Fall 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!

Aug 29

Man I’m tired. I have tomorrow though, we’re skipping the park. So full rest/get caught up day. Yay. Although I’m gonna wish I had gone to the park lol. Good practice and it’s nice to be social on a day off. I took two naps today. (Pretty short but still) quite rare for me. I’m gonna try to log some requirements and work on the written test, then bed probably.

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Aug 28

Today was rough tbh. Getting more worried about the injury, it should’ve been healed by now. Sparring is the main thing that gets it. More than anything it’s just frustrating. I’ve always had my body. My mind can fluctuate, I’ll have bad days. But I always had my physical health. I could always run or kick or spar my way through feelings. Now the feelings are ABOUT not being able to run or kick or spar. It’s difficult. And I’m too far in to quit. If I’m not healed before the test, that’s an issue. If I don’t do enough to prepare for the test, that’s an issue. I don’t have those balanced yet. I’m going to try to take it easier next week. That’s what a few of my instructors have been saying, I haven’t listened. So I’ll try that.

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Aug 27

I worked with some yellow belts today, they were a huge disaster but by the end they looked better and had fun lol. worked with some yellow belts today, they were a huge disaster but by the end they looked better and had fun lol. I had a long day. Especially ankle wise. I’m doubting it’ll be healed for testing. Which isn’t good. I’ll figure that out. It’s hard to keep up with training on it. I had to skip most of my workout today, even the elliptical was hurting. Again though, just trying to work around it. So yeah.

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Aug 26

I’m very tired and going to bed. Idk how to get enough sleep now lol. With school and everything there’s not really any time that isn’t occupied. Class was good though. Good night:

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Aug 25

Whew. First day of school done. I forgot how much I hated highschool haha. Classes today were good though. I was teaching a few kids their first class, kwon sol. One of them asked “do I have to yell?” So that was fun. I tried taking off my brace in the second class. That was a no. It helped the stiffness at first, but hurt worse after. For that small time though it was great. I so missed doing round kicks right. I can’t point my toes with the brace. Anyways. I got a pumpkin latte today, which was good. And I don’t want to go to school again tomorrow haha. It’s very hard for me to not be annoyed with people there. Goodnight guys.  

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Aug 24

Today wasn’t great. I did get a lot done though. Requirements, classes, music, reading. The classes today were rough. Had some stressful teaching first, by the second class I didn’t feel well. My ankle was hurting and I was dizzy during forms. Got home though and it’s alright. Have to get up early for school, not looking forward to that at all. Gonna go to bed as early as I can. Goodnight guys.

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Aug 23

Today has been alright overall. I was really tired most of the day, then napped and I feel better lol. The park was fun this morning. I’m looking forward to fall. Not as in everything that will be going on, just a change of seasons will be nice. I might go on a bike ride in a bit, I want to be outside and I won’t be able to much this week. There’s also a really cool graffiti tunnel I live near, and I want to see if there’s anything new. I don’t want to start this week lol. School. My days are going to be probably fuller than they ever have until I test. September might be a get done month. I’ll try to make the best of it.

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Aug 22

This was a little finicky so might’ve been posted twice. I’m tired. There’s a lot of pieces to the cycle and I’m worried about forgetting something, especially with school about to start. That’s all, good night.

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Aug 21

I’m so tired lol. Started my period today, the day of sparring class of course. So did not have as much energy for that as I would have liked. Also got a skinned elbow and a decent kick to the jaw which hurts. (You know who you are KICK LIGHTER). Anyways, yeah, tired. Still dreading school next week. I do not want to go to black belt class in the morning. I’m fine with the evening classes but I always feel like a zombie on Saturdays. Anyways that’s all.

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Aug 20

I do not want to start school next week lol. Classes have been good though. There’s nothing I severely don’t know anymore which is good. I’m pretty tired. I’m behind on a couple things academically. Like lines for theater, college applications, the written test. I’m about to work on lines now, since that seems to need the most attention. I want to be at a good starting point when we start rehearsing that. That’s all, goodnight guys.

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Aug 19

Today was pretty good. Had a good black belt class. Pretty tired and starting to get antsy about testing. Even though we still have about a month. Just gotta prepare enough to feel prepared by then I guess. I’m not sure I ever will though haha. Also I do not want school to start. I’m excited to get home and hang out with my cat. Good night guys.

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Aug 18

Today was better than the last few days. I enjoyed my time at the dojo, assisted then took class. Both were helpful but my ankle was bugging me. We had to do 50 jumping jacks, and I was basically doing them on one leg to avoid weight on the other. Burns out fast haha. Also was modifying some of the warm ups, which didn’t feel good to do but I know I need to for now. I’m grateful to my instructors who’ve been kind about that. Anyways, it’s wild that the cycle is almost halfway done. Definitely hasn’t felt like that long. And I feel like I’m in a good place training wise, I’ve improved a ton and still have half the time left. Hope you all are doing well :). Im off to snoop through some journals haha.

