Aidan's First Karate Tournament!

Aidan had a wonderful time today. All the hard work he has put in all summer and fall went towards competing today. He did his forms - steps, kicks and punches. And then he got to do sparing. He lost his match, but he was going up against a SIX year old. Aidan is 3 (he'll be 4 at the end of the month). But, I was so proud of him. He landed two punches! Amazing. I thought for sure he might run out of the ring against a kid almost twice his size. Aidan made us proud!

Check out all of the pictures here: Karate Tournament Pictures







Aidan scores to the chest with a punch! Way to go big man.

Learning a big lesson

Today went great for Aidan. Preschool was good for him, but boy did it stress him out - big time. He didn't nap. He was so excited to see his Mom and explain everything to her. She was at work doing professional development sessions on Assessment for Learning (I'll be doing my presentation there tomorrow).

Tonight was also karate practice. Aidan was a mess. He started crying twice before we left over little things. So I knew he was exhausted and he might really struggle at karate. Then Master Peavey was not there. So we were both crossing our fingers. During warmups Aidan just started crying. The kid who was filling in for Master Peavey was nice about it and told him to go get a drink. I walked out with him to the water fountain and Aidan said, "Dad, I just want to go home."

These are moments in the life of a parent where you either make the right decision and it leads to big breakthroughs, or you mess up - big time. I asked him to go back in and finish. He started balling. So I took him into the observation room and explained why he needed to go back out there. I said, "Don't worry if you mess up - just do you best and we will be proud of you." He looked at me like I was killing him. So I pulled the McDonald's card. I said, "Do you want to go to McDonald's after karate?" He nodded through the tears. Then I said, "let's finish the lesson and we'll go." He said, "No Daddy, now, plllleaaase."

I took him by the hand and led him back out to practice and said, "I will stand here on the side and watch. When you get worried or upset - look my way. I will give you a thumbs up and let you know you can do it." He just looked at me and slowly walked back out to the floor. I was scared to death that he would quit.

Having been through hundreds of practices, sessions in the weight room, runs around the track, and 100 degree days of football camp... I know it's hard. I know there are days when you just want to run home. But, you can't. You have to keep going. If Aidan was ill, if he was hurt, if he was throwing up... different story. But, he was just tired. He was stressed from the first day at preschool. He needed to keep trying.

Aidan cried a couple of more times, but he stuck it out. Afterward it was like he won the world series. He was so excited and proud of himself. I was proud of him, too. He really grew up a lot today in my eyes. He learned a valuable lesson - if you have a commitment - you stick to it.

If my Dad taught me anything it was not to quit. He encouraged me. Hell he even bribed me. Just like I did with McDonalds, Dad used to pay me money for football games when I did not lay on the field hurt - like many little kids would do to get attention.

My little guy is growing up. Preschool, karate, and learning big time lessons. Even at 3 years old it is essential that he understands - life is not always easy. But, we have to keep trying.

Top Kick Picture

Love this picture! He looks great.

Skittles Time!

At the end of the karate class, Master Peavey hands out skittles to the kids. It is a competitive thing. Tonight Aidan got 4... which is pretty much the best you can do. He had a good class. Still confusing his rights and lefts from time to time. But, he is 100% into the class. Really having a great time. It is so fun to watch.


Aidan is to the left of Master Peavey. Click to enlarge.

They also took pictures tonight. We can't wait to see them. They shot Aidan against a Green Screen and they'll put two images (one of him smiling - all cute and the other of him kicking in an AWESOME way) on the photo. It is going to look cool.

My Lil' Dragon!

Here is my Lil'Dragon!






Tonight Aidan got his uniform top. He was loving the fact that he has his name stitched on it. About 1/2 way through the class tonight, Aidan looked at the Master and said, "My name is Aidan... see." (and pointed to his stitched on name) It was pretty funny because he for the past month of his classes we really don't think that the Master knew Aidan's name. After tonight I am sure he does. :)

Aidan did a real good job tonight. He really enjoys it. I can see his confidence growing. He does a lot of the exercises with a big smile. I asked him tonight, "What is your favorite part of karate buddy?" He smiled and said, "Running!" He loves when they run around the mats and run around and play follow the leader. They also run from one side to the other and race. He gets a big kick out of that.

It is really cool to see his competitive nature come out. He wants to win. It's not like Norma and I are forcing him, he wants to do it. Pretty neat to watch.

Karate Friends

This is Aidan's karate friend Odin. Aidan is younger, but a little taller. And tonight for the first time ever, Aidan got the most skittles at the end. Master sits with them at the end of the class and explains what they did well and what they need to improve on for next time. And then the skittles come out. Tonight there were only three kids (4th of July week) and the two older boys got 2 skittles, Aidan got 3. It was a pretty big deal to him. He didn't even want to eat them, just hold them in his hand and keep counting them.

He did well. He's improving. The best thing that I am seeing is that he is listening to someone other than Norma and I. When he starts preschool in the fall, he'll need to listen to someone else. This is great practice.

