14 years and 10 months after walking into a TKD school, Cameron took his "last class" tonight.
I had planned to try and express how much this "activity" almost "accidental activity" has meant to us. I got choked up about 14 seconds into it, so thought I would write about it instead.
Somehow, I have to say thank you. I have to say thank you for alot of things. I have had articles posted in magazines on how to choose a TaeKwonDo school. Yet we chose to walk into Mr. Schmidtke's school simply because his schedule worked for us, and the other, more established school in town had a beginner class that was just too early for us. The Schmidtkes remain some of our favorite people, and Schmidtke (with his daughter's help) was one of the 3 people chosen for writing recommendations to Senators and Congressmen for Cameron for a nomination to the academy.
When that school closed, we came to Highland Village. From the FIRST day we walked into class, we were welcomed as friends, as almost charter members of the school. In 5 years at hv-tkd we've felt at home, as people have moved in and moved out and moved on, we have felt at home. Mr. Strickland took the time to call me, the students welcomed us, and the parents treated us like we'd been friends for life. Another of Cameron's recommenders is a parent at hv-tkd.
Cameron is now the one 'moving on'. People have thought I'd leave when he does. People are wrong. It may be tougher for me next year when we lose 5-6 seniors than this year losing 2 - even though one is my son.
Mr. McMahan once said of TKD - this IS a family. I'm sending a kid off to the Air Force Academy. Thank goodness I still have the rest of my kids on Tuesday nights in Highland Village.
thanks for reading, and you are all welcome to make fun of me in a couple weeks when I get back.
Mr. V
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Friday, June 5, 2009
GRADUATION and TKD Students
Because team Vickroy comes from a school that opened in 1995, when the Air Force Academy boy was ... 4 ... we got to know tons of kids in the TKD program in Coppell.
At Awards ceremonies and graduation over the past week or so, it started to hit just how many students we've taught, been in class with, and perhaps had a little bit of an impact on. Better than that, how much of an impact TKD had on these students.
The Coppell school never had as many students as the Flower Mound or Highland Village schools do. Amongst all age groups, the highest number was about 150. Typically, like most programs, (except our dfw ta schools) we lost students around the time they became teenagers. (Now it seems we GAIN students at the teenaged years with our program) Still, the awards ceremony was quite telling ...
Coppell's Senior Class had a total of 15 National Merit Finalists in the class of 2009. Of those, 3-4 were former TKD students. Walking across the stage were students that we'd frankly forgotten about as we hadn't worked with them in at least 5 years. One graduate was a boy from a set of twins, perhaps from the 'wrong side of the tracks'. The TKD student, who made it to 2nd degree blackbelt, walked across the stage Wednesday. His twin, who never 'made time' for TKD, did not.
One of my favorite ways to poke holes in arguments is to point out that "correlation doesn't imply causation". In other words, we don't know if TKD kids are more successful because they go to TKD, or if successful kids go to TKD because they are sharp enough to recognize that this "fun" activity helps them throughout their teenaged years, and their lives. Maybe they just think it is fun enough that they "put up with" the good stuff it does for them.
I will write about "our" seniors in a couple of weeks. It just struck me over the last couple weeks what an incredible impact a little martial arts school in Coppell had had on a group of Seniors about to head out into the world.
Thanks for reading,
Mr. V
At Awards ceremonies and graduation over the past week or so, it started to hit just how many students we've taught, been in class with, and perhaps had a little bit of an impact on. Better than that, how much of an impact TKD had on these students.
The Coppell school never had as many students as the Flower Mound or Highland Village schools do. Amongst all age groups, the highest number was about 150. Typically, like most programs, (except our dfw ta schools) we lost students around the time they became teenagers. (Now it seems we GAIN students at the teenaged years with our program) Still, the awards ceremony was quite telling ...
Coppell's Senior Class had a total of 15 National Merit Finalists in the class of 2009. Of those, 3-4 were former TKD students. Walking across the stage were students that we'd frankly forgotten about as we hadn't worked with them in at least 5 years. One graduate was a boy from a set of twins, perhaps from the 'wrong side of the tracks'. The TKD student, who made it to 2nd degree blackbelt, walked across the stage Wednesday. His twin, who never 'made time' for TKD, did not.