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Aug 16

Today wasn’t great tbh. Didn’t have much energy. I did try making curry tho, and that turned out amazing. And I spent a little time in the sauna at the ymca today, was also pretty nice. It’ll be nice to see people tomorrow.

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Aug 15

I saw the masters test today! Was really neat to watch. I’ll write more on that tomorrow, tired from the trip. It’s almost midnight (just got home), so I’m skipping the requirements and just going to sleep. Which I will regret when I have to make them up this week, but that’s fine.

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Aug 14

Almost forgot again lol. I’m heading to Greenville tomorrow to see the masters test. Pretty excited for that. I thought my ankle was better until I went to sparring. It’s not better lol. It’s been frustrating honestly, kicking used to be my absolute favorite thing to do. Now I can’t do I nearly as well. Even kicking with my other leg is hard because my base isn’t stable. Just gotta keep going tho. Also I made overnight oats for the first time, excited to try those in the morning. Good luck to everyone testing, break a leg! (Please don’t haha).

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Aug 13

I forgot to write yesterday so writing EARLY today. Today was pretty good overall. Getting some work done/catching up on logging things now. Taught some kids today, which is something I forgot I enjoyed. I love teaching, might be the best part of the cycle so far. I already said this at one point, but the dojo has started to feel like a second home. I’m spending a lot more time there than I ever have, so I feel closer with the people there. And I had a fun group of students today, (white belts). Went over their stuff which was all fine, so they got a sneak peak of Hwarang Poomsae. The first bit they did fine, but we got to the big turn and they all gave me big eyes haha. Then had a lot of fun trying to figure it out. That’s all then, hope everyone’s well.

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Aug 11

Had a mentee session today, assisted/took class. Made more music progress, hung out with the cats. I’m a little overwhelmed but doing fine. Making good progress but the ankle is still irritating. Good night guys.

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Aug 10

I’m very tired. Again lol. Gonna sleep in tomorrow. I got a good writing session in today. Essays and music later. I wish the music inspo could strike sometime before 12:30 am lol. That’s always the earliest. Anyways, beautiful song coming along which is always nice. I am pretty irritated about my ankle. I walked my mile on a treadmill today, took me forever and still hurt afterwards. Went faster, it hurt. Up the incline, it hurt. Even pushups did today. Like that one isn’t even ABOUT YOU. Anyways, frustrating but I’m trying to make myself rest. Which I now know I’m terrible at lol. But I’m good at writing essays, well and fast, so I’m trying to focus on the academic process I’m making. That’s all, goodnight guys.

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Aug 9

Gonna go to the park tmrw morning to train. I’ll be tired again but that’s fine. Got my sticks today, yay. I’m very tired so I’m going to leave it at that and sleep, goodnight guys.

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Aug 8

Honestly the digital detox was not as interesting as I’d hoped lol. I was hoping to have some extra creative energy or something, but the day was fairly normal. I suppose that’s a good thing. Anyways, had sparring today. My ankle is rly killing me. It’s very frustrating when that affects my kicks and all. Haven’t been sleeping too well so not looking forward to black belt class in the morning, but it’s whatever. I have to do it so mine as well not dwell on it.

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Aug 6

Hello guys. I’m about to do my 24 no tech hours. Gonna start and end at 10pm. I’m a little nervous but also excited for that. Feels like running a social experiment on myself. I think I forgot to journal yesterday. I’ll double up sometime. Oh also, the leg was indeed not nothing. I’ve been training on a sprained ankle. Which is wild. I have a brace to wear tho, with that and modifying requirements as much as I can I think I’ll be fine. I also have sparring tomorrow, that’ll be interesting now. I’ll just do what I can. Hope u guys are doing well.

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Aug 4

Today started rough but ended a lot better. I also realized today, after being at the dojo for a few hours, it’s starting to feel like a second home in a way. I think I’m getting more in the rhythm of knowing the curriculum, starting to teach it, (and just being there all the freaking time lol). One thing I put in my applying tkd to life essay was, it’s helped to make me comfortable with discomfort. Having been in all the different more scary classes/situations recently, it keeps feeling lighter to walk in there. Like, I used to be nervous for every color belt class. Now it’s more like, oh finally just a color belt class! It’s wild haha. Anyways I got a solid workout, solid essay session and classes, then watched some family guy and now going to bed. Goodnight guys

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Aug 3

Today was fuller than usual for me. I had pet sitting, requirements ofc, a dinner for my brother’s birthday, then helped in a class, took a class, mentored and was mentored. I was there for a while haha. But I got to teach a student one on one in class, and she did great! It’s a great feeling when your student is happy with their progress and with what you taught them. I’m very tired but glad for the stuff done. Now gonna get some essay work done, some lines memorized for theater, and relax. Hope everyone had a good day.

