Back to Pre-Season OSU Force 96′ Girls Soccer Training

March 30, 2011

It’s great to be training more with my soccer team.   We are gearing up for a big tournament at the end of April in Dallas, Texas.  We are training 5 days a week and a lot of that is pure fitness training – my absolute favorite!

 

One good way for team bonding is to have different players take over a fitness training session.  Last night I lead a 90 minute session with another team mate.  I am used to instructing TKD classes but it’s different when it’s in front of your peers and you never know if they will take you as seriously as they take the coach.  I was really happy that everyone worked hard and didn’t give up.  A lot of the drills were done in pairs to promote working together as well.

My fitness trainer Jonathon Martel from Nukleus Fitness helped me design the session using a variety of Plyometrics to build stronger legs for soccer and a stronger core to prevent injury.  Since the team moved up to the OYSL (Provincial Level) will be playing against much stronger and faster teams than we are used to this summer so we have to be as ready as possible.

Next time another team mate will lead the class.  I also think that once you’ve had to lead a class yourself you respect how hard it can be to teach a big group of teenage girls. We’ll all work harder since we never know when it will be our time to instruct and we will want the same cooperation when it’s our turn in front of everyone.  I had a lot fun last night and hope my team mates did too.

I am also starting to train for the Eastern Canadian Taekwon-do Championships held May 7th in Ottawa.  It is a sanctioned event for points towards the next World Championships in 2013 held in Spain.

This morning I went to the first try-outs for the high school track and field team.  I am trying out for javelin throw and shot-put.  I will find out on Friday if I also try out for the school soccer team.  I’m not really sure how it all works yet and I have to see if there are enough hours in the day to fit it all in

 

IODE Gives a Huge Donation in Honour of My Grandma, Doreen Davidson

March 26, 2011

I have been so grateful for every single donation that has been given to me on my journey to get to the World Championships.  I’ve had friends give me their allowances, a couple of my little students have raided their piggy banks, I’ve had families pool their money together, I’ve had very generous corporate donations in either services or money, I have had donations from people that hardly know me at all and I’ve even had donations from complete strangers!!!!  Every single donation has been special in their own way since they all game from a big heart.

However, yesterday I got a donation that hit me like a ton of bricks!!!!!  I guess you can already tell by now how special my grandma was to me.  When she died a year and a half ago a part of me died with her.  She was always there for me and loved to watch me compete in every sport.  She was a grandma to all my team mates on every team.  She was always smiling and brought cookies or Mentos for treats.

 

One thing that made her so special was how she volunteered her time to the IODE  Dr. Herbert A. Bruce Chapter in North Bay.  When I think of grandma I have a vision of her hanging laundry by the mile on her outside clothes line.  She washed and ironed all the donated clothes and then she sold them in the ‘Victory’ shop.  All the proceeds were donated to charities, grants and scholarships to people in the community. I remember as a little girl spending time in the Victory shop, and I would get to pick out one toy each time to bring home.   Grandma seemed to know all the regular clients in the store and always treated everyone with kindness. The other ladies that volunteered there were so nice and had hearts of gold. They still do.  I know how hard and how many hours of work the ladies would have had to do to come up with a large donation since nothing was sold for more than a couple dollars. I can’t thank them enough.

When I received a beautiful letter and cheque from the IODE in memory of my Grandma it  brought tears to my eyes. The cheque also came from a few of my grandma’s friends.   I know Grandma would have been so happy and proud to be able to help out, or to see that the ladies have continued helping people.  I also know that Grandma was somehow with me in New Zealand.  I actually took a picture of her with me and put in on my night side table. Thinking about her breaks my heart, because at times like these, after a big accomplishment, that’s when I really wish she was here to give me a big hug.  Thank you so much to everyone in North Bay that contributed to the donation. It meant so much to me, but also to the rest of my family.

MPP Lisa McLeod Congratulates Kayla at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario

March 25, 2011

My family was really surprised to get a call from MPP Lisa McLeod’s office telling us that I was going to be mentioned at the Legislature Assembly in Queen’s Park in Toronto.  Thank you so much for taking an interest in this.  It was even shown on TV live but I was in school at the time.

If you want to read her comments, click on the line below…

Speech from MPP Lisa McLeod

Pictures Have Now Been Inserted in the Posts From New Zealand

March 16, 2011

Now that I’m home and can get to my computer I’ve added a bunch of pictures in all the posts that were done in New Zealand.  Check them out…..

I will eventually be putting up a huge link with hundreds of cool pictures soon.

Thanks again for following the whole journey of the World Championships.

Guest Appearance at the Royal Canadian Legion #641

March 16, 2011

Just a few hours after I got home I was asked to make a guest appearance at the Legion.  I was really tired after traveling for 40 hours but I wanted to take this opportunity to thank the Legion for their amazing hospitality of hosting my fundraiser as well as their generous donation.

