New TKD Slide Show
July 26, 2010
My Grandma used to make photo albums every year for her grand kids and I still love looking through them. Now my mom takes all the pictures and she made up this digital photo album (with the help of my brother Greg) for me as a ‘keep-sake’. Thanks guys 
Hope you like it.
It was another crazy busy week with TKD summer camp, TKD training and of course lots of soccer too. I really liked my three hour TKD training session on Saturday even though I was exhausted! My feet are so sore from being bare-foot on the mats for 9 hours each day. They feel so bruised and the skin is falling off. Yes I know it’s gross. 
I didn’t have any activities today so it gave me a chance to go through some old pictures and videos. I was actually shocked to see how much has happened in the last two years. Not only have I gone through a major growth spurt I’ve met some really nice people who I know I’ll be friends with for a long time. In the last two years I’ve changed TKD schools, moved up from the Pee-wee division to the Junior Women division, got my 2nd degree, got certified to be a judge/umpire, attended several seminars and workshops, competed in all the sanctioned tournaments and made the National Sparring Team.
If you want to see the video in the best quality click here to play the slide show my brother says it’s a BIG windows media player file.
Busiest week ever!!!!!
July 18, 2010
This was such an amazing week of training. I helped Mr. LeGrow with his TKD summer camp with two other black belts, (Kayla Huber, Joey Busat). It meant taking a one and a half hour bus ride every morning at 7am just to get there on time. The camp consisted of coaching young students. We also had some time to work on some intense sparring drills and pattern training. It was a really good experience for me and the other black belts. Mr. LeGrow has been teaching me so much and has been helping me become a young coach. Man, young boys can be a hand full.
Since Mr. LeGrow has been away in Jamaica and Florida competing he has run into different instructors and surprisingly Master Lan. They spent a lot of time together. Of course, when Mr. LeGrow comes back from these types of events he comes back with all of these drills and strategies. One in particular is that there are two types of speed. One is the speed that you get from training and becoming faster. The second kind is when your opponent is hesitant. This is caused by the fear factor of your opponent. If they gain respect for your kick, they won’t want to feel it in their stomach so they will be automatically slower. I found this theory extremely interesting and true.
Since my soccer team was away in Florida at a tournament all week I trained with another older team in the evenings. It was hard since I was so tired from the training all day and then I still wanted to do well for a coach that has never seen me play soccer before.
The highlight of the week however was a special taekwon-do training session that was held all afternoon on Saturday. I’m so lucky that Mr. Legrow has so many friends and brings in world class guests to train with. We had guests come from Montreal which was amazing since I got to train with Stephanie Boivin. It was awsome since she is a 16 and has already experienced the World Championships. she was really fast so she was a good person to train with. I want to become just as fast as the smaller people. We have very similar work habits and energy levels, so she is a good working partner. I also got some really good training exercises from Mr. Primeau that I will continue to use, including a lot of boxing drills so I am good with my hands as well as my feet. Philippe Boyd (18 years old) also came from Montreal which was great since he is also a second degree black belt and we could work on the same pattern together. We were pretty competitive with each other and he was also able to give me tips. It’s so much fun training with new people all the time that are working towards Nationals and then New Zealand. My goal this summer is to be as quick as Martin Campbell in sparring. He is a 20 year old 3rd degree that I’ve trained with for about 8 years. He is now smaller than me and super quick so he is good for me to train with. He really pushes me to my limits when he instructs me. He has been helping me so much. He has been to Worlds many times and he knows me very well so hes giving me tips on not only the training but also just the whole experience. With all these people helping me, it is getting me more and more excited and driven to train harder and harder to be the best.
Sparring Drills with Stephanie Boivin from Montreal
Working on Patterns
Kicking Drills with Mr. Campbell. He Really Pushes Me to My Limits
Everyone went out for dinner together and then a movie to relax but I had already made plans to watch my really good friend perform at a concert. She had been in a ‘rock band’ camp for the last two weeks so it was a concert for everyone to perform their music and singing that they had been practicing. It was really cool to be sitting in such a different atmosphere than I had been in all week. Kelsey did a great job and was by far the best singer there. I was so proud of her and so in awe because she is so talented. It is also really funny because she is normally really shy and sweet, but on the stage it’s like a tiger comes out and she has this stardom glow to her. I was so happy to be there. Go Kelsey !
Today was an added bonus since I was called up to play in my first OYSL soccer game for the team that I had trained with during the week. I was a bit nervous since they were older and a Provincial team. I didn’t think I would get much playing time but I did and it was a lot of fun. I didn’t feel quite as confident since I was playing a different position than I normally do but Audra (the coach) really helped me out. Hopefully I’ll be asked to play with them again some time.
I’ll be working at the camp again this week and will be happy to have my soccer team back in town. I’ve missed my buddies. Shout out to Adriana – hope you feel better soon.
Feels Good To Be Back to a Training Schedule
July 10, 2010
This week I had two soccer games and then a practice. I find that all the running is really helping with my cardio and my overall strengthening. Today my team went to Florida for 10 days for soccer tournament at Disney World. I would have loved to go with them but this is just another one of the choices I have to make if I want to compete at the International level for TKD. I have to save up to fly to Vancouver for Nationals and to New Zealand.
My best friend Dani has been doing Karate and Wushu for several years and she asked if I wanted to go watch her train. It was really cool to see other martial arts. I was surprised how beautiful the Wushu patterns were. I felt like I was watching a soaring eagle since the movements are so large and flowy. You really have to be flexible. The stances are so much wider than in TKD and there knees are really bent and they get to wear nice silky pants. She asked if I would bring my uniform and give a little pattern demo in front of the young kids. It was a lot of fun and they had some good questions. I find it interesting how all the martial arts have some common elements. It was also cool to see her do a sword demonstration for me. It’s weird that we’ve never seen each other in that environment after all these years. I would like her to come to my dojang some day to give a Wushu demonstration.
Giving a TKD demonstration at a local Karate/Wushu Dojo
Today I went in early to the dojang and helped instruct the young new belts. I can’t believe how cute they are. It’s hard for me to remember ever being that small in class – but I was . They are so keen and eager.
Then I had a really good 3 hour work out for Patterns and Sparring. I can already tell I’m going to be sore in the morning. I did so many sit-ups and push-ups!
Mr. LeGrow (my instructor) has been in Jamaica for the last week competing in an Intercontinental Cup so I’m looking forward to hearing all about it when he gets back tomorrow.
Aren't These Little 'Warrior Princesses' Adorable?
This week I’ll be taking a one hour bus ride every morning at 7:00 to Orleans so I can help with the summer camp in the morning and then I’ll train all afternoon and then I have three soccer practices in the evenings. Even though my soccer team will be away my soccer coach wants me to train with the soccer team that is one year older.
We are also having a meeting to plan some fundraising events to help raise money for the dojang and for the other club members that want to go to Nationals.
Press Release in the Barrhaven Independent
July 4, 2010
I was so nervous having an interview with the local newspaper reporter. You never know what they’re going to ask or how they will interpret it. I had to do the interview over the phone after my TKD training at 10:30 at night since it was the only time that I had free. It was such a crazy busy week! Anyway, in case you didn’t get the paper you can see it here. One page was to thank all the local business sponsors that supported me in the fundraiser. Everyone was so nice and open to idea. I can’t thank them enough. I still have a long way to go to raise the funds but I have all kinds of ideas for the next few months. The second page is the story that was published.
Click on the two following links…