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Aug 2

I’m a bit stressed but okay. I get stressed when I have a lot of different things to do and can’t work on all of them lol. Which looks dumb typed out. Like today, I got a great training session in the park this morning, did all my requirements, logged in my book, progress in other hobbies, cleaned, rested and ate well, and I’m all stressed that I didn’t do essay work. Wild how perspective runs with things sometimes. 

ALSO I absolutely s u c k at jump rope, (literally learned koreyo faster). Which I find funny. Of all the difficult black belt things, I get frustrated over jump rope. But, I made some progress with it today, so that’s good too.

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Aug 1

I’ve been thinking about how people just train injured. I’m sitting here with a bag of frozen peas on my ankle, and remembering I have instructors that have had entire hips and knees replaced and still shown up the same. They really don’t get enough credit for that. What I’m training with isn’t even remotely close to some of those cases, and it still makes training that much more difficult. Anyways, shoutout to them, and I hope you all are having good days, goodnight!

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July 31

Another late post arggg, it’s fine. Today was ok, I had two arguments with people and those wore me out. But sparring helped haha. My leg was still killing me after. Not much I can do for that but wait. I’m very tired. It crossed my mind today that I have no idea how I’ll have energy to do this much when school starts. But I guess I’ll figure that out when the time comes.

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July 30

It was kinda rough to get everything in today. I still did but I’m behind on logging them here. I got through koreyo fully for the first time today. It was slow and messy but I still remembered it and that’s progress. I’m a lot more tired than usual at this hour. Might try to sleep early.

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July 29

Another ok day. I’ve been a bit stressed out, trying to find ways to help that. Had black belt class today, some much needed kick refining. Went well but my leg was killing me after. It’s healing up fine but gets uncomfortable when I’m doing a lot. I’ve been working on writing music too, hopefully that can be my new skill. That’s all really.

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July 28

Today was okay. Got my requirements done, it’s late so I’ll log them tomorrow. I had a mentor session, and helped out in a class. Which was nice. I’m very tired, and sore ofc. But that’s okay, I’ll have more time to rest tomorrow. I keep getting worried about certain things on the test, then having to remind myself I still have over 2 months to figure it out lol. 

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July 27

Today started kind of dull, I ended up doing my requirements a lot later than usual. But the rest was productive, I went to two classes, one to help out and one to take/ to mentee after. I was exhausted but it felt good to knock out some stuff. I want to get better about instantly working on the thing that’s stressing me out. Which is difficult to do but makes me feel better. Hope everyone had a good day <3

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July 26

Got home very late again. Did my last musical tonight, it went well and I’ll miss that. I’m going to train tomorrow at the park, going to be very tired. But I’ll have the rest of the day to rest and get caught up on logging my requirements. Yayyy  

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July 24

Another late journal but that’s alright. I had my second to last show tonight, got home late. I did my run outside instead of the gym, it was cloudy and cool out. Got my leg checked out today, and luckily nothing serious. Running might’ve not been the best idea still, it hurt a little after. I have my first Saturday black belt class tomorrow, I feel a little underprepared but I’ll be fine, just need to do it anyway. Anddd I need to update my book and log my requirements on here. Little behind but going strong.

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July 23

Technically after midnight but whatever. Today wasn’t amazing, I got about half my requirements in this morning, but now have a leg injury. (Which I performed a musical right after getting, stupid I know). I’m going to get it looked at tomorrow, hopefully nothing serious. Really hoping I don’t have to cut back on training. So yeah, not a strong start but hoping I bounce back fast.

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July 22

Today was okay. I really didn’t want to do my physical requirements today, not sure why. But I did them anyway and that’s good. Was very tired today. I also took my first black belt class! I was nervous and excited, it went fairly well. Looking forward to more weapons training. Now I get some down time with my cat :) . Hope the cycle started well for you all. 

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First few days

Had some trouble figuring out how to post these, so I’m filling in my first few days. Starting the cycle has been a bit confusing I’ll admit, so much to plan and keep track of. The physical requirements are alright, it gets me out of the house. Today I did an extra mile so I can have a day off sometime. I’m already a little behind on a few things, but I think I’ll get into the rhythm of it and be fine. When something’s challenging, the best way out is through! I hope training for you all is going well.

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