After 5 1/2 years of hard work, on Friday, March 2, 2007, I earned my black belt in Chun Kuk Do. I also just used 4 commas in one sentence. Whew! It was a tough night and I gave everything I had but the accomplishment was well worth it.
This is during basics...
and this is one-steps.
Did I say in no particular order?
That may not be completely accurate.
Friday, March 2, 2007 - the show starts at 6:00pm
United Fighting Arts Federation
This is my karate organization.
no more frizzy hair
my latest from Brighton
this smells so good and moisturizes
so well
my favorite CD at the moment
Earl Grey Silver Tips.
Very yummy. Very
expensive - but very
yummy.
Only on special occasions.
Stainless steel - so easy to clean
This is good in the afternoon.
No sugar = No Guilt
My black hat - some say I resemble
Karen Carpenter when I wear it but
since she was anorexic and is now
DEAD...I'm not sure it's a compliment.
Kapalua in Maui - I need to go back.
Levi's - An American Classic.
Madeleines - go well with a Starbucks
coffee.
These are very useful.
This makes me laugh.
fun Italian wine glasses
this will be me soon
Tom Hanks - so talented
On Friday, October 13, 2006, our friend and classmate, Niki earned her black belt in Chun Kuk Do. Ana was her partner for testing which mostly means Niki got to beat her up for fun!! Here is a picture of them after the test.
There are fewer than 3000 black belts
in Chun Kuk Do so this is quite an honor.
A HUGE congratulations to Niki for a job well done.
My turn next...in March 2007.
After a 9 month break following surgery on my foot, I get to start training in karate again tonight! I can't wait!!
.
Someone asked who my heroes are. That was easy for me. My first hero is my husband, Mike, who fits every description on the list. He's always right here cheering me on in whatever I do. My second hero is my karate instructor (you know who you are). Were it not for his guidance there were many times I would have quit karate because it was just too hard to do on a regular basis, especially with my body falling apart like it is. Ultimately, I decided to keep going from green belt because I didn't want to disappoint any of my instructors who have worked so hard keeping me going over the last five years. Now that I'm really close to black belt I keep going for me with the encouragement of all of them.
July once again brings us to the Chun Kuk Do International Training Conference and World Championships. Ana attended the 3 day event which included training classes, competitions and an Awards Banquet and Dinner at the Stardust Resort in Las Vegas . Ana competed in kata and fighting and took 1st place in both events! She competed against other girls her rank and close to her age. Next year she will be a higher rank and competing in an older age group. I'm sure she'll be great next year, too! The highlight of this year's event was a class taught by Grand Master Chuck Norris himself. We did not participate but were able to watch which was really fun!
FOUR
Four things to do before I die
1. Get my black belt in karate
2. Learn to shoot a gun
3. Fly on the Concorde (not gonna happen - out of commission)
4. Stay at a seaside inn on the Mediterranean
Four things I can't do
1. Jump
2. Swim 50 laps
3. Sleep through the night
4. Figure out Sam's thinking process (WAY different from mine!)
Four things I love about my spouse
1. He works hard so I don't have to
2. Takes days off that hard work so I can pursue karate when I want to
3. He is THE barbecue master and cooks every weekend
4. Loves and accepts me in spite of myself
Four things I say often
1. "You're smoking crack!" as in...you've lost your mind
2. Cha ryut and kyung ye (Attention and bow in Korean for karate class)
3. Shush!!!
4. Get off the phone!
Four movies I could watch over and over again
1. Sense and Sensibility
2. A Knight's Tale
3. Toy Story 2
4. Okay - I don't spend a lot of time sitting around watching movies so I can't think of another one.
Four jobs I've had
1. Sandwich maker at Wendy's (a good lesson in how not to treat people)
2. Travel Agent (both leisure and business...business is better)
3. Accounts Payable Specialist for a grass seed company
4. Mom (the hardest one yet...working was a lot easier!)
Four places I've lived
1. Idaho (born there)
2. Montana (grew up there)
3. Oregon (got married and had kids there)
4. Nevada (want to retire here)
Four TV shows I like to watch
1. The Amazing Race (when it's on)
2. Survivor
3. Dog The Bounty Hunter
4. Anthony Bourdain - No Reservations
Four places I've been on holiday
I've been a travel agent so the list is long - I'll pick my favorites
1. Russia (1989 - right after the Berlin wall came down)
2. Bermuda - didn't see any triangles
3. France
4. Germany - to play soccer when I was in high school
Four favorite dishes
1. Brownies
2. Garlic mashed potatoes (but probably only because I can no longer eat them due to dietary restrictions)
3. Filet Mignon grilled over mesquite by my husband
4. French Onion Soup
Four places I'd rather be
1. On a massage table
2. On the mat doing karate
3. Almost anywhere my children are not fighting and someone is handing me a Margarita
4. With my husband (didn't mean to put you last, honey)
We took a side trip while visiting Salt Lake City to actually visit The Great Salt Lake. It didn't make sense to drive 7 1/2 hours from Las Vegas and not see the Lake. It looked like a Lake!!
The weekend of June 9-11 I traveled to Salt Lake City with Ana and my mom (Julie) for a karate seminar and black belt test. I had hoped to test but the surgery on my foot in January has delayed my plans. Instead, I've included photos of our favorite vacation activities. Karen is drinking wine, and Ana is sleeping.
On February 4th, Ana competed in a karate tournament where she won 2nd place in kata (a choreographed fight) and 1st place in fighting. She lost kata to her friend Niki pictured here (in the red belt). The man kneeling in front of them is Mr. Gallacher, a 9th degree black belt and the Executive Vice President of United Fighting Arts Federation and Chunk Kuk Do, the style we train under. He is third in line in our organization behind Mr. Chuck Norris and Mr. Aaron Norris. It's good to know people in high places. This man is also my instructor's instructor. In karate lineage that makes Ana and me (Karen) the great granddaughters to Chuck Norris!!
The weekend of July 15-17, 2005 I attended the Chun Kuk Do International Conference and World Championships. I had several classes to help me improve my karate in preparation for my test for black belt. (I'm scheduled to test in June of 2006.) I also competed in kata (a pretend choreographed fight) and fighting. I got 4th place in both events. As you'll see in the pictures there were only 4 competitors in my division (old women over 35 who have managed to obtain the rank of red belt (me) or red/black belt (one test short of black belt - the other three.) Considering that I've had my red belt for less than three months I was pretty impressed with myself!
My mom, Julie, attended as a spectator. So did my daughter, Ana.
