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
November 5th, 2006
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.
Thanks, Maam and Sir, you are very apprieciated.
Jordan, Kyler and Mr. Jordan and Kylers Dad. ;)
October 3rd, 2006
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.
September 12th, 2006
Well, with all the equipment, training, food and all the other things that come with martial arts, the brothers need ShoeMoney. ShoeMoney, You ask? Well it is a silly little competition that some bald internet guy who calls himself “Shoemoney” is starting or did start a few days, back.
I found the Shoemoney story at Walla Walla Info a local site about you guessed it Walla Walla. Well if we don’t win, he would look good in one of our t-shirts.
UPDATE:
Unfortunately it appears the contest ended prematurely due to irresponsible people using unethical means at trying to win(S-P-A-M-M-E-R-S). Jeremy Shoemaker, the owner of www.shoemoney.com, was told by his hosting company that if the contest didn’t end they would shut his site down. To bad Jeremy and now there is NO Shoemoney for the Karate Brothers.
June 1st, 2006
Jordan, started taking Piano Lessons in January, 2006. He is taking lessons through a teacher (Susan Montross at www.pianosuccess4u.com) using the “Simply Music” method. In similarity of youngsters learning to talk before they read, this method teaches the students to play before they read music.
Jordan has always seemed to have music humming through his head, and with this program he is able to get some of that music out in a soothing fashion. He recently had a piano recital with other students in Walla Walla, at the Park Plaza Retirement facility. They have a nice piano and were gracious enough to allow the recital to take place and entertain the residents.
With the program they encourage the student to practice previous songs that were learned so they they don’t forget them and the songs tend to build upon others.
May 23rd, 2006
We just returned from a trip to Spokane, Wa to attend the www.iemat.com (Inland Empire Martial Arts Tournament). It was a great experience for Jordan and the rest of the family. This was our first tournament to compete in and even to attend. While practicing with Jordan, we assured him that we wanted to do our best, but if we didn’t come home with a trophy, we could do better the next time and be even more prepared.
We along with other members of his Xtreme Demo Team, went for the learning experience. Our school has not previously attended or competed in other tournaments so this was a first for all of us.
Jordan’s 8 - 10 year old division was further broken up into Age/Experience categories for the kids to compete against other kids of similar age and amount of time practicing Martial Arts. Jordan competed in the 8 year old Intermediate breakdown, meaning they had 9 months to 1 year of training.
Going into the tournament, we were thinking Jordan would have to compete against everyone in the age bracket and only 3 trophies would be handed out. But with the further breakdowns, it gives more kids the chance to win with a more level field of competition.
To put more stress on the parents and somewhat Jordan, it was randomly chosen that Jordan had to perform first in his group. I have to say, Jordan did very well under the pressure of his first competition and with the results of the Judges, they must have agreed. Jordan’s score, remained in 1st Place (8yo Intermediate) while the other kids did their performances. Congratulations Jordan!!!
May 22nd, 2006
Premier Martial Arts of Walla Walla, put on a performance for the Balloon Stampede. Jordan, Kyler, Mom and Dad, had the pleasure of helping the Xtreme Demo Team and PMA for some of the weekend.
Jordan loves to perform in front of a good crowd. The Balloon Stampede proved to be just that. From the look on the people watching the Demo Team and XD Team, they enjoyed the program. The whole team worked real hard to make the program run smoothly. Ma’am, Diana Griffin, made sure the team was prepared and helped sharpen their skills.Jordan performed his Advanced American Forms Challenge Form, by Roland Osborne. Jordan has really worked hard on this form. It has some fairly difficult sequences of kicks and punches for his age and belt level.
Kyler, though not on the XD Team, he helped pass out infomation cards at the PMA booth and was there to support his Karate Brother and the rest of the team.
After a great and intense demonstration, PMA Instructors, Diana and Steve, bought the team passes to go on one of the largest “air filled” slides that was 60 ft. tall. (Thanks Ma’am and Sir)
See some more pictures of the Balloon Stampede Demonstration here.
Please leave a note if you saw the team at the Balloon Stampede.
May 16th, 2006
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