Tournament Training
April 28, 2012
I’ve been running Tournament Training sessions every Sunday for the last few months with Mr. Roland and Ms. Jobin. It’s one thing to train regularly in class and it’s another thing to train for competition. These trainings are different because they focus on certain aspects that are strictly related to competing. Some of the things we will be covering are:
- Goal setting
- How to prepare mentally before competition
- Warm-ups
- Scoring System for both patterns and sparring
- What judges look for
- How to conduct yourself at a tournament
- Fine tune movements in all patterns
- Covers different sparring sparring drills and strategies
There are so many things to cover and there never seems to be enough time. The biggest challenge is everyone is at different abilities and different levels of competing. I wish I could work with everyone individually.
It’s been exciting to see the classes grow in size and to see the improvement in everyone.
Some kids have never competed before so there is so much to cover with them and they definitely do better with the one-on-one attention so they aren’t distracted.
Patterns in competition is all about presentation. It’s important that all the movements are executed properly. Judges are very picky.
Ms. Jobin and I demonstrate some sparring drills that everyone can do. These drills and combinations can be really effective and useful if you know when and where to throw them. It’s so important to understand the scoring system too. Sometimes people get confused thinking that they are winning a match since they are doing a lot of combinations but they aren’t actually scoring points.
Knowing the level of contact that is acceptable at different types of tournaments is important. You can see which schools train with more contact that others at tournaments. It’s important to get used to actually being hit so your aren’t thrown off guard. Obviously there are different standards of contact for different belt levels and different age groups.
Look forward to seeing everyone at the next session 
Crazy Cross Training!
April 27, 2012
I’ve been training with Wayne Thompson and it’s been awesome. For me, cross training is about mental strength as much as it is pushing through the physical limits. Wayne definitely pushes me and that is the adrenaline rush that I seem to need and crave. He is all about plyometrics and resistance training using bands.
As competition season is approaching quickly I have to make sure that I don’t over train in one single sport so cross training is a great way to even out my muscles. My life seems to keep getting busier so I’ve learned I need to work smarter instead of longer since I don’t have as many free hours. Quality over Quantity! Even though I have been training for multiple hour a day still, I feel like I have become more efficient when I train with taking small breaks and listening to my body.
The thing I value with cross training is that it’s so hard and completely shocks my body. It makes me do things that I’ve never done before and challenges every parts of the body and mind. I love doing all the new drills. They are huge challenges and it really pushes me. I think that a good attitude and having fun with it makes it a lot easier. Well, kind of…
Wayne worked me hard with explosive drills through jumping. This is awesome not only for sparring but also for my Javelin. There is a correlation between how far you can jump and how far you can throw.
The fact that he keeps switching the drills quickly makes my body get tired quicker since there is a very short time for recovery.
Last night we worked on leg strength. Mr. LeGrow was holding me back using a belt around my waist. Wayne had me going back and forth doing different motions. Sometimes it was with my knees up high and sometimes it was going sideways. It’s important to strengthen all the muscles for balance.
Having the resistance while doing the ‘Bear Crawl’ was really tough especially since Mr. LeGrow is so strong and so much bigger than me.
For more explosiveness Wayne had me jumping vertically over shields, as soon as I landed, I had to jump into a high knee tuck, and then down into a burpee and then back up. I had to do this eight times in a row. I started with only a few shields. As the amount of shields increased, the number of times I had to do the set decreased. It felt so amazing when I finished since I really didn’t think I would be able to jump that high.
Using a tiny rubber tensor band he had me go through some of my TKD kicks and it was brutal since the resistance was so intense. My legs were burning. Wayne had no sympathy and would just laugh and then push me further Thanks Wayne!
Just when I thought I had done enough leg lifts with the ‘Fire Hydrant’ drill he pushed me even further making me pump up and down between his hands. Of course we had to the other side. At this point I was looking for a fire hydrant to put the fire out of my butt! It was burning sooo bad
Wayne showed me the hardest sit-ups that I’ve ever done before. Each one takes about 50 seconds since there are so many steps in it. It’s all about control and using the entire core. Doing one of these sit-ups is more beneficial than doing 100 crunches. I will never do another normal crunch again haha. I want results and I’m sure this will do it. Having a strong core is crucial for all sports and a general ‘well being’.
Wayne is excellent at explaining which muscles are being worked during each exercise. I find that helpful so I can visualize what’s going on inside my body and then I know if I’m doing it right. I love how excited he gets about fitness and it’s contagious!
Can’t wait until the next session….
