The last several weeks, I haven't been in classes as much as I could be, due to personal stuff going on in my family. And that happens. Fortunately, as far as my form goes, it's not too bad, because just like the last cycle, it's all stuff I've done before. This cycle, with IW#2, it's a form I remembered that I liked a year ago when I did it, so it's coming back to me pretty quickly. The problem is, I really have had no gauge as to where I should be in re-learning this. I mean, the sequence in how it's done is section 1, section 2, reverse of each, then section 3, section 4 and the reverse of those. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy. The problem I have is getting the transitions right.
So, today was a day of trying to figure out what I was missing in my forms, and what were the transitions. This morning's class was being taught by MZ, who's back from college for the summer, and looking for hours, so she's helping, and hopefully doing more Wednesday morning classes. Perhaps she'll put some fire under those old ladies' butts! She agreed that it was pretty lame that they want to be able to not be too sweaty or have "helmet head" from wearing headgear for sparring during that class since they have to go back out into the world after class. Um, hello? That's what happens with a day class! It's a CLASS, not a minor demonstration! MZ appreciated that at least Sandy and I actually try to work out, and aren't afraid to actually punch and kick each other, unlike the "elders". One of them was going on and on about how RA is like a frog in how he jumps, and since MZ and RA don't always get along, I could tell that MZ was just biting her tongue short of bleeding with this person. MZ and I had a chance to catch up for a while, so that was cool. She's a good kid, and I like her. So she helped me with getting all the parts and some of the transitions. She also helped Sandy and I with some more challenging things with the DSJB, get some ideas about freestyle for that. I also worked for a few minutes after class (volunteered for duty when the phone rang, to allow MZ to finish teaching class, as Sandy said she'd stick around to help me break, and MZ would be around too), and I've got that roundkick break, more or less, but I really need to get more practice in it. But I'm not nervous about it just yet. I think I'll be fine.
Tonight's instructor class did some drills, and we had a discussion that was evidentally a carry-over from last week's class (which I missed) about things that instructors can bring back to class to perk things up, keep the kids' attention during class yet keep it fun AND get curriculum in at the same time. We then worked a bit on weapons and forms on our own. I mostly worked with the C sisters on SJB for a while, but in the end, after class, I asked SW if she could help me again with transitions. It turns out, in the end, that I'm actually ahead, as at this point we're only supposed to know the 1st half of the form. That part is the easy part. It's the second half that I have issues with. I think I have a better idea of what's going on now with the transitions. I think I'll have to check the DVD several more times too, and well, practice of course! But to know that I'm probably ahead of the game, despite actually being behind a bit in classes, is a little reassuring. I still feel like I have to play catch-up, but knowing that I'm on the right track instead of feeling lost is good.
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The dreaded "helmet head". I always liked sparring after class because I hated to have helmet head all through class. So embarassing!
Well, at our school, we do sparring last generally, but these ladies seem to be too prim and proper, that they feel that they shouldn't do sparring during the day class as they have to be out and about for the rest of the day, and those helmet/headgear really do cause you to sweat if you are actually working at it! (Of course, I don't feel that any of them truly break a sweat during class at all!). If they went to the gym and worked out, they'd still have to shower or just deal with it before going back to work, so why shouldn't it be a full-out class because of that! All they do is complain, and to watch them, they aren't very good, hence why Sandy and I wish that either MZ or SW would turn up the heat in that class, at least exercise-wise! (Then again, for all I know, my days are numbered over there if I find a job soon...)
I'm currently a Red/Black belt and thinking about joining the leadership program at my ATA school. Was wondering if you could let me know what you think of the leadership program and if it is worth the time/money. I'm a father with a career and started taking TKD with my son. Thanks
Hi Mike--
I couldn't email you directly since your profile isn't shared, but I'll see if I can put things in a nutshell. I'll be promoting up to Red/Black in about 2-3 weeks myself, so you're just ahead of me that way.
I think Leadership is different things in differents, ATA schools. There are pluses and minuses, just like everything in life! The minuses-- yes,the obvious extra costs. Extra responsibilities, and how much of that depends on your school. The pluses: a) if you compete at all, any placement wins (1st, 2nd or 3rd) make you eligible for state ranking. b) I know at my school, if there are special seminars that help me learn a new technique or get better at one, my school owner will allow the leadership people to take it either for free or at a big discount. c)Related to that, being in leadership makes you eligible for more ATA seminars that are offered as well. d)Depending on how your school does things, you can learn to be an instructor or not. At the kids' levels, they mostly learn to assist and lead class at certain parts, and it's only until they are older can they truly TEACH class once they are certified. As an adult, you can certainly do your time to learn to teach and get your certification too. I haven't certified yet because first, not a 1st degree yet, and second because it took me at least a good year to feel comfortable with the idea of being able to lead a class, even with stretches. There hasn't been any pressure on me to get all my color belt forms memorized yet and all that. So I assist when I can, and I help at the front desk when I can, and am still a trainee, but I like helping others on some level, so it comes easily to me.
I don't know, I just feel like being part of leadership is like being part of the inside track as to what's going on at my school as well as what's going on in the ATA. I take instructor classes to actually improve my in class skills, even if I don't teach the material yet, as it gives me better understanding of what I'm learning. Oh, and at my school, you can't do Xtreme ATA unless you are in leadership. My son is still in Masters, and I know he'd be a natural at it, but since I don't think he has the maturity to be in leadership yet, he has to miss out for now.
I enjoy being in leadership, and gain in so many ways. It's not for everybody, but I think there's a lot of good things that can happen as being part of it. You should also ask other kids and adults who are in leadership as well, not just your instructors. Ask the teens who still have their red/white/blue collars, or teens who have a red or red/black collar. (I'm still working on my red/black, since I have red.) Different schools have different requirements in getting into leadership. At my school, I just had to show the interest and they took me in. At other schools, you have to be invited. And yet other schools will let you in if interested, but you need to do certain things before you actually get your new collar, etc.
If you have any more questions, just email me at windsornot at yahoo dot com.
I don't know about the helmet head thing. I don't usually wear headgear.
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