Dad has been spending lots of time with Jordan, helping him with his forms. It is hard for a “Dad” to act as a “Coach” sometimes without pushing too hard and keeping it fun. It is also at times difficult for a child to try as hard or listen to little critiques from a parent whom they hear similar corrective measures most days for other non-karate related aspects of life.
Jordan is working hard and is getting better with his forms every day. His “karate” chops, kicks and punches are stronger and technically more accurate. With regular karate classes 2 or 3 times a week for an hour, additional pointers from “Sir“, practicing at home 30min – 1hr each night this week before a tournament, practicing Piano and other childhood activities, Jordan is very busy.
Additional help for developing “fun” forms for Jordan was from DVD’s and internet videos from Mike Chat and Roland Osborne. Jordan really, really, really, really, really, wants to be on Mike Chat’s XMA Team Revolution.
Its Jordan’s desire to do well at the tournaments, willingness to practice and his love to “perform” is what makes it really fun for me to assist him in obtaining his goals.
March 10, 2007 we went to Clarkston, WA for the Snake River Classic Tournament. This tournament was sponsored by Martial Arts America. We would like to thank Frank Arnett for the great tournament. I had the great experience of meeting nearly the whole Arnett family. I was really surprised when this grandmother commented on how Jordan reminded her of her son at that age, she then said my son is “Frank Arnett”.
Here are a few pictures of Jordan at the Tournament: Before the age 9-11 advanced Kata
Open Hand Kata – Jordan placed 3rd.
Entertainment Division: Jordan Placed 4th.
While there we visited Grandpa Bruce and Grandma Jan. The Karate Brothers were setting a Black Belt example and helped do some spring yard cleaning with Grandpa and Grandma. We had a great visit, thanks for a place to stay and joining us watching Jordan at the tournament.
Jordan and others from his karate school (PMA) went up to Yakima for the 2007 Karate Championship. Jordan and the others did very well, as this was a more “traditional” style of tournament with most of the participants of the Shudokan Karate Style from the Yakima School of Karate or related school around the area.
Kyler supported his karate brother and cheered for Jordan but he decided not to participate in the tournament. Jordan was a little nervous, but he talked to a couple other boys that sat next to him as they waited their turn to perform in their age division 9-11 intermediate (one to two years karate training). As Jordan just turned 9 and was competing again 10 and 11 year olds, we decided not to push Jordan into the advanced group in the same age division.
Jordan placed “1st” in his division but it was very close with another girl that did very well, but he must have impressed the judges just a little bit more. Here is Jordan’s “Open Hands” form.
Jordan also performed in the “Entertainment Division” and Place “4th” among other Brown and Black belts of all ages. Entertainment is for a more non-traditional sport karate and allows the form/kata to be performed with music. Here is Jordan’s “Crazy Frog: Karate Form”. Find your favorite ringtones including: crazy frog Ringtones at yixe.com
Dad was in charge of a day of snow skiing with both brothers and to help keep then entertained we decided to have a little fun and make a skiing video to the song “Axel-F” by Crazy Frog. This song is currently one of Jordan’s and Kyler’s favorite songs. They get a kick out of all the “bing bing’s” and “bong’s”.
We hope you enjoy the video almost as much as the boys had skiing all day “binging” and “bonging” while they skied.
Over the summer we had a chance to travel to the Washington coast, and stayed at Long Beach, Wa. We stayed at a little condo with a Ocean view.
It was a very nice weekend as the weather did cooperate with very little rain or wind. It is not the same as the California coast with 80-90 degree weather but it was mid 60’s to 70’s and was very pleasent, but made short stints of playing in the ocean for Jordan and Kyler.
Even while exploring the town of Long Beach, the brothers would start playing around and showed some of their karate moves and posed for Dad and his camera.
You can view more of the pictures in the photo gallery for Long Beach Photos
Well, with the boys working hard at their Karate, and even Dad too, we passed our belt tests and were able to advance to the next belts. Kyler is now a Blue Belt, Jordan a Green Belt and Dad is Brown. Mom, also worked hard at helping paint the boys’s school, and wasn’t able to attend many classes during this period and did not feel like she was ready to test for her next belt.
Jordan is also on the demonstration team for Walla Walla Premier Martial Arts, which is now XMA. Jordan loves the new X1 XMA Uniform. Jordan even performed a “Mike Chat” form he learned from watching an internet video.
The XMA/XDT team did a special performance, thanking Maam and Sir for their hard work and dedication to the team, helping the team grow as a team and as great martial artist and performers.
OK, we’ve been a little busy and haven’t posted much lately or really for quite some time. Here is a quick post about the Karate Brothers and Mom and Dad wearing “Martial Artist at Play” t-shirts.
This was our first order from www.cafepress.com and I am pleasently satisfied with the quality of the shirts and the application of the logos. The shirts are of good quality and even after a few washings the logos are staying on the shirts as if they were bought from a store.
CafePress.com is more for small volume purchases as the pricing is not as competitive if your doing a 100 or more shirts. Also you have the option of other housewares like coffe mugs, clocks, mouse pads and more.
It was a very nice weekend as the weather did cooperate with very little rain or wind. It is not the same as the California coast with 80-90 degree weather but it was mid 60’s to 70’s and was very pleasent, but made short stints of playing in the ocean for Jordan and Kyler.
Even while exploring the town of Long Beach, the brothers would start playing around and showed some of their karate moves and posed for Dad and his camera.
Well, with the boys working hard at their Karate, and even Dad too, we passed our belt tests and were able to advance to the next belts. Kyler is now a Blue Belt, Jordan a Green Belt and Dad is Brown. Mom, also worked hard at helping paint the boys’s school, and wasn’t able to attend many classes during this period and did not feel like she was ready to test for her next belt.