Here I’m showing my Medals!

 

Click Here If You Want To Watch and Listen To My Thank You Speech!

Right after the meeting I couldn’t’ wait to get back to the dojang to stretch out and train for a bit.  It’s really hard to get back in the right time and day change.

Closing Ceremonies of World Championships

March 15, 2011

It was so exciting but sad at the same time.  I just didn’t want the whole experience to be over.  I met so many incredible people from all around the world.  I got to talk to some of real TKD legends of all times.  It felt surreal being in the circle of these world class athletes and my coach Mr. LeGrow reminded me that now I was one too. He was very good at introducing me to everyone and that was extra special.  I have watched these people for years on their Youtube video’s learning and copying their sparring and pattern styles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s funny how no countries speak to each other prior or during competition.  The organizing committee did a great job keeping the countries separated by booking them into different hotels and booking the training sessions at different times.

Now that it is over everyone mingled around and shared stories and addresses.  Everyone was trading their doboks, track suits or whatever else they had.  I was so glad that I brought a lot of stuff to trade.  It was a lot of fun.  People were quite aggressive for certain items.

 

At the end of the Closing Ceremonies the New Zealand Male Team gave us a treat of their National Dance.  It was powerful and exciting.  The crowd went nuts.

No one went to bed after the ceremonies.  It was right off to the ‘after party’.  OMG it was fun.  It was weird being one of the youngest people there since it was for all ages.  It was quite an experience   Everyone has trained so hard for so many months, have made so many sacrifices to get here and now that it’s all over it’s time to relax, enjoy and celebrate.

At the airport no one wanted to say good-by.  I miss all my friends already.

It took us 40 hours to get home and we are all exhausted with the time change and not going to bed for a couple days. When I got home my house was all decked out with posters, flags, balloons, streamers and cards.  Apparently my grandpa and cousins started it but then as the neighbours went by they kept adding things.  Very cool!

 

Kayla is Coming Home with 1 Gold and 2 Silver Medals

March 12, 2011

 

The arena was crazy loud for the Team Events!  Everyone wanted their country to do well and it was very exciting.  I was actually more nervous for these events than the individual ones.  I didn’t want to let my teammates down.  My first event was for sparring and we were against New Zealand.  I have to admit I was very surprised and impressed with the whole NZ team.  They were strong in every division and event.

I was really happy with my sparring in the team event and relieved that I won my fight.  It’s fun for me to spar different weight divisions since you have to adjust your technique and style a bit.  I really enjoyed that part.  Even though I’m a hyper-weight I am very fast and it surprises my opponents.  Unfortunately as a team we lost our round.  New Zealand ended up winning the gold in the end for this event so at least we know we got to compete against the best.

Then it was off to Team Power Breaking.  I really wanted to do well here since I didn’t get to compete in the individual power breaking.  I wanted to see for myself how I ‘measured up’ against others.  I had to do the turning side kick through 4 inches of boards and that was no problem at all.  I’ve done up to 6 before and I really wanted to see how far I could go.  We ended up in a tie with NZ so we continued on.  The judges selected knife hand strike and my coach asked me to do it for the team.  I felt so much pressure not to let the team down.  There was 4 inches to break through and I’ve never done that much before.  I measured properly and I really took my time.  I mentally went through all the little details in my head that Ms. Trigger had helped me with.  I wound up as hard and fast as I could but when I hit the board I was off by just a couple mm and the boards didn’t break.  My hand hurt so much.  It was shaking and really red.  I felt bad that it meant the team couldn’t continue on for the gold but I was also very proud that our team got a silver medal. Probably the best thing for me in that event was that it confirmed that I had made the right decision when I backed down to do this event before my patterns.  As I was getting ice in the first aid station I kept thinking that there is no way I could do patterns right now.  My hand is just really bruised but nothing is broken.  The plastic boards hurt more if you don’t break through than the wooden boards.  It stings!

Canada also got a silver for the junior boys team patterns.  They were awesome.

There is one more day of competition for the senior team events so that will be very exciting to watch.  I can’t wait to see Mr. LeGrow and Miro compete again.  I’ll be the one cheering really loud

We just have the ‘after party’ and then we all go directly to the airport at 3:00 in the morning!  No one is going to bed.  I’ve heard so many things about these ‘after parties’ that it should be a great time.  It the only real opportunity to get to know people from other countries.  No countries really talk to each other during competition but once it’s over, then everyone becomes friends.  I’m glad that my brother Greg will be with me at the party too.  It’s been great having him here with me.  He’s been so supportive the whole time.

In the two weeks that I’ve been here we’ve had an earthquake and a Tsunami warning!!!!  I am really looking forward to getting home and seeing all my friends.  I’ve missed them so much.

