9/5/26 Progress report…read more
Humorous, strict, and kind Masters
As I mentioned in my previous reviews, Master Yoo is always a joy to watch. He has so much personality in the way he teaches. He animated voice, different pitches and tones, and facial expressions really keep the students engaged (and the parents too, speaking for myself!).
He can definitely be loud when it comes to training and those paddle claps, but he also knows when to soften his approach. It's a delicate balance, and I think he does a great job reading the room and paying attention to the students' responses before deciding how to respond.
I've also really enjoyed seeing Master Y become more comfortable leading the class over the past few weeks. He is very knowledgeable and patient with the students. I often see him walking around the room correcting their forms and demonstrating movements to make sure everyone understands and is training correctly. It's been nice watching his confidence grow as a teacher.
Black belt student teachers
We've had the opportunity to learn from two fabulous black belt student teachers: Andrew, who we've had for several classes now, and Lilian, who we've had for one class so far.
Both are kind, encouraging, disciplined, and great role models in the classroom. They demonstrate beautiful form and are always very focused and precise when showing the students how to perform a task. They also bring such a positive energy into the classroom.
My girls are especially motivated whenever they get to have class with them. They come home wanting to practice more and do better at each class, which I think says a lot about the impact these student teachers have on them.
Improving punches & kicks
My girls continue to be very motivated to improve their punches and kicks and, more importantly, to perform them correctly.
So far, they've learned the traditional front kick, axe kick, and roundhouse kick, along with the jumping versions of these kicks. With each class, I can see them becoming more comfortable and confident with the movements. It's been really fun watching them go from figuring out the basics to getting more confident with each technique.
Basic One & Their First Belt Test
The girls mastered Basic One in preparation for their belt test and have also gotten to see demonstrations of Basic Three and Basic Five from some of the upper-level students.
Needless to say, they were EXTREMELY excited to earn their new belts. We practiced with them day and night leading up to the test!
For the belt testing itself, there were multiple color groups, and I definitely underestimated how many people would show up early. I originally thought the testing would be completed in stages, but it ended up being everyone in one class, which made for a very packed waiting area. More than a few parents, myself included, ended up watching the testing from outside the classroom.
And let me tell you... it was a little brutal outside. It happened to be one of the hottest and most humid days, AND we had to deal with mosquitoes attacking us. But we all survived!
I also found that the white belt testing was a little less intense than what we had anticipated. But honestly, I think that's a good thing. It probably wouldn't be very encouraging for a first belt test to feel overwhelmingly difficult. The goal is to challenge the kids while also giving them that first taste of accomplishment and confidence to push harder.
The girls were absolutely thrilled to receive their new belts, and they were especially excited to take a photo with both Masters afterward. Definitely a proud parent moment!
Self-Defense
After belt testing week, there has been more focus on self-defense, which I really appreciate.
The girls are learning to use their voices by speaking loudly and confidently, followed by getting into a defensive position. They're also learning the difference between an attack position and a defense position, and more importantly, understanding when and why each position is used.
I really like that self-defense is being introduced early and that the focus isn't just on physical movements, but also on awareness, confidence, and using their voices.
Respect & focus
One of my favorite parts of class is how it always ends with a team huddle.
Master Yoo reviews the students' focus tasks, talks about what they did well, and points out areas they can continue to improve. When they do a good job, they can earn their strip colors, which gives the kids a little extra motivation to stay focused and do their best.
It's a simple way to reinforce respect, focus, discipline, and teamwork while ending class on a positive note.
My girls continue to have so much fun, and I love seeing their confience and skill grow with each class!
PS. It is referral month if your kids want to try something new!