First Training of the Season at Mooney’s Bay
April 18, 2012
I looked around today at my javelin buddies and I realized just how different we all are and yet we all work together so well! Each one of us brings something of value to the practices. I am so lucky to be able to train with such experienced and amazing throwers. Instead of comparing myself to them (which could be very discouraging ) I see them as inspiring. I want to learn as much as possible and I couldn’t be happier with the group that I train with.
Bill never misses anything. He has an eagle eye for every detail and every throw and can tell you exactly what you did right and what you did wrong. I guess that is why he was an Olympian
Even though it was beautiful and sunny today it was really windy and cold so it makes it a bit more challenging to throw. It’s so important to keep our shoulder muscles warm so you don’t get injuries.
My footwork was really off today since it was the first time I used my javelin cleats on the running strip. I wasn’t used to the grip and I had to do a lot of experimenting. I eventually got the hang of it but it certainly wasn’t my best day. I’m just glad I have time to practice on this track before the school track meets start in a couple weeks.
Kashani is a complete fitness guru and a blast to train with. She always brings great energy, new ideas, and nutrition tips for us. I love her enthusiasm and positive outlook.
When Tom throws he runs like a strong gazelle and the javelin just soars perfectly every time. I really admire his dedication to the sport. He works so hard all the time that it makes me want to work hard. I like being challenged like that.
It’s great how we all support each other and help each other out.
Every time I watch Dominque throw I’m in awe. She makes it look so easy and the javelin just goes forever. She’s such a power house. I hope that I can throw like her someday!
I always feel like Dominque has my back. She’s taken on a big sister role and it’s awesome. She is a 6th time National Womans Champion so I feel very honored to be able to train with her.
I’m sure Bill likes having Tom around to keep him in company with all us girls
Bill is such an experienced coach that he knows exactly when to pull one of us over to fine tune something. He spends so much time with each of us individually that you know you are getting the best of the best instruction. We are all at different levels so what works for person might not work for the another but Bill figures us all out.
It was a shame that Val (another one of the group) was not there tonight. We also train with the decathletes but they weren’t there either. As I said, everyone brings something of value to the practices. Val brings a strong competitive edge.
After track I went to TKD for 2 hours. I was so excited that I learned the second 3rd degree pattern (yoo-sin). I learned all 68 movements in 20 minutes!!!! I think even Mr. LeGrow was impressed Then I did it over and over to make sure it was in my memory. I’ll be practicing it as much as possible for the next few weeks and then I’ll be have time to learn the last pattern before the PanAm Championships. I’m used to having a couple years to perfect a pattern before competing at a high level so this is a real challenge to learn 3 patterns and try to perfect them before competing in a couple months!
Capital Cup Tournament
April 15, 2012
I spent the day at the Capital Cup TKD Friendship Tournament coaching students from Team Blackburn and Ashbury College. I was impressed that the proceeds of the tournament go to the Cancer Society and the Heart and Stroke Foundation. It makes it a double bonus for the day. There was a huge turn out and it ran smoothly and everyone seemed happy.
It was great to see so many of my senior instructors that I see all the time and it was a nice surprise to see so many senior instructors that I haven’t seen in years. It’s kinda cool to walk into a room with hundreds of people of all ages and ranks and know so many of them. It’s like a huge family.
It’s amazing when you’ve worked with students and then you see them perform what they’ve been working so hard on. I was soooo proud for Fritz. He did an awesome job I’ve been working with him for Tournament training and his hard work paid off. Watch out for this guy. He has a great future ahead of him! He’s only 7 years old but he is wise way beyond his years.
The students from Ashbury College were all keen and excited to compete. This is all new to them and these friendship tournaments are great when your’e just starting to build your confidence. I know they all thought it was a great experience. They all did really well!
Team Ashbury College
I’ve known Cameron from Trigger’s TKD ever since he was a little dragon and it’s been fun to see him compete over the years. This was by far the best I’ve ever seen him spar! Great job Cameron
I helped some of the men warm up from other schools so they would be ready to spar. That was not a good idea for me because as soon as I started to move around, all I wanted to do was get in the ring and compete myself!!!!
I was really happy to see Miro again. He changed schools when he moved and I miss him so much. We used to be inseparable when we were training daily for the World Championships. You never forget a special bond and experience like that. As usual his pattern was phenomenal and his sparring was awesome. Gotta love double gold!
