T

TAEKWONDO

Last semester Mr. Hong, a University Church member, invited us to his taekwondo 장 to learn some moves while experiencing a part of Korean culture. We started out going every Friday, but around Christmas he asked if we would like to start coming 3 times a week during the next year...OF COURSE!

We were the tallest students in the class, yet started, like everyone does, at the bottom of the totem pole, with white belts:

안녕하세요

Since then, we have moved up to green with a blue stripe and have a test in two weeks, where we will hopefully upgrade to blue with a brown stripe. The colors go white, yellow, green, blue, brown, red, and...BLACK!

For each test we usually have to do a form, a few kicks, some fitness activities, and break a board. There are 8 태극 forms which are sort of like choreographed fighting dances and remind me just how bad I am at remembering dances...Maybe it's okay because I really enjoy the kicking!

 기합

Nicknames continue at taekwondo: glasses master, laughing master, uni, bear & lemur [quite a dynamic duo], lil mama, lil nugget, Harry Potter, and lady master. 

Participating in taekwondo has led to a few enjoyable things outside of class too: 

We went to a an exhibition at Kyung Hee University [the #1 taekwondo school in Korea] where watched an awesome performance by the students, ate lunch, wandered around the campus, and then learned a few new tricks.    

I have been able to bond [though Konglish and laughter] with one of the teachers from my center when she occasionally takes me from work to class.

We started eating and Englishing [that probably removes all confidence you once had in my English teaching abilities...] with Mr. Hong's wife and son.

twinzies with lady master!

Thomas went on a bike ride with fellow taekwondoers!

[pictures arriving soon] 

 

I have also created a list of things not to eat before taekwondo: anchovies, kim, dinner with Reverend 최...

Those foods aside, it has been an excellent experience to make new friends, spend time with a few youth group members, and practice 태권도. I am so thankful that Mr. Hong invited us!   

rocking our yellow belts

 removing a splinter #totalmasterhongmove