Happy Birthday T 2019 with His Sparring Team

T got to eat a Mexican dinner with his sparring team tonight. Here’s a picture and video of T enjoying time with them.

T’s Chiropractor

T stays adjusted. We are in to the Atlas Orthogonal office in Raleigh, NC every couple of weeks because of how hard he is training and the level he is competing at. Today his chiropractor gave us a last minute appointment after T took a spill while training at home. He put him right back in and T didn’t miss a beat. He weighs in tonight and fights tomorrow. He’s resting at the hotel now waiting for time to weigh in. This will be T’s first time to Spar Wars. He is looking forward to all that he is going to learn at this tournament. Here’s a pic of T with his Chiropractor, Dr. Bill:

Yet More Events/School Update

We were looking at next weekend being T's last regular event this season since Nationals are in July but now we are looking at 3 more events.  2 are in NY and 1 is in NJ.  2 are 4.0 point ranking events and the 1 in NJ is a 10.0 point ranking event.  Life with an elite athlete having to travel, do events, and train never ends.  Chasing points is going to be never ending it seems.  Chasing points aside, going to these events also gives T more experience with fighting the tougher kids in his bracket.  It gives him more ring time with them and to learn how to better fight them and hopefully learn how to beat them too.  Between homeschooling and all this TKD that we are doing life is crazy to say the least.  There is never a dull moment and things are constantly changing in this sport and we just roll with it as it comes and keep moving forward.  We've been blessed to have some awesome competitors, parents, coaches, and masters touch T's life along the way.  He's really loving every moment of this journey.

He does school because he has to but he loves all the training and doing the events.  My boy is growing up so fast and is so smart and mature for his age.  We may be struggling through math at the moment but he got a high praise from a sales person a few weeks back about how well spoken he is and how well articulated he is.  He does so well in his other subjects and I know the struggle with math will get better as he gets older and matures more.  I'm just glad that we are able to homeschool because without doing homeschooling he couldn't compete like he does.  He's living his dream and we are supporting him as much as we can for as long as we can.  He's an amazing kid and I can't wait to see the amazing man he is going to be when he is all grown up.

Stephen Lambdin Sparring Seminar

Today T got the rare opportunity to train with an Olympian. Stephen Lambdin has represented the USA 15 times in his careeer. He is a very nice young man and he made quite an impression on T at this seminar. Master Lambdin dubbed T as T-Bone today at the seminar. He was quite impressed with T and was very encouraging to him. Sometimes it’s nice to get different perspectives on sparring. T walked away from the seminar learning things that will help him in the long term as a fighter. He also got a rare chance to sit down and have dinner with Master Lambdin earlier this evening as well and get to know him better. Doing the seminar was the highlight of the day for T. Master Lambdin is one of T’s favorite TKD fighters. Here are some pictures from the day.

Pics from T’s 1st Fight at USAT SC

T did really good his first round. The score was 22-0. He point gapped the kid second round the of a three round match. 

Coach Adena did an awesome job with T. 

USAT SC 2019 in the Books

T won Silver today at USAT SC. 

Coach Adena and T. 

Just Chillin’

T is just chillin’ waiting for his turn to fight. We got him totally relaxing while he waits. 

What A Difference A Year Makes

Wow. He looks so different now compared to last year this time.

T’s Bracket for Tomorrow

T was supposed to have 4 boys in his division but one was a no show so now there’s 3. T will have to win two fights to get the gold. Pray for him as he fights. He really wants a gold medal win at this tournament. The kid that got the by is ranked a little higher than him in points ranking. T’s really hoping to get to fight him and beat him. It will be their first time fighting one another should T get past his first round which we are praying and believing he will. 

Fan Pride!

Me showing my fan pride as I watched the Canes sweep a 4-0 game series and knock the NY Islanders out of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.  Canes advance to Eastern Coast finals. #I<3Hockey