Me and my Training Buddy
I had to wear my new favourite t-shirt since it was a good reminder to students who didn’t do as well as they had hoped. Being a true martial artist means that you live by the tenants and’ Perseverance’ is an important one. Sometimes things go your way and other times they don’t but you have to keep persevering and never give up! It was a great day
Excellent Sparring Training
April 14, 2012
I had another 2 hour training session with Wayne Thompson this week and he has a whole training plan for me. I am so excited and I can’t wait until our next session a few days. I was really sick with a bad cough so it was too hard to spar full-out since I couldn’t catch my breath but Wayne adapted the training so we could focus on certain drills and I will work on them all week on my own. Wayne is a personal fitness trainer so he is teaching me some amazing exercises that are not only geared for sparring but also strengthening the entire body which will be amazing for track as well. I love his enthusiasm and energy. The time flew by!
Since he is a mixed martial artist he can teach so many different styles of sparring and they all work together. One of the best things about this training is that it’s getting me back into the right head space for competition.
He gave me three main elements to work on this week but I’m keeping them to myself for now 
Just don’t be surprised if you see me ‘dancing’ all the time Talk about being out of my comfort zone!!!!
Mr. LeGrow is at an IIC in Nashville for a few days so I’ve taken over a lot of the classes and it’s been fun. I like to be able to share with the students what I’m learning from all the different coaches and instructors that I’ve been training with.
I remember when Jonathon Martel made me do this drill by the hour to perfect the jumping flying side kick when I was 9 years old! Somethings you just never forget But when they helped you, you want to pass the lesson on.
Hope everyone is having fun in Nashville. Wish I was there too!
A Full Weekend of TKD
April 9, 2012
Not only did I have really valuable Track practices this Easter weekend, I also had amazing TKD training. I really wanted to take advantage of every possible moment on the holiday. I’m working hard on my new 3rd degree pattern and I’m happy with the way it’s progressing. I still have two more new patterns to learn and perfect before Pan American Championships in June.
On Saturday I trained all afternoon and my Grandpa came to watch. He used to box and do a lot of grappling and jujitsu so he really understands this stuff. I’m lucky to have a Grandpa that has done every sport that I love to do. Maybe I’m following in his foot steps
Mr. LeGrow has been working hard with me and critiquing every movement. He realizes that I am under pressure to learn things quickly but thoroughly. I’m the one putting the pressure on myself. No one else. I just have a lot of pride and I want to be as prepared as possible. I am following the TKD philosophy of not getting ahead of myself and learning each pattern in order before moving on to the next pattern. This takes discipline since it’s easy to want to jump ahead but this skill has helped me in other sports too by learning steps in sequence and not rushing things. Perseverance and Patience!
I also trained with a gentleman who is new to our school. He’s a good 2nd degree black belt and likes to train hard so it was fun. We were doing a warm-up with repetition on hand techniques and kicks but it felt more like just a regular workout.
I really wanted to take advantage of some good TKD training on Easter Monday too since I didn’t have school. I gave 2 hours of one on one training to two students who wanted some tournament training. We fine tuned their patterns and I gave them specific drills to work on during the next week and I’ll see how they’ve progressed at our next session together next Sunday.
I like to spend the time talking with the kids to find out what their concerns are about competing so I know what it is that they want me to focus on. This is their special training and I want to make sure it’s beneficial for them and that it’s different than normal training. They loved it when I filmed them with my Coaches Eye app and they could see what they were doing wrong. Now they know what and how to do the movements better.
Then I had another few hours working with other black belts on 1st and 2nd degree patterns as a group with Mr. LeGrow. We are doing patterns in a cool way to work and perfect the fundamental movements. I can really see and feel the difference in my patterns which is very exciting.
Then I spent another hour just going over my new 3rd degree pattern alone with Mr. LeGrow. I think I have all movements down, so it was time to work on the rhythm of putting the pattern together. It was a bit overwhelming to do it all at full speed for the first time. My mom taped Mr. LeGrow and me doing the pattern together so I have something to refer back to. This Coaches Eye is so helpful to me
Mr. LeGrow made me hold each stance for 10 seconds so he had the chance to perfect each detail of the movement and it also helps with muscle memory, not to mention muscle fatigue Thank you so much Mr. Legrow! It’s been awesome
I was so happy that I had beautiful sunny weather for track practice yesterday since today was cold and dreary. Everything worked out just the way it should. Yay!
Long Weekend Means More Time to Train
April 8, 2012
The best thing about long weekends is there is more time to train! I am trying really hard to keep a good balance between learning my TKD pattern and getting in as many track practices as possible since track meets start in a few weeks.
