3rd Degree Orange Belt

I wondered when Emma first started Taekwondo if she would stay with it. We thought it would be such a good thing to build confidence and be a big self esteem boost as well. She liked it at first and then when things got a little hard I wondered if she would want to quit. I'm not really sure what keeps her going but she does like it and wants to keep trying which of course makes me pleased as "punch".(HAHA) In the middle of December she earned her 3rd degree orange belt. It wasn't an easy one to get solely because we were gone from so many practices. Toward the end of this past quarter I realized how behind she was and made her start practicing a ton. Again I wondered if this was the end but she said she would work hard and learn all the moves to everything and hopefully pass. There was a lot to learn this time. The first video shows their first two of eight choreographed moves called Palgwe Forms (she only knows two right now and is starting on the third). Also she needed to learn (which isn't shown) 6-1 step maneuvers. Basically these are defensive maneuvers and I have no idea why they are called one step because most of them have at least three moves in them.
Brent and I are really proud of her for dedicating herself to learning this.


She worked really hard to get this particular belt. This new quarter will bring change for us, her specifically and it's a decision that ultimately she came to on her own. Since moving this past June, it has been a bit of a struggle to continue to drive back down into San Diego every Friday night to attend practice. We were continuing to do so because we have good friends who attend with us and it was nice to be with people you knew. With the start of the new quarter however, we will be attending classes here close to home on a different day. It's the same instructor and program just a different location and time. Change is always hard because you feel like you are leaving friends behind but ultimately, without pressure from us, Emma decided to attend classes here. I'm curious to see what will happen when she is not with her friends and in a group of new kids. I'm curious to see if she has a harder time or if it will make her dedicate herself a little more and not fool around so much. She is a pretty friendly kid and I know she will make more friends in this new class but I still wonder what this new quarter will bring for her. Will she stay with this new location or decide to attend back in the Valley? For now I just want to say again how proud of her both Brent and I are! By the way in case anyone is wondering we think her next belt will be purple.