Karate

Four years, two months, and one day, that's how long it took me to get my third degree brown belt in Chinese Kenpo from Tracy's Karate. My first lesson was on Monday 17th November 2008, I got my brown belt on Friday 18th January 2013. That day I also got

Last night I passed the test for my green belt in Chinese Kenpo!  I needed to learn 20 self-defense techniques and 8 kata, which are longer display forms, often incorporating some of the self-defense techniques.  I started learning kenpo in November 2008 at Tracy's Karate. Green belt is the last

The karate I learn comes in three parts: self defence techniques, kata (display forms), and sparring.  I've been back in sparring class since January, and doing sparring lessons with my instructor before then to get me back up to speed after six months away. It's an odd thing to walk

I tested for my karate blue belt on 30th August, and I passed! I study at Tracy's Karate, the Kirkwood location.  After my test, Karen took me into the sparring class and introduced me as a new blue belt, Ben hugged me, Dan shook my hand, random people I don't

I never thought I'd have a "sports injury."  At primary school, they made me take my glasses off for Physical Education lessons, so I could never see what I was doing.  Didn't much like team sports in high school, except field hockey.  I sprained both ankles badly as a small

My first karate tournament was on Saturday 20th March.  I was performing the Long 2 kata in the Senior women's beginner division. Hubby and I got to the tournament an hour before it started.  Edgar, a Tracy's Karate black belt who is awesome at kata, helped me warm up, along

I'm competing in my first karate tournament on Saturday March 20th, in Dupo IL.  I'm performing a kata in the Senior Women's division.  I've never done anything like this before.  At school, I was the nerd in thick glasses who was good at maths and science, not the sporty popular