One of my favorite ways to poke holes in arguments is to point out that "correlation doesn't imply causation". In other words, we don't know if TKD kids are more successful because they go to TKD, or if successful kids go to TKD because they are sharp enough to recognize that this "fun" activity helps them throughout their teenaged years, and their lives. Maybe they just think it is fun enough that they "put up with" the good stuff it does for them.
I will write about "our" seniors in a couple of weeks. It just struck me over the last couple weeks what an incredible impact a little martial arts school in Coppell had had on a group of Seniors about to head out into the world.
Thanks for reading,
Mr. V
Sunday, May 24, 2009
More Good! Texas Testing.
Highland Village didn't have anyone testing at the national seminar/testing in Atlanta. However, with 6 schools in the area, WE still had some folks testing.
Mr. Anderson from Castle Hills, Mr. Spicar and Ms. Stolkova from Southlake, and Mr. Scott Mischke from Flower Mound all tested. For the second time in memory, we had all of our students pass.
Note I said "OUR" and I also said "students". One of the best things that has happened with the addition of schools in the area is the cooperation between the schools. To get ready for testing, Mr. Anderson was travelling to Southlake frequently, and we went out to Castle Hills for a group workout on a recent Saturday - again helping our testers bet ready. We root for each other like we were all students at the same school.
This translates down the line to the teens and junior students as well. Our instructors at HV have been to Southlake frequently since it opened. I was at Flower Mound last week with my son Carson for a class with Mr. Mischke. Sarah Anderson was helping in Southlake for a time earlier in the month as well. When Kevin Nevels and Mr. Monaghan were getting ready to test last year, we saw them frequently in Highland Village.
I don't know who the "best karate instructor in America" is. What I really believe, though, is that participation with different schools is the best instruction we can have. Whether it be testing, class in the grass, blackbelt clinics, or instructor workouts, it always helps to hear and see instruction in additional ways. Most of these opportunities are available to students from the first day they sign up. Taking advantage of these opportunities is what makes our high rank testers so successful. More successful than anyone else in the nation!
While I may not know who the best karate instructor in America might be, I think it is safe to say that the group of 6 schools in the Metroplex together offer the best instruction a student can hope for!
Thanks for reading ...
Mr.V
Mr. Anderson from Castle Hills, Mr. Spicar and Ms. Stolkova from Southlake, and Mr. Scott Mischke from Flower Mound all tested. For the second time in memory, we had all of our students pass.
Note I said "OUR" and I also said "students". One of the best things that has happened with the addition of schools in the area is the cooperation between the schools. To get ready for testing, Mr. Anderson was travelling to Southlake frequently, and we went out to Castle Hills for a group workout on a recent Saturday - again helping our testers bet ready. We root for each other like we were all students at the same school.
This translates down the line to the teens and junior students as well. Our instructors at HV have been to Southlake frequently since it opened. I was at Flower Mound last week with my son Carson for a class with Mr. Mischke. Sarah Anderson was helping in Southlake for a time earlier in the month as well. When Kevin Nevels and Mr. Monaghan were getting ready to test last year, we saw them frequently in Highland Village.
I don't know who the "best karate instructor in America" is. What I really believe, though, is that participation with different schools is the best instruction we can have. Whether it be testing, class in the grass, blackbelt clinics, or instructor workouts, it always helps to hear and see instruction in additional ways. Most of these opportunities are available to students from the first day they sign up. Taking advantage of these opportunities is what makes our high rank testers so successful. More successful than anyone else in the nation!
While I may not know who the best karate instructor in America might be, I think it is safe to say that the group of 6 schools in the Metroplex together offer the best instruction a student can hope for!
Thanks for reading ...
Mr.V
Monday, May 4, 2009
TKD - you GET more than you GIVE - every time
April 25th, we had a little breakathon scheduled for one of Mr. Anderson's students. They had a pretty lofty goal, we thought, of trying to raise $5000 amongst 4 schools with students who were participating. I really didn't think there was much need of my being there, but I have a kid who hasn't broken in several years, thought it would be a good opportunity to let him have a chance to do so. Contributed a few bucks, postponed cleaning the garage (grudgingly) and mowing the lawn, and took the kid up to Castle Hills.
I showed up to find several folks inside Mr. Anderson's school, with around ... ONE THOUSAND BOARDS. When I walked in, I heard the $5000 goal to START A FOUNDATION for an uncommon disease affecting one of our TKD children had been obliterated, we were around $9000 at the time...