I’ve had to make a really detailed training schedule for the next two months since there is so much going on with sports and school that I needed to see everything written down so I don’t get overwhelmed. I need to take it one day at a time.
Track and Field has started at school so not only am I training about 9 hours a week with Bill at the Lions Track and Field Club but now I’m also going in 3 mornings a week before school. Since Bill was away on Thursday, I trained with the throwing coach Darrin who concentrates on Shot Put and Discuss. It was a lot of fun and the other 8 throwers were all so nice and really skilled. They were either seniors in high school or university students with a whole lot of experience. It was really great since I’ve never really had any serious training in these events. I did well in them last year but I had no idea what I was doing. It’s so much better when you actually get some good instruction. I’ll be able to share this little bit of training with my friends at school. Throwing events are so specialized and technical it’s hard to teach in a few short weeks of the school track and field season. One of my training buddies Tom, competed in his first outdoor meet last week and broke the meet record so he was so happy. He works so hard all the time and I love training with him.
I haven’t thrown the discus since last Spring. Hopefully the extra training will help me.
I feel a whole lot stronger than last year with all the weight training during the winter.
It was great that after every throw I was given some one on one coaching.
On Easter Sunday I went to the track with my Grandpa for the afternoon to practice Javelin and Shot Put. I didn’t have a discus so I couldn’t do that. It was a really windy afternoon and I was surprised how much it affected the javelin. I never had to think about that in the dome all winter.
Bill was kind enough to lend me one of his old javelin shoes for throwing out on the grass because on my new shoes, the spikes are only for the track runway.
They make a HUGE difference.
I really wasn’t happy with the way I was throwing and I missed Bill’s critical eye and guidance. I’m really looking forward to training with him again on Tuesday. I am used to training alone and I like it a lot because it gives me the chance to figure things out myself, but at this point in my training, I still like having Bill there and I throw a lot better when he is. He’s such an amazing coach. I am so lucky.
I borrowed a shot put from the school and it was surprisingly better than last year. Warming up properly for the different throwing events is so important since you use different muscles in your shoulders, arms, core and legs.
Oh boy! Grandpa wanted in on all the action…as usual since he did a lot of track
He just needed a few reminders on how things are done
Total bliss at the end of a great day. I really cherish all the moments I have with him. I am really fortunate to have him so involved in my life.
Cutie!
Happy Easter Everyone!
I Love my Coach’s Eye Application
April 1, 2012
My javelin coach Bill, first told me about this super cool training tool for an iPhone but I really had no idea how helpful it would be. This weekend I spent several hours in the dojang by myself going over my new pattern. I filmed myself over and over with the video camera and that was fine and then my mom reminded me of the application on her Iphone. She filmed me and as soon as I reviewed it I could pick out several little flaws that I didn’t see with the regular video since you can rewind it over and over in slow motion and use different tools to see if you are doing things properly. It was so helpful to learn my mistakes now as I’m learning the pattern before I have to undo a lot of old bad habits. I have to catch up on my patterns before the PanAms but I’m sure all my hard work will pay-off on the day.
Since the weather was so beautiful our 2 hour track practice was outside. I had the opportunity to throw for a full hour with Bill, Tom and Dominque. It was awesome!! Then Bill introduced me to the other throwing coaches and I had some one-on-one shot put instructions. It felt weird since I hadn’t thrown the shot put since OFSAA last spring. I think it will help having a couple sessions since I will be doing all three throws for the school track and field team but my heart is really on the javelin more than the other events.
When you train in the dojang you can see yourself in the mirror so you have a better idea of your form but when you’re throwing outside it’s important to film yourself since you have no idea what your form (technique) looks like. You only go by what it feels like. It’s helpful to have both the visual and the feeling of what you’re doing to make sure you’re doing the proper technique.
I took my javelin the field with a friend and he asked if he could try throwing it. It was hilarious how he couldn’t throw the javelin at all (and he’s really athletic). He was shocked how hard it was. It’s the kind of sport that unless you’ve actaully tried it, you think it’s easy. Think again…..
This weekend was also the first of the Spring/Summer soccer season and it was different not being with my old team playing but I still want to keep in touch with all of them and go to as many of their games as possible. I miss soccer a lot but I know right now I want to focus on my TKD and Javelin since I have set some really big goals for myself and there just isn’t enough time to fit everything all in.
I was so happy to hear that Mr. Lim won gold for his 4th Dan patterns at the TKD Unity Championships in Conneticut. I wish I could have been there to see it. Congratulations Mr. Lim – I know you’ve been training very hard!
