Taekwondo
Keeping promises is sometimes hard to do. When we visited Korea the first time, Hubby and I told the kids that we would get them enrolled in martial arts classes if we ever came to live here. But during the school year it was not possible. JCs’ homework load was staggering and there was no way he could have done both. Joshua could have gone, but that would have meant 7:00 pm classes in addition to his homework and full day at school. I know many moms do that kind of running around, but I am not one of them. Lets just call them supermom and be done with it.
I had never intended to join my kids in this endeavor. But it happened all because summer school here is very limited and on a first come first served basis. So when I took Josh to start it I found out that the papers I had submitted were not valid. I had no idea that things worked that way here. I have always signed the boys up for summer school to help keep boredom at bay. I was pretty mad about it Josh not being able to attend, and let the command (through an ICE comment) know about how upsetting it was that there were only a total of 30 slots for kids out of a school of 300 or so. That is for all grades. The numbers had been figured on a head count that was out of date; before they started shipping in families here.
So, what to do with the kids? I couldn’t let them sit around all summer with nothing to do? JC didn’t have the opportunity to attend any kind of summer school at all. It just wasn’t offered. Our little post chapel also does not run any activities other than VBS for one week, and both boys are getting kind of old for that, unless it is helping out, and I don’t think they are ready for that. There are a few programs that are sporadic, that sound really cool. Things like cross cultural learning programs. I am interested in some of those.
But on the day that I found out Josh couldn’t attend summer school, I was desperate for some way to keep them occupied. I thought I would be dropping them off at the Taekwondo class and then I would get to go downstairs and work out on the weights and treadmill. Well that’s not how it went. The teacher said in order for them to take classes I would have to chaperon. I loathed the idea of being in the back of the room, getting sore sitting on the hard wood floor, waiting for them to be done with the class… Every day… For an hour… Sigh… Another mommy sacrifice that would make me very grumpy.
So I joined them instead.
It has worked out very well. Some days it has been difficult to get out of the house and I don’t want to go because everything on my body hurts from the day before. Grand Master Cho has us doing crazy stretches and exercises that make my forehead sweat bullets.
I don’t perspire. I don’t glow. I sweat profusely. I sweat more than my husband.
OK, too much information.
Oh wow, did I mention I hurt? Yep, but it is a revelation to feel muscles that I haven’t felt in years. The boys hurt too. But they are young and strong. They pick up the moves so much easier than me. Fortunately the teacher is patient with me and says it is OK if I am slower. The point is for me to be patient and learn well, so the knowledge sticks. The hurting part will eventually stop.
Now, after class the kids and I change out of our Taekwondo uniforms, put on our Ipods and go work out on the treadmill and weights too. These all are good thing to do together and the boys really enjoy it. It gets us out of the house every day and I know it affects all our moods for the better.
If you want to attend classes they are at 10:00 AM 11:30 AM and 7:00 PM, at the Supergym; for one monthly fee of $65.00 per person you can attend as many classes as your body can stand. Uniforms cost $45.00 and include your first belt, a t-shirt, and more formal long sleeved shirt used for belt testing. Martial arts shoes are optional at $35.00 a pair. We did not buy them because start up costs for three people were already expensive.
I do not know if the boys will continue classes once school starts, due to schedule and homework loads. If it is too tough to keep up during the school year, they can attend during the summers that we are here. If they can get two belts a summer, they should be a pretty high rank by the time we leave. I plan on going for my black belt. Even if it takes the whole time I am here, I will get it. Not only have I kept a promise made to the boys, I am making a promise to myself to take care of my body, and these Taekwondo classes are a good way to do it.
