Candidate Journals

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Walked the full five mile route through my neighborhood today with my dad.  Took ages, but I love the one-on-one time with him.  We talked a lot about the creative form and the breaking routine; I really appreciate his input, especially with the breaking (he has designed my routines for the past two tests).  Hopefully together we can up with something interesting!!!

In an hour or so I am about to board the plane to Utah. Before this my mom and I went on a 2 mile walk with Roxy, before she went to a friends house to stay at. Once we got to the airport we waited for dad to get back from parking the car and I did some hapkido. Can't wait, so excited for snowboarding!!!

I can't wait for snowboarding!!! We leave tomorrow for the airplane at about 5, and I can't wait!!! I was able to do some poomsaes, self defense and some push-up, sit-ups USA well. I weighed myself today just to see how much I had lost over the cycle, and it turns out that I lost 26 pounds! Which isn't surprising but it's still a shock. We recently got new exercise DVDs and equipment so ill be doing those every weekend to stay in shape.

Gosh I still can't tell how good it feels just to come home and relax. I had a softball game tonight that started at 8 o'clock, of course it didn't end till about 9:45 and got home at 10 o'clock and I am just relaxing and curled up with a good book. Once you get past the physical requirements, you realize how much time you really have.

Today was Camille's birthday and we had our tenth mentor/mentee session. We worked on hapkido, hapkido and more hapkido. I have really had fun working with Camille and she has really impressed me with how quickly she picks up new things. Oh to be young again! Before Black Belt class we sang Happy Birthday because she wasn't staying for class. Master Knight taught a really good Black Belt class and challenged us to think outside the box. Thank you sir! I really enjoyed it. Then was PMAA. I wish I could pick things up as fast as Camille!

This is my last journal. Today's black belt class led by Master Knight was fun. It was a good workout. I'm very close to getting my requirements done. In fact by tomorrow I'll be done my requirements. I just have one more thing to say. HAVE A HAPPY EASTER!!

Today marks the beginning of my spring break. I'm excited for all the time ill have now for tkd, especially for writing essays!

We have a lot of possible distractions before our overnight testing and we cannot let them derail us from our goal. We must train as black belt candidates straight through Spring Breaks, Ski Trips, Easter and everything else. We need to be strong for each other throughout the testing which isn't just April 12 & 13. It is now, the cycle that is the true test. Stay strong and continue to train.  

I had softball practice tonight until 9:15; and I cannot tell you how good it feels to not have to do last minute push-ups and sit-ups at 10:00 at night. No more last minute, cram time requirements. I can finally relax and enjoy this part of the cycle. 8 more journals after this one and I'll officially be done with all requirements. It defiantly feels good to know I won't have to run or do poomsaes and sit-ups when I go to Utah. 8 more journals an the testing, that's all there is left.

 I'm now done my leadership credits2s.I even have an extra one. But I still have one Leadership Credits1. I'll get it next week.

Havent written a journal in quite a while. I am reviewing like crazy these last couple of days. No physical requirements left so no worries :)

Though it's a lot, I'm glad I have spring break to focus on tkd. I want to finish all the writing and then go over all of the things I've ever learned in preparation for the overnight. I don't want to have any surprises that Friday night! 

I just have a few more things to complete. I don't know how I will get my one last sparring class in. Everything else should be completed shortly. I have been working on hapkido with my mentor, but still can't remember as many as I need to know. Getting better though.

Went to sticks class tonight, can offically say that I know what I need to know of double stick B. It may not look good and I still have trouble with Paraho Police Abanhiko, but it's getting there!  

For the past couple nights I've been thinking about the overnight test. Although I'm not that worried I've still been wondering if Master Evans will be hard on us. But it still depends on if we know our things. We'll just have to wait and see!

although most of us are finished or very close to being finished with our requirements, we need to keep working for 3 weeks so we are strong for our overnight! proud of all my fellow black belt cycle mates.

I'm getting closer to finishing my requirements. In fact I will done my requirements by Friday.

Did leadership credit and plus class today.  I had a good time at parents night out.  Lot of classes to makeup  

I need LOTS of with hapkido! I barley made it through 15 without mixing them up. Now I can't study them tonight, I have three tests tomorrow, AGGGHHH, but I am going to make as much of an effort that I can to learning all the hapkido's.