5 More Medals for Canada

March 10, 2011

I had yesterday off from competing since it was competition day for all the adults. It was amazing to watch knowing that I could completely relax.  The atmosphere was just as loud today and it was fun being up in the stands cheering on my team mates.  The men’s sparring gets so intense. I was so proud of Mr. LeGrow who won a bronze medal in sparring.  I’ve never seen him spar better.

The women’s Team Canada took over in patterns.  We received three medals for patterns.  I was completely over the top when Isabelle Bond won the World Champion Title for 4^th degree patterns.  I could watch her do patterns all day.  She has so much control of her legs. Looks good on Canada.  Considering 3 of the girls who are on the Team Patterns placed in medals it will be a great start for their team division on Sunday.

Canada also won another bronze medal for women’s sparring, and Mr. LeGrow won a bronze medal too in sparring. I think it’s the best I’ve seen him spar. I was proud to tell people that he was my instructor.

It’s so hard to watch your friends do their very best and get eliminated on their first round of either patterns or sparring.  The competition is so good that it must be really hard for the judges.  At this level all the patterns are excellent so they are looking for the tiniest fault to determine their winner. It can be the tiniest thing that can determine their score. My training buddy Miro did two awesome patterns.  I really don’t know why they didn’t vote for him.  Even after looking at the video there is nothing that jumps out at us.  It can be very subjective which is the hard part.  Everyone is just really good here!!!

In sparring you pray that all the judges see your points.  So many times you can be scoring but you might have your back to the judge and they don’t see it.  You really have to make it obvious so there is no question of it.

Everyone just feels honoured to be here to compete.  Just making the National team is a huge deal and I hope everyone feels proud of they performed.

Today is a ‘free’ day but I am going back to the arena to train.  I want to work on some more sparring and power breaking techniques.  It’s weird that there is almost more pressure on the team events since my performance also affects the chance of a medal for the whole team.  We all win or lose together.  It’s been great to have all the team bonding time this week so that really helps.  The Canadian team is so supportive I know everyone will be fine no matter how we do.

Greg wants to go kayaking today so we will try to do that as well and we are also going to go walk up Mt. Victoria on a trail.  Gotta go.  I feel like I’m running out of time being here

Tomorrow I will be competing in Team Sparring.  Canada’s first match is against Team New Zealand.  I can only imagine how crazy the crowd is going to go for their home town.  There are 5 people on each team.  Each country has their best fighters in all weight categories and the coaches match you up with someone on the other team.  I might have to spar against a micro-weight, lightweight, heavy weight or another hyper-weight.  This is different since there is so much strategy on the coaches since they have to decide who goes up against each other.  You are only allowed to spar 1 two minute round.  The first team that has three wins is the winner.  You can see more details on the official website for the rules.

Then I also have Team Power Breaking.  Basically you get points for each break.  The team with the most points wins.

New World Champion

March 10, 2011

As you probably know by my Mom’s previous message, I am the Junior World Champion for patterns and the silver medalist for sparring.  I still have two events left in a couple days.

It’s funny, this particular blog is the hardest one for me to write since there really aren’t any words to express or describe how I really feel.  My mind is still reliving it all and I can’t seem to put in on paper.  I just know that it’s amazing.

I’ve visualized standing on the podium so many times that it just felt right and comfortable.  It’s just the way I expected it to be and yet it’s still a shock at the same time. When I was watching the high level of skill I knew it wasn’t going to be easy and I really had to leave it all on the floor.

I have so many highlights of the day….

One of the first people I saw when I walked into the arena was Master Lan.  Master Lan is the German coach and he came up and gave me a big hug.  I trained with him in Ottawa last spring and we’ve kept in touch by emails. Seeing him here was the perfect way to start the competition!  I spoke with Master Lan on the phone a few weeks ago while he was still in Germany and he was asking how my training was going.  It was an awesome phone call.  He always has such great words of wisdom.  I loved looking up between my sparring matches and he was there watching and he gave me some more good advice.

Seeing David Kerr from Brazil was also very special.  I trained with him in Ottawa last summer and he gave a great sparring seminar.  He is so skilled and nice. It was comforting being in a room with so many amazing people that I admire. I also wanted to show him that I learned a lot from him.

It was amazing having my parents and brother here with me.  They are always so supportive and this was for them as much as it was for me.  We’re all in it together.

 

The cheering in the arena was wild… blow horns, drums, clackers, whistles and screaming fans. Just imagine how loud the cheering can get for a boxing match or a UFC fight…. now multiply that by 6 since there were six rings going at all times plus another ring for power breaking and special techniques.  The fans were just as competitive with their cheering as they were with their events. Argentina, New Zealand, Australia and Poland are so passionate about their teams.