I also like the discipline aspect of what he is doing. It is invaluable to get training in routines. He is going through the same stretching each time he goes. I can see his improvement. It will be amazing to compare his progress over the next year.

The other major part of karate for him is meeting other kids his age. Being an only child is going to be good and bad. The good part is that he gets lots of adult attention from Norma and I. But, the bad part is that he is home alone without other kids around. So we need to get him out with others and invite friends over to the house. We have a few neighbors that we should really work harder to know. And their kids and Aidan could be pretty good friends.

Aidan has a great way with other kids. He's very outgoing. Almost in a scary way. We've been having the 'strangers' talk a lot lately. He just trusts everyone. So we keep eagle eyes on him when we are out. Today we biked down to Sonic for breakfast. Aidan went up to this guy who was sitting at a table by himself. He sat across from him and said, "Hey dude!" It was wild. Walking away he said, "Hey Mom, that's my best friend."

It's awesome that he's so positive and loves talking with other people. But, I am afraid he's far too trusting. We'll keep working on it. I am confident he'll change as he gets older. He is only 3. Most kids go through a real stage of shyness. He's going to, right?

Aidan Officially Becomes a White Belt

I would assume a 3 year-old would need to be a beginner. Tonight, Aidan is officially a beginner.

In many martial arts, the white belt is worn by beginners. Keikogi often will come with a white belt packaged inside. Symbolically, a white belt is sometimes said to represent a tabula rasa, ready to acquire understanding of the art. In some styles, students wear white belts until they receive their first rank of black belt, while in others a range of color is used for different kyu grades (grades before black belt).

In Japanese arts, white belt-wearers are referred to as "mudansha". (according to wikipedia.org)

He had a really good night. Listened to his Master well and was very happy afterward tonight. Very happy because he got his uniform. He did not get his top yet though. They are going to stitch in his name. So for next class he'll wear his black t-shirt and pants with his white belt. He looks awesome.

Master put blue tape on the floor tonight to help the kids step and punch. Aidan struggles with that a little because the same hand and leg go at the same time. So we practiced a little tonight.



Won't be long and my boy will be a black belt! :)

The Karate Kid

Today we took Aidan to karate practice for the first time. As parents we were sweating bullets. Aidan has been home with us for a few weeks and not around kids very much. And the only adults he's ever followed directions from have been Norma and I and his daycare sitter Mimi. So we were nervous... did I mention we were nervous.

[Aidan is the kid in the back row, 2nd from the end, in the grey shorts and dark shirt. He doesn't have a uniform yet. He has his arm raised in the photo below.]


He did very well though. During setup of their Master putting tape on the floor for the 3-5 year old "Little Dragons", Aidan wandered off a bit and ran across the floor. There is a mirror that runs the entire length of the practice floor and he was pretty enamored with looking at himself run in it. And Aidan kept wanting to do forward rolls on the floor. But, finally he took his place and they began.

The kids all started with stretching, jumping jacks (one of Aidan's favorites), lots of toe touching, and situps. Aidan really struggled with the situps because he was lying on his back and couldn't see the Master. But, he worked very, very hard. I was proud of him.



At one point the master dismisses them and lets them go to get a drink after they have completed a task. Aidan didn't get this figured out at all. He just wanted to run all over the floor. So I brought him over and explained that he could get a drink if he needed one. "No dad! I don't need a drink." So he finally went over and sat with the kids against the wall.



I really liked how their Master made them help each other carry mats and then return them when they were finished. They also had some older kids help Aidan with a throw at the end. He really didn't get it... but, he tried. By that time our little guy was pretty spent.

Aftwards Master Peavy took us into his office and explained the program. He said that the first two weeks are free. Then there is a payment for his uniform (right now he doesn't need one - but, boy does he want one!). They are pretty cute with little purple and green dragons on the back. Their names are stitched into the front of their uniforms.

Master Peavy said that every black belt that he has is either in college or has been accepted into college. He said it with a lot of pride and explained how the dedication it takes to succeed in this sport directly relates to the classroom. As teachers, we totally understand that helping kids to be disciplined and to be focused is a very important part of getting and appreciating an education. The cost is $89 a month. And we think that is a small price to pay for the lessons a 3 to 5 year old will learn. He has two classes each week - Monday and Wednesday.

I am very depressed that I will be gone next week in Dallas for the AVID Summer Institute (did I really just type that? I have been looking forward to it for so long.) But, I am going to miss his next two classes. I am really down about it. Because I want to help him prepare for each class by working with him a little bit each day.

Tonight we practiced forward rolls, our left from right, and jumping jacks. Aidan is learning and he does it with a real eagerness and a smile on his face. My Dad would have just been ecstatic to see these pictures. I can hear his voice right now, "The coordination he is learning is going to help him so much when he starts baseball (or basketball... or football... or chasing after girls!)."

I miss my Dad so much. It is days like this after watching the Tim Russert Memorial on TV and spending so much wonderful and fulfilling time with Aidan that I realize why they called him "Dad" at work and why he loved being a dad so much. It is really the best job in the world.