Today I went to see the movie,"Rise Of The Guardians". It was pretty cool.

Finally done with everything! Free the burden at last!!!! Now only testing stands in my way of become a third degree black belt. I'm actually kind of excited for this test. I'm shaky on Hapkido and some of the other Staff poomsaes but I'm pretty sure I will do very well this testing.

Sad that I missed the black belt and sparring classes yesterday, but my last debate tournament of the year was great. Kudos to the people on my team who won in their events!!! Now I'm just waiting for my dad to get home so we can practice poomsae together. 

Pretty sore and tired from yesterdays black belt and sparring classes...it was a fun class and we got to practice a bunch of kicks.

There were so many sports going on today. Anya had her first soccer game. And her team won. The twins also had a soccer game. But they didn't win. And as for me? I just had a softball practice.

Yeah, it it typical to attend a Saturday Black Belt Class, but even more typical for it to be raining when I go for my Saturday morning run. I am not complaining because I have come to enjoy them. I am also proud of all the KT Black Belts that participated in the Spartan Run today.

Went to an awesome black belt class today! Worked a lot on the technique of some of our kicks and applied them to our poomsaes. Great class, I thank Master Kam for teaching it and all the black belts that came out and took it. Getting home so I can go hang out with my grandmother that's in town and then go to an internship meeting with a woman that I know, an after that go support my friend at his play he's preforming in. Busy, busy day! But in all honesty what day isn't?

Wow! It is amazing what we can do when we put our minds to it. This ten weeks has gone by really fast and I know we have done a lot, but still have much to learn.

Today was a very cold day. I was playing softball and my hands were freezing!

I just realized i have a bit of stuff to learn. Not a lot though. Im working hard to remember the hapkido. Cant wait till testing!

One mile and half, one hundred and five push-ups, and one hundred sit-ups. That's all I have left to do. Of course I'll keep logging and doing stuff afterwards because I need the practice but I will defiantly have all stress lifted off my shoulders. A couple things I know I'm going to keep doing is running, pull-ups, and push-ups. Those are the things that I am not very good at and I'd like to be in the best shape possible. 

It has been a great 10 week journey and yet with 3 weeks until testing we really cannot let up. We must stay fit and support each other even more for the overnight testing.

I did plan to do more today, but homework took the front seat. Tomorrow will be better since no school on Saturday. I will work on the remainder of my physical requirements. I need to see zero left in more spots. It is time! We worked on quite a bit of basic kicking in Black Belt class tonight. Need to work on being more precise. Tomorrow is fast approaching and so is testing!

Yesterday I went to the Georgia aquarium. It was fun! There were so many cool things to see! From beluga whales, to dolphins, to giant manta rays and 60-foot whale sharks! I don't think you want me to continue the list!

Getting some last minute requirements in. I'm going to finish the rest tomorrow. I shouldn't have waited until the last minute to get all my stuff done. I won't do that the next time. Today was still a good day.

Almost done with all physical requirements,  Have 1 more Thrusday Black Belt Class, 2 more Dream Team, 1 more Taekowndo plus class

Almost done with everything!!!!!!!! I'm so excited, I'm trying to get it done in these next two days so we'll see how that goes since I have softball two nights in a row. Still, I can knock out 200 push-ups and sit-ups, I can run 1.5 miles, and I can do poomsaes and self-defenses. Once I finish everything I can finally relax a little bit, not scraming to try and get everything done.

Today I am very behind. Up late trying to catch up. Really tired.

I got up early and did some requirements before work.  Then I was able to get a mile in before teaching Junior Tigers class.  We had a very energetic class today.  The kids were really excited.  Afterwards, I came home and watched Survivor.  J

so, today I finally got the credits for the Instructors' Camp. So I am going back to March 2 to enter them and will then hit the LKN Dojang by about 16:30. Should get a good final pump. YES!

At P.E. yesterday we had to run a little ways and I just then realized how much better I've gotten at running. Now if I hadn't started the cycle I would have been panting over their laying on the grass with everyone else. I didn't even break a sweat, we had probably run 0.3 miles and I wasn't breathing hard after. So happy about that, but I really need to work on running up hills. Yesterday I was running up this hill in my neighborhood and of course I can make it up but it liked like I was walking and it felt like I was going way to slow. Anyway I'm glad that I am running and keep planning to run after the cycle.

