USA TAEKWONDO SPECIAL TRAINING ON ZOOM SUNDAY...

 USAT did a special zoom session online Sunday afternoon.  T got to participate and enjoyed every moment of it.  T knew both Coach Tim (T's body coach) and Coach Stephen (2016 Olympian) personally. They've both been instrumental in T's life in regards to TaeKwonDo over the years.  Although the pictures don't show it this was a big core workout for T and he was feeling it afterwards.  One of T's big goals with TaeKwonDo Sparring is to get his stamina where it needs to be and also get his core strength where it needs to be.  He is also working on his speed when doing techniques.  Speed is key when you are a short fighter.  Speed keeps you from getting dominated by the taller opponents.  Here are some pics:

We are just a few days out from traveling to Texas for an event.  T feels good and ready for this event and looking forward to being able to learn his new weight division going forward.  He is on weight for this event too.  He weighs in Saturday and Fights on Sunday.  When you don't have to cut and just eat clean it makes a big difference in how you feel.  Eating clean is all it takes to get him on weight.  That's a great feeling to be able to do that.  After what happened last summer he will never actually cut to be on weight ever again.  If eating clean doesn't get him there then he fights up and that's all there is to that.  The coach he will have going forward starting June 1st is on that same page too.  It is so nice to be on the same page and everyone wanting to help T move forward in all that he is wanting to accomplish.  Keep checking back as I will be posting and updating everyone as everything happens this weekend at the tournament.  We are looking forward to seeing how things go to because it's a big adjustment when you move up weight divisions.  Learning and growing is what it's all about.  #GodsPlan

Everything Is Coming Up Puzzles...

I just ordered two more puzzles for us to do.  Scot is going to love these two puzzles.  Mom loved them when she saw them.  Here's what they will look like.

 

T is Looking Good!!!

T is looking really good right now.  He's been eating totally clean for a couple weeks now and it shows.  We have to send his body coach pics weekly.  I've missed a few times getting this done because we've had so much going on but he's looking real lean and strong right now.  He's not too heavy but not too light either.  A much better place than where he was last year when he was trying to cut too much weight to make a weight division.  He looks so healthy.  Loving that we decided to let him fight up in weight.  Such a good decision.  

    

Another Puzzle Finished!

Mom, Scot, T, and I just finished this beauty of a 1,000 piece puzzle.   

ISAIAH 54:17

This verse has become a verse that we turn to a lot for T in the sport he is doing.  We have been drilling this into him for many many years now but not just the portion you will see in the photo below but the entire verse.  Here it is in the KJV version of the Bible:  "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn.  This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord."  

We actually put this in our language and point to him and say you instead of thee to him though when we recite it to him.  And when he says it we have him put in me instead of thee to make it more personal to him.  

We really want him to take this scripture to heart because being in the sport he's in is a tough and you have to have tough skin to do this sport.  If you are wimpy and a whinny baby who can't take pain this sport is definitely not for you.  Know yourself and know your limitations is something we have been guiding T to do.  T is very much a realist, something he gets from both his father and myself, and he knows his limitations and the realities surrounding being able to make it to the the highest level of this sport.  He's no fool and isn't trying to make himself to be bigger and badder than he really is.  He's in a happy place right now in TaeKwonDo.  He wants to continue doing competitions and all of TaeKwonDo.  He is going to continue to do his best Win or Learn because at the end of the day if he learns something it is something he can pass on to his students when he has his own dojang someday.  I love his attitude and his focus.  He is becoming such an incredible young man who loves the Lord!  It is our hope and prayer that when he has his own school someday that it will stand out and be different because he will intertwine God into every aspect of it and make it a place that followers of Christ will want to bring their kids to learn TaeKwonDo.  

ONE EXCITED KID!!!

