Despite his concerns about teaching his tense 9-year-old how to hit people, Corey consented to Jake and Landen trying out taekwondo as one of their summer activities. I'm not sure I completely convinced him that we're hoping this will teach both of them control and discipline, as well as give them a physical outlet to what they're trying to process right now, but he said okay. Wednesday was their first day, and their mawmaw reported that they smiled the entire time, never stopped moving and were exhausted that night. Energy burned. Success.
Classes are Monday, Wednesday and Friday and on Fridays I will meet them there after work and they come home with me. So tonight was my first night to see this. Holy shitballs, you guys. It was hilarious. You're not allowed in the room. You sit on benches in front of glass outside the room. You can't even hear what they're doing.
Ok, confession. When they first started doing their drills, I may have been the only parent in the viewing area who started crying. I think it was looking at them so happy and engaged and old enough to be in karate in their little white outfits. And I always feel bad that they get ME instead of their mom and dad. My sentimentality was short-lived, because the first time one of them fell over, I started giggling.
Jake can do TWO jumping jacks in the time it takes every other kid in the class and the instructor to do one. Landen has Corey's little short legs, so he can't jump as far or spread his legs as wide. I'm not sure why a warm-up in taekwondo includes doing the splits, but everytime Landen tried, he tipped over.
Then the kids jabbed at the air for a while, which Jake was really into, followed by holding their arms out at shoulder length and trying to kick their fingertips. In kicking one leg up, the other would invariable leave the ground too, and Jake and Landen would fall down at the same time. In synch.
After everybody was warmed up, they listened to commands before acting on them, which reminded me of Simon Says, then got with a partner to kick a pad and jab a pad. Next they lined up against the war and held on to a balance bar to practice kicks. It was during this that I looked over and saw Landen on the floor. He fell out. Too much exertion. He remained on the floor for the last five minutes of the class, until I looked back for him and he had fallen in with the rest to do whatever they do at the end of class. He came out all sweaty and flushed.
It was hard for me to take pictures, because I was behind glass that had a small inconvenient glare, AND I did not want to be one of those distracting assholes who flashes the camera while people are trying to concentrate on things.
Jake's current passion is being Indiana Jones. This means that he likes button up shirts that he can leave unbuttoned. Imagine his delight at a mandatory shirt with no buttons. I only hope he finishes with this before his dad comes home.
Can you feel the intensity of Jake's squats without even seeing his face?
Whoops. That's okay Landen. I bet Daddy has never been able to do the splits either and he's still our hero.
Jake holding the pad/bag thing (I'm sure it has a name) for the other kid.
Lining up to kick and kick.
We've got a man down.
Jake is always the intent and focused student.
Mayday! Mayday!
.....
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