Back Home, Skating, & Hapkido

After our Oregon road trip, I was happy to have the weekend NOT being in a car.

I went to Claire and Emma's birthday party that Sunday.  It  was at a skating rink.  I spent two hours trying to get better at skating.  I found that I liked the inline skates better than the old fashioned quads.

I finally graduated from my walker!.  My behind hurt so much from all the falling that I had to take a small pillow with me to school to sit on the next day.

I'm still enjoying Hapkido.  Grand Master is trying to punch me and I am trying to block!

I find this to be a lot of fun!

December

 So far December has been a fun month!  We got a little snow about tens days ago, but still had school!!!!!  That's Sabrina.

It's still dark when we get to school, because school starts at 8:00 am.

Mom taught art to all the elementary classes.  She found this great project on drawing the Northern Lights.  Here is mine:

I also have Hapkido, and on Thursday's, Sabrina comes too, so Thursdays are always more fun.

 We got to be partners.

 Sabrina got to practice on me and I on her.

 Grand Master took me down to demonstrate what we were learning.  It happened so fast!

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I am glad that school is finally out for Winter Break, but fortunately, there will still be Hapkido to do!

Rowan's Turn

Leveled up!!!!!!

I was surprised when I when to Hapkido last night, that I was one of three students that received a white belt with a black stripe in it.  Master Aaron presented me with it.  

 

 I have been at Hapkido for less than two months and have been working hard to learn their techniques.  Grand Master Kim has told me that my 4 years of karate has helped.  The black stripe was not earned through a belt test, but by the black belts that run the class.  The black stripe represents that I am a focused student.

 It was nice that my Dad came to the class and  tied my new belt on.  I look good with a black stripe!

  

 Hitting the focus pad with Grand Master Kim.

It was a good class, but I have to wait a whole week to go back because of the Thanksgiving Holiday.

Yesterday, I also tried some Lamb Briani at Lana & Sabrina's house.  My Mom was surprised to see me Indian food and took this picture below.  I picked out the lamb, but ate all the rice.

Finding a new martial art

September was a hard month for me.  I got a really bad cold, and then in turned into strep throat.  I ended up missing 4 days of school.  My dojo closed down in Kent suddenly, leaving me to find a new martial art to learn.  With the help of my parents, and my friend Sabrina, we were able to visit and try several other dojos and their style of martial arts.  We tried another Goju school, but it was a little too far away in West Seattle.  We tried taekwondoe, and hapkido.  Fortunately, we found a school, that I and my parents both REALLY liked.  

 I chose Kwon Moo Hapkido, located in Burien  It's a very practical art: punching, kicking, getting  out of arm grabs, rolling, and sparring.  No forms.

 I had to go back to white belt, but Master Kim says that with my experience, that I should be able to advance up soon.  We also wear Judo gi's, they are more durable than the traditional gi's.

 Grand Master Kim (8th level black belt) spent a lot of time with  me, teaching me to breack out of wrist grabs.  I like him, he is very friendly.

 I leave class tired and happy.  Also there was time for me to practice my shoulder rolling.  I am really glad we found this place.