 T is excited because his renewed passport finally came in today.  Woohoo!!!  In the Open competitions they require a photo ID and we've found we get no push back of any kind if T always shows this at competitions.  You can do other forms of ID but we have always chosen this form because of the value of it and no one generally will say anything to you about wanting other forms of ID as long as you have this one.  

Meet T's New Master - Master Douglas Townsend

T is so looking forward to being Master Doug's student for all of his TaeKwonDo.  He's looking forward to growing and learning all he can while being his student.  He has known Master Doug for many many years now.  Master Doug had a winning competition Demo Team and that was his main focus for a good many years.  He's now switched his focus to more of the sparring side of things.  We wanted to take a moment and introduce you to his new Master/Coach because this is who he will have as his Master from here on out unless something unforeseeable happens.  Master Doug just recently earned his blue belt in Jujitsu.  That's a step down from black belt in that particular martial arts and it takes 10 years to go from blue to black in it.  He is very actively involved in instructing his students.  He's a very hands on Master and that is what T aspires to be someday.  This move to Master Doug was a needed move so that T can continue moving forward in TaeKwonDo.  He loves everything about TaeKwonDo and not just the sparring aspect of it.  He will learn a lot being with Master Doug and he looks forward to having a growing relationship with him for years to come.  There's so much more to this Master than meets the eye.   #GodsPlan

Douglas  

Townsend

Head Master @ 

CORE Taekwondo Performance Center

I'm a 4th Dan Black Belt, and I have studied Taekwondo since the age of 8 years old. In 2013, I became the +80 kg Weight Division Fighter for the US Virgin Islands Taekwondo National Team as well as one of the Olympic Hopefuls to represent my country in 2016 for the Rio Olympic Games.

Since then I competed in 2014, at the Costa Rica Open and placed third, placed top 16 and qualified for the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, and finished Quarterfinals at the 2016 Pan Am Olympic Games Qualifier in Aguascalientes.

Othordontist Appointment Yesterday

T's Ortho Appt. yesterday went well.  He chose dusky blue as his band color this time.  They chained all his teeth this time instead of just part of them and he's been feeling the pain big time last night and today.  I have to call Ortho in the morning because his teeth have already moved so much that the wire is poking his jaw in the back.  I'm sure before he has to go to his tournament next week we will have to go back to Ortho again to make sure he will be fine while we are out of town in Texas for the tournament...LOL! 

Peeeewwww

T was some kind of stinky tonight after sparring training.  Peeewww!!!  Had to get him home quick to get all cleaned up...LOL!  Only parents of athletes can truly understand what I like to call, "The Funk"...LOL!  It's a smell like no other. T looks stronger each time he trains though.  These are the days we can't get back as parents so we have to enjoy all of it and yes  that even means the stinky moments too.  Wouldn't trade our life with this kid for anything in the world.  He makes all we do for him worth it.  He's always kept us on our toes.  What a blessing it is to be his parents.  Looking forward to all that God has in store for him as he grows into a man.  Have a great night everyone.  #GodsPlan 

PRESIDENT'S CUP - PATU EVENT

President's Cup - a PATU event - will be happening August 19th-21st.  After Grand Prix T won't compete again until this tournament.  Praise the Lord that he will be able to eat and grow until he has to compete at this event.  We are looking forward to doing this event and T gaining more experience.  Just keep those prayers coming that we mentioned in our other posts about the other two tournaments.  Lots of changes going on and much for T to adjust to as well.  

I know you haven't see us mention that he is going to Nationals this year and that's because he won't be.  The tournaments we mentioned are all that he will be doing this summer.  One National event was going to be in Las Vegas and we've had our fill of going to that venue and really don't ever care to go back there again.  It's like a modern day Sodom and Gomorrah.  The other National even is in Utah.  We actually love Salt Lake City, Utah.  It's a very nice venue and a family oriented environment.  It's just too far for us to even consider going to just for experience and learning.  It's money better saved for events that closer to home.  

We thank you for staying up to date with us and covet your prayers.  #GodsPlan