Competitors are separated into a ‘holding’ room to warm up.  There are video cameras in that rooms so you see what your competitors are doing.  Right before it’s your turn a marshal escorts you to the ring.   No spectators were anywhere near the ground floor.  The coaches completely take over and are there for you.  At one point I had to change from my red sparring gear to my blue gear quickly.  Suddenly I had 4 coaches around me putting my gear on me.  I felt like a race car in the pit getting my tires changed .

I was super proud of my sparring since I really didn’t know how hard it was going to be.  At first I was just so happy to make it into the medal rounds. I knew it would be hard to beat the girl from New Zealand being on home turf.  After each round I wanted that gold more and more.  In my final round I sparred with the previous world champion from Argentina and I knew there was no way she was going to give up her title without a really strong fight.  I know I wouldn’t if I was her.  I had nothing to lose and she had everything to lose.  I did everything I could.  Mr. Hiltz was coaching me the whole time.  All the other coaches ended up around the ring telling me what to do as well. I certainly didn’t feel alone. I lost in the last few seconds but I felt proud that I gave it all I had.  I had a nice talk with her after and we both really enjoyed sparring each other.  She will be in the adult division for the next worlds.

 

I will probably always wonder what could have happened if I had done the power breaking event.  At the time it was the only thing that made sense to me. I didn’t like hearing my name being called on the PA to go to the event.  I felt pressure since everyone wanted me to compete in it for the chance of another medal.  I might have been able to place but I also know how much damage can be done if you kick or strike the board incorrectly and I just didn’t want to take that chance right before patterns.  If I had hurt myself by doing it then I would never forgive myself for ruining patterns.  I was thinking that I would be letting Ms. Trigger down since she was so kind to me and coached for that event on her own time.  At least I will get to compete in the Team Power Breaking.  Thank you again Ms. Trigger and I hope you don’t feel like you wasted time on me.

It’s funny though how when I do my patterns I am so focused that I don’t hear anything except my own breath and the words from my coach.  Mr. Tran kept saying ‘Good Kayla, explode with every movement’.   I just ‘free’ my mind and shut everything else out.

I was so happy with my patterns.  I was actually smiling since I was having so much fun. I wasn’t nervous at all.  I felt strong and crisp as soon as I started.  My legs were shaky after all the tough sparring but as soon they called my name all the nerves and pain went away.  I said to myself ‘I own this ring’.  This is what I came to do and it felt awesome.  I just wanted to have more rounds!

It’s funny though how when I do my patterns I am so focused that I don’t hear anything except my own breath and the words from my coach.  Mr. Tran kept saying ‘Good Kayla, explode with every movement’.   I just ‘free’ my mind and shut everything else out.

Canada has the best group of coaches that you could ask for.  Mr. Tran, Mr. Parent, Mr. McKenzie, and Mr. Hiltz all have their specialties and ways of coaching and they all work together so you hear what YOU need to hear.  They were running around making sure everyone was covered. It’s the first tournament that I haven’t had my parents right there on the floor.

I loved having my team mates around all day.  I have especially liked hanging out with Stephanie Boivin.  She competed and did very well and is proud of her performances.  She has been so supportive and helpful since this is her second World Championship.

When I had to take off my ‘special bracelet’ she held on it for me.  I’ve only taken it during the patterns. I wore it under my gloves in sparring.  Everyone was so supportive of each other no matter how they did since we all understood what each of us was going through.  The adult competitors and captains (Mr. LeGrow and Chelsea Stone) really did an amazing job helping us ‘rookies’ out and got everyone warmed up and gave great pep talks.  You can only learn from those who have gone through it.

I had the bonus of having my own coach Mr. LeGrow there with me as well in the ‘holding’ room.  He wasn’t allowed out on the floor since he is also a competitor but he helped me warm up and I know he was cheering for me.  When I finished both events I ended up crying out of relief/happiness in his big bear hug. He was the first person I saw when I left the floor.  I think he felt the same excitement as I did.  I know how excited I get when my students do well so I know he was feeling proud too.

 

 

Standing on the podium and being announced as World Champion is indescribable!

Thanks so much everyone for the all the emails, comments on my posts and even phone calls.  It’s amazing how some competitors from other countries have asked me about my blog and say that they have been following it.  Very cool!

A Quick Message from Mom

March 9, 2011

Kayla is the new Junior Female World Champion for 2nd degree patterns and the silver medalist in sparring! She had to make a tough decision and backed out of the power breaking event today since it was scheduled right before her patterns.

She sparred first and was quite sore and didn’t want to risk any more injury right before her patterns since patterns is her favorite event. She still has team sparring and team power breaking to compete in on Saturday. At least she will still get to compete in some sort of power breaking since she has really trained hard for that event as well. It was an amazing day for her and she will write another blog tomorrow but right now she is sound asleep!!!!   I know she will want to give you all the details herself and post some pictures.

I can’t tell you how proud I felt watching my little girl standing on the podium hearing the national anthem. I just might have shed a tear or two   Wish you were all here!

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