Not the best day. I let my temper get the best of me where it should not have. Need to focus on something else not lose it. On the requirements side of things, numbers are going down. I still need lots of practice on hapkido.

Slowly, painfully slowly, chugging away at late-night sticks classes!!!

lieLike most of my fellow candidates I am jazzed about seeing the completion of this phase of the journey.

Got my last mentor session in yesterday! I am staring to get done with all my requirments now, especially today because I have a lot of free time after school. I can't wait for Utah! Although I'm scared I will probably break a bone, I'm also very excited to go and leaarn how to snowboard.

Today was a good day. I am ahead of Anya on my schoolwork,who almost every night stays up past bedtime doing schoolwork.

I am so close to completing my physical requirements that I can see the end and it almost feels like there is a weight lifted off one of my shoulders. It will be nice to have a little time to work on my new skill some more. New things are usually more fun once you get the hang of it and it will take a long time to feel any level of comfort. It definitely still feels awkward and like tae kwon to, there will likely always be more to learn, at least for me. Such is life...

...and no one walked in on me doing pushups and situps. Looking forward to tomorrow's run.

And now to enter it all. No one to blame but myself though. At least it's not sticky notes this time (like two testing cycles ago for me).

Yesterday was requirements day.  Yesterday I wanted to get done as much as possible because I knew I wasn't going to have another open day like that ever. I believe that I got a lot done, I knew I had to do poomsaes so I worked a lot on them. I finished off a lot of requirements too which is good because I need to start maxing out on requirements. Thank goodness I had a lot of time yesterday or else I wouldn't have been able to do as many poomsaes. I started from 9 am to 9pm, even while my brother and mom were playing tennis I knew I had to so more poomsaes so I was getting them done on the tennis court. Well with this being said I need to buckle down and get the rest done. GET'ER DONE!!! 

Didn't do as much as I wanted to do today, but did finish another essay. Getting out the icy hot tonight though, so hopefully I won't feel as sore tomorrow, but usually day two is worse. Oh well! Finish strong!

I'm almost done my essays. All I need to do is write my Kwans essay. Then I can type them all in.  

While I was disappointed that I had to miss Black Belt Class on Saturday, it was a very good weekend. I was the Kitchen Manager for a very prestigious culinary competition on Saturday which ran perfectly. I managed to do some jump rope, pull ups, pooms, SDs, sit-ups, push-ups et al in the afternoon though. I got out for a nice bike ride with my neighbor today. Our last official week of cycle is before us, but we all must keep trainig right through testing on the 12th & 13th 

Did my last Saturday Black belt class.  Need to catch up on other things.

today was fun I got requirements done while watching TV went running with my family after running we went and got ice cream after that I went home and got the rest of my requirements done it was quick and easy

Happy St. Patrick’s Day to everyone!  It was a lovely day.  I didn’t do as many requirements today – just pushups, sit-ups, kicks, miles, and pull-ups. I spent the rest of the day doing domestic chores that I’ve gotten behind on over the past couple of weeks.  Now I’m ready for a new week!  J

Finishing up my requirements! Gosh it feels so good to know that I'm almost done! Especially since I'm going to Utah soon and you can't really run that great in snow. Still need to everyday, trying to work my way towards a flatter stomach.  

Im going to try to come every day for the next two weeks hopefully to get some leadership credits in. Most of the physical stuff is done and just need to learn sticks... Pmaa here i come !

Today was a good day! I started with a walk around the neighborhood before helping with Little Tigers and then went for a walk with Inst. Randle before Black Belt class. Thank you ma'am! Black Belt class was good focus on self defense. Then sparring class was a small class. After I got something to eat, I went for another walk around my neighborhood and found a dog just wandering around, so I took him home. It was a nice thing to do and got me some extra distance, so was a win-win. Jeremy and I walked a long way to DQ and then we split so he went home and I walked through a different neighborhood. I couldn't pass up the perfect temperature, so went for another walk after dinner too. Finished up most of the daily requirements. I think some essays will get attention tomorrow after I get up late for a change. 

