I’m now going for the Eagles to defeat Kansas City. Let’s go Saquon! Anyways here are the words of Ultron. “Nobody has to break anything, clearly you’ve never made an omelet.” #13 2/5/2025 Today was sparring and black belt class. After doing some speed drills, we did some Tae Kwon Do sparring. We are not allowed to do head kicks. After sparring there was black belt class.  We did turning/spinning kicks and I nearly fell over multiple times. I also had a session with my mentor Master Opey. He showed me sticks and staff forms. Here are some wise words: if you’re not failing, you’re not trying. #14 2/6/2025 I’m going to have to say rolls and falls are my least favorite thing...

#7 1/22/2025 Today I had my first mentor session with master Opey and Areese (I hope I spelled his name right). We worked on stances and went over the black belt cycle book. I did my second weekday blackbelt class where we worked on form. Here’s a quote from snapiyy “nothing stops the A train.” #8 1/24/2025 Today since I have no classes, I’m going to do some physical requirements. I’m going to run two miles and that will be the last of my running for this week. I am continuing to look for the test answers. I am trying to finish the book and do my rolls and falls. Here’s a quote from our good friend with the metal arm, Winter Soldier “Armed and dangerous!”   #9 1/31/2025 Today was my first time at junior instructor’s camp. There were 62 kids from several different schools. After we got our shirts,...

Aiden Sutardji Daily Journals.

# 1 1/13/2025    

I am 3 days into my blackbelt cycle and here’s what I’m doing this week. 7 classes, my digital detox is almost complete. I have started the nutrition challenge, and I should do 3 essays and the pretest. Also, I’m trying to put a quote on each journal entry so here’s one: Life is soup and I’m a fork.     

#2 1/14/2025

My required reading book has arrived, plus a neck gator, to use for running, but it was too big, so I just looked like a ninja. Also, I found a mentee and I’m pretty excited for who I chose. I also got my black belt book, so I started writing in it today. To end today, here’s a quote I found. If life closes a door, open it back up, because that’s how doors work.

#3 1/15/2025

Today was my first black belt class. I was very nervous. Everything was good except I’m horrible at bow staff. I ordered one to practice with so hopefully I won’t hit myself with it. (foreshadowing?) Next Wednesday is my first mentor meeting with Master Opey.  Finally, here’s some wise words “I’m a bird” from my friend Quan.

#4 1/16/2025

I have to admit, I am a little nervous about the pretest on Saturday. I have never had a test like this before. I am home-schooled and I have never had PE. This was very funny when I first started TKD I had to do jumping jacks. I looked like a starfish trying to jump out of water. Here’s something I found

#5 1/18/2025

I’m halfway through my required reading and it’s a good book. I give it a seven out of ten. I did my pretest today. I did pretty good on the physical and forms but did terrible on the written test.  I am going to print it out and search for the answers. Here are the wise words of Tony Stark: “What is this, Shakespeare in the park? Does mother know you weareth her drapes?” Avengers, 2012.

#6 1/21/2025

Today I printed out the test and I’m searching for answers. Also, we tried a place called kpot bbq and hotpot for dinner last night. It is where you cook your food on a little grill, and it was really good. I recommend it if you like to eat Korean food. Here’s some advice I found, are you tired of boiling water? Just boil a few gallons and freeze for future use.