martial arts

Indomitable what now?

Time keeps flowing toward that magic date of December 1, 2017, when I’ll stand for my black belt test in taekwondo. I’m a little stressed. As part of my requirements, I am writing a 10 page paper about becoming a black belt. Here’s a chunk of it- by the time you read this, the whole… Continue reading Indomitable what now?

martial arts

You! Control Yourself!

After 4 and a half years of training in taekwondo, I am getting ready for my black belt test. As part of that, I am exploring what it means to become a black belt, and the 5 tenets of taekwondo. You can read about courtesy, integrity, and perseverance, and today I’d like to share my… Continue reading You! Control Yourself!

martial arts

Keep going and going and going..

Time keeps flowing toward that magic date of December 1, 2017, when I’ll stand for my black belt test in taekwondo. I’m a little stressed. As part of my requirements, I am writing a 10 page paper about becoming a black belt. Here’s a chunk of it- I’d appreciate any feedback. Previous posts have been… Continue reading Keep going and going and going..

martial arts

Hold on- more tenets

In the process of becoming a black belt in taekwondo, I am reflecting on what that process means.Here is part two of my rough-ish draft of the essay I need to write as part of my qualifications to qualify for my black belt with the World Taekwondo Federation (yes, the other WTF) What are musings… Continue reading Hold on- more tenets

martial arts

So, what belt are you?

After taekwondo family class one evening last fall, Kate and I went to King Soopers to get sushi (I know, I know, grocery store sushi…terrible) and a man saw us in our uniforms, there outside the store, in the dusk. ”Are you above brown?” he asked. “Huh?” I totally couldn’t understand him- I thought he… Continue reading So, what belt are you?

martial arts

Pick a Dojang, any Dojang

  When I’m not being an internationally renowned blogger and lifestyle Instagrammer (did you catch that picture of my soup yesterday? Genius, I tell you) I teach kids who are learning English as a second language. I was astonished the other day when one of my students, from China, told me he did taekwondo.  “But aren’t… Continue reading Pick a Dojang, any Dojang

movement · yoga

5 things to understand when you restart exercise after a break

Exercise is one of those things most of us think we should do more of-for whatever reason, maybe you aren’t getting enough movement- were you on vacation? Recovering from an injury? Raising small humans? Life just generally getting in the way? It happens to all of us. Start where you are. You might have set… Continue reading 5 things to understand when you restart exercise after a break

mindfulness

Let’s talk about mirrors…

Christy the yoga teacher , who has had a huge influence over me the last several years, is a big believer in activating the glutes. Her voice is in my head, saying, “squeeze those cheeks!”  She also used to talk about having a “c-shaped butt” which baffled me, who would want their butt to be concave?… Continue reading Let’s talk about mirrors…

martial arts

Taekwondo, hard on toes, good for brains.

I’m in a special category of martial artists- those of us who start because our kids are into it, then keep going because it’s fun. Kate began 5 years ago, after begging us to sign her up for probably 4 years. She became a black belt a year ago- she’s not in a big hurry… Continue reading Taekwondo, hard on toes, good for brains.