The fun part about today was,believe it or not,sparring class. This time Master Evins taught it. It was fun!

I got back from a trip and got as many requirements done as I could. I think I'm almost ready for testing.

Great black belt class today. I liked how we broke each self defense down so we could understand it better. Only a few more weeks till testing, usually I think Cram Time! But I think I'm actually on heck to finish before.

Nothing really exiting happened,except for the fact that Ayo,my little and only brother,lost two teeth in the matter of four or five days. He's only five years old.

I'm in good stanidng on most of my physical requirements. The challenge is the scheduling of classes. Hope to use the few extra weeks between week 10 and testing to catch up.

Today I had to do my requirements quickly. Short, simple, and to the point.

Went for a 3.1 mile walk/run/ pull my dog out of the street. Getting in the green on my requirements. I need to do some major burpees and poomsaes today, maybe even run a little more to try and get in the green.

This is Practical Testing week at work. and it was testing day at PMAA @ the North Charlotte Dojang. Black Belt Class was fun as usual.

Today in Black belt class,we played Taekwondo Jepody. Most people didn't know the answer to the questions. Most of the questions weren't Taekwondo questions anyway!!

Managing time is so important and so hard to do sometimes. Still have a little catching up to do. Time is running out and next week looks like a wet week. I hope I can get enough miles in without having to dodge raindrops. To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe. - Anatole France

today i went to sparring class at master Burkart's school it was really fun then we had to rush all the to black belt class at the sparring class we got a lot of pushups, situps, kicks, and sparring rounds i need to go there more often

today i took blak belt class and did mentor session with master knight.   

Two teachers workdays for today and tomorrow, must be a sign. Today and tomorrow I'm busting out serious requirements. It won't even be that bad because most of my requirements won't be hard to accomplish, I only have so many left. Of course I'm not that ahead on burpees or running, but I need to finish those before I go on my spring break trip to Utah. 

Today was a somewhat good day. I didn't get my leadership credits in,even though I have a few left.

It sure makes a big difference getting up even 15 minutes earlier. I've been working on my creative poomsae and there's one spot that needs some help, but I think other than that, it is what it is unless I find some awesome music. That gives me a couple of weeks to feel comfortable with it. I need to make some progress on the last of my essays and be done with them. It will be good to have them behind me, but I'll need to find some time to make that happen. It is so nice to see numbers decrease and gives a boost of encouragement no matter how small the change. It's also nice to look back at older journal entries and see how far we've all come. Now it's time for rest to begin it all again tomorrow.

Another very good day of production at work and at LKN Dojang. Thanks again to Master Chelley!

Requirements before work, a mile before teaching Junior Tigers class, and some jump rope afterwards.  I can’t believe it’s only a little more than four weeks till testing.  Boy, the time has really flown by. J

I'm now officially done with my new skill. Not long ago, my photography group asked me to teach a lesson or study and present about a topic. I chose sports photography which was my new skill and presented my topic. They told me that I did very well speaking and explaining the topic. They had also liked some of the pictures I had shown that are my own work. Of course I'll still be doing sports photography and practicing new techniques, but at least now I know that I have taught not just me, but others as well.

IT IS FINALLY SPRINGTIME!! It all stated this morning when one of my backyard trees had leaves on them. Then this afternoon,a bunch of frogs were out and about. To me winter seemed FOREVER!

What a beautiful day today turned into! I got in a few couple of miles at work with a friend and then some more after work with my husband. Tis the season for my allergies to be acting up though, so hopefully I can fight them. Sit-ups are challenging me right now, so I will need to focus on other things and catch them up later when I'm not so sore. After class today, Inst. Tucker and Inst. Torres gave me some ideas for my creative poomsae to help it flow better. I really appreciate the feedback. Thank you both! I practiced that several times and can almost get through without having to check the paper. Now I need to make it mine, make it strong and maybe find some music too. Tomorrow will be a better day for requirements.

today i went running and my mom and i noticed that i must have done a lot of walking at testing because my time was a lot better today. I did not get much done tonight because of homework

I was able to do some requirements this morning before I left for work.  It was tough going back to work after being off a couple of days.  J  Then I went to black belt class.  We had a small class and we were able to review staff forms 1, 2, and 3.  I really like the classes where Master Evins has the opportunity to break down the form and give us insight on the details.  

