Mb2

JJ, Brennan & Chris and dads all @ mb2 for several laps. First time for daddy and Billie. A lot of fun. Good challenging track.  JJ came first in the first race. Not bad after being last when he first tried it a few months ago.

7 yr old blackbelt!

After having spent half of life on TDK, JJ finally got his blackbelt on Sat 4/27/2013. Lots of training with dad and private lessons w/ Mr. Kivi. JJ wanted to quit right after New Years! Mr. Kivi helped turned him around. Trained hard w/daddy for the inhouse tournament which he got first place in sparring. After that, he's completely into TKD. Doing his forms everywhere we went. It's an amazing turnaround. Simply incredible. Lots of sweat, tears and stress (mostly daddy's) in this journey. On testing day, he breezed thru forms (songham 1 and chu chong 2), creative weapon specialty (sword w/ gangnam style) and even the Wall (he said it was tougher than he thought but he made it look easy). He had to spar for 15 solid min with all higher ranks including instructors who pounded on him pretty hard. He was the smallest and youngest of all 3 BB candidates. The only two were 9 (Gurtej) and 11 (Kevin). All three did great. The finale was board break - 2 x 0.5 inch thick 10x9 wooden boards. JJ smsshed the first one with elbow strike w/ease. However, his axe kick took the third try before the break took place. Quite surprising as he did it with one try in his prep and it was easy. After the 2nd failed attempt, daddy's heart stopped for it was his final chance. Thank God, he did it on the final attempt. One of the biggest reliefs in life for daddy. Couldn't and didn't want to imagine what would happen if he failed and did not get his black belt. What a great day! JJ was over the moon with his new found status and membership to this exclusive club. He did a very very short speech about thanking daddy for training with him, mommy for taking pics and Mr Kivi for the private lessons. He had to follow the tradition of not taking off the belt for 24 hours. Wear it with pride and show it off -that's what Watson senior essentially said - He was an interesting character and has watched jay ever since he started at Master Kim's.

Friend's bday

JJ made a card and a club tkt for Brennan Crist bday.

JJ imaginery ice hockey

JJ has been trying to do ice hockey since his last bday party @icestation. Can't start until he has got his black belt.  Now he is playing pretend ice hockey at home in his TKd gear! He really really wants to play hockey.  His 2 classmates,  Sam and Mason, are doing it.

Bookstore pleasure

Hanging @ B&N Valencia's on a cold winter afternoon.  JJ enjoying a new comic bk after Cali roll bento @ kisho. 

JJ's 2012 letter to Santa

JJ wrote it @ school. Asking for an IPAD. Looks like he may get a tablet of some sort but not sure which kind ...

School safety

Been a week since the massacre @newtown.  Noriko and I can't stop worrying about school safety.  Pinecrest emailed about them taking actions without much details. Surely it'll take a bit of time.  Called Kate and found out she and Jay are just as concerned. Need to work with other parents to establish and communicate acceptable standards.  Proactive and assertive engagement needed.  More to come after return from Hk.