Got almost all my physical requirements done. All my essays are done too. Know my motive is to finish the cirriculum i need to know for various things that will be on our bb test.

While everyday is a day to rejoice, today was especially so. It was truly beautiful outside. I was able to wrap a 25 mile bike ride around going to mid-day class at the North Charlotte Dojang. Add to that the fact that today was Red Stripe Day and I made the most of it. Looking forward to the remainder of the cycle and testing on April 12 & 13th. Blessings to all!

Tennis season starts today! Excited or it but its also just another thing that is using up precious time. There's only a few more weeks till the cycle ends, excited but also nervous. I'm just hoping that over spring break I won't break any bones going snowboarding. 

I got between my morning and evening classes and walked my miles again along with doing requirements. I hope to be able to be back runnning by tomorrow. Doing what has to be done to get it done.

I'm really struggling right now. I guess this is what it's all about, right?. Dig down deep and find the strength to get it all done. It is so worth it, but at times hard to find the drive. 

I'm glad the cycle is almost done. But I'm not glad that I 'm NOT done my requirements.I'm willing to push through it for my black belt!

I don't know if I know all my stick stuff.  I need to talk to my mentor. I hit my Dad accidently while I was practicing my sticks. In dream team, we did some stick stuff. There was a lot of stick stuff done today.

So tired from stuff today!!! I found out that there are at least a couple things I don't have to learn for testing anymore, so I'm glad for the minimized stress. Shifting focus to my creative form now, since I only have the first 6 moves or so. 

Well I spent most of today traveling back home after spending a couple of days in Florida for business and a few days of vacation.  I was able to get in several miles at Busch Gardens and now it’s back to the routine.  I have a few requirements left to complete and they will be gone this week!  Yippee!

I feel like I've been run over by a dump truck. After the physical and written test, I had softball practice with my new team; and they are in it to win it! I'm really excited for the softball season and can't wait to start games. Tennis is starting tomorrow at my school, also exciting because I can probably get running around the courts and odd amount of times; Might be able to get a mile or two in. Went for a 2 mile run; ankle started screaming at me. I think I'm going to have to confine myself to the ankle brace.

I am now the proud owner of two plum trees, which will polinate when mature!! I'm happy for the responsibility of caring for them!:)

Yesterday was a tough day, but it was such a nice afternoon that I went for a walk to the grocery store and stopped at DQ on the way home. Push ups is one requirement that I am determined not to get behind on and yesterday I just did not have it in me to reach my set goal. My whole body is tired and needs to rest, but no rest for the weary until the end, or at least until requirements are complete. Today was another beautiful day, but I didn't have much unspoken for time. I did get in a good walk and worked on poomsaes some. It takes me a long time to remember a new poomsae or self defense, so I'm struggling with some of those that I am just learning. We are into week nine and the other weeks went by so fast.

Today was a strange day for me. This morning,I looked at the clock and saw it was 7:00 A.M. But I COMPLETELY forgot that today was daylight savings. So it was actually 8:00!

Today I focused mostly on sit ups and jump ropes although I did not get much done. It was a good day.  I went to see my cousins play basketball.  

Today was a very nice Sunday. Totallly enjoyed another wonderful service and sermon at St Mark's Episcopal Church, then did some yardwork. I then walked to Killington's via the Huntersville Business Park. Spent the later afternoon in the Cul-de-Sac with the neighbors. It is another glorious day that the Lord made and we Rejoiced in it.

Wow that test was a doozy!!! The run made my ankle feel like it was going to break, but my time was worth it!!! I probably should have tried to run the  full four miles more than two times before the test but at least it payed off haha. Feelin confident on the written exam and I expect to take the muscle/anatomy test sometime in the next week. 

It is so beautiful out today! My mom and I just went for a 3 mile walk/run. Going to finish a science project at a friends, hopefully play done tennis as well then do more requirements later.

Today was a disappointing day. I flunked my run,pull-ups,and my burpees. I tried anyway. That is what matters because I now want my new black belt!

today i had testing it was very fun but i failed the run\ good thing master evans told us that we need to do pull ups not chin up at first i didn't know it was a great painful challenge in the good way.