Carson grabbed his boards and we headed out. Figuring that we had 1000 boards to be broken, I slipped my way onto the mat to help hold wood with the school owners. I was pretty sure nobody would ask me to leave as I had a bunch of bars on my belt (kind of like rings which show on a tree trunk). There was music on, there was a vibe and an energy which was unbelievable. Figured out the mom was breaking tons of wood right next to me ... crowd was going crazy.
We stopped down for the Highland Village demo team, finished up another few hundred boards with kids and adults, then the school owners and demo team members took the stage. These guys had some fun, did some impressive stuff, but all of us on the stage were as excited about the orange belts getting their first opportunities as watching our "pros" do 360's through multiple boards.
By that time, we realized we had been a part of something alot bigger than just a bunch of individuals breaking wood. Somewhere along the line, the $5000 goal went to $9000, then the total became $16,000. Smiles on the breakers faces were priceless, but how about the parents? How about the school owners who came together to put this on? Want to compare this to the "who is the toughest" schools of the 1970's? What do you want YOUR family to be associated with?
We do sign contracts in this organization. We'll pay $x/month and schools will tell us that we'll learn self-defense, we'll get more fit, we'll learn some discipline, and we'll have some fun while we get these benefits. I am pretty sure that in no contract that I ever signed did it tell me that in addition to the above, I'd get to be a part of starting a foundation to help victims of a rare disease. It didn't say that we'd have the opportunity to teach our kids to feel fortunate about the blessing of health. It didn't say that 6 schools in the area would come together in the best interest of the students of each.
I have been doing this for 14 years now, and I have always gotten more out of this activity than I have put in, whether it be treasure, time, travel, or talent. In that 14 years, I've never been more proud of participating in an event than I was at the DFW Breakathon for Alport Syndrome. I just have to say thanks for letting my family be a part of it.
Mr. V
I showed up to find several folks inside Mr. Anderson's school, with around ... ONE THOUSAND BOARDS. When I walked in, I heard the $5000 goal to START A FOUNDATION for an uncommon disease affecting one of our TKD children had been obliterated, we were around $9000 at the time...
Carson grabbed his boards and we headed out. Figuring that we had 1000 boards to be broken, I slipped my way onto the mat to help hold wood with the school owners. I was pretty sure nobody would ask me to leave as I had a bunch of bars on my belt (kind of like rings which show on a tree trunk). There was music on, there was a vibe and an energy which was unbelievable. Figured out the mom was breaking tons of wood right next to me ... crowd was going crazy.
We stopped down for the Highland Village demo team, finished up another few hundred boards with kids and adults, then the school owners and demo team members took the stage. These guys had some fun, did some impressive stuff, but all of us on the stage were as excited about the orange belts getting their first opportunities as watching our "pros" do 360's through multiple boards.
By that time, we realized we had been a part of something alot bigger than just a bunch of individuals breaking wood. Somewhere along the line, the $5000 goal went to $9000, then the total became $16,000. Smiles on the breakers faces were priceless, but how about the parents? How about the school owners who came together to put this on? Want to compare this to the "who is the toughest" schools of the 1970's? What do you want YOUR family to be associated with?
We do sign contracts in this organization. We'll pay $x/month and schools will tell us that we'll learn self-defense, we'll get more fit, we'll learn some discipline, and we'll have some fun while we get these benefits. I am pretty sure that in no contract that I ever signed did it tell me that in addition to the above, I'd get to be a part of starting a foundation to help victims of a rare disease. It didn't say that we'd have the opportunity to teach our kids to feel fortunate about the blessing of health. It didn't say that 6 schools in the area would come together in the best interest of the students of each.
I have been doing this for 14 years now, and I have always gotten more out of this activity than I have put in, whether it be treasure, time, travel, or talent. In that 14 years, I've never been more proud of participating in an event than I was at the DFW Breakathon for Alport Syndrome. I just have to say thanks for letting my family be a part of it.
Mr. V
Friday, March 20, 2009
Bussed and that to Baton Rouge
Unbelievably pleasant bus ride with folks from 4 schools in the area. The tournament experience was good as well - our Dallas area students and instructors were somewhat dominant again.
Both of the school owners in Southlake are still eligible to compete, and each won at least one division. As always, our high ranking teenagers placed well in their divisions, (EJ and Amanda) winning both forms divisions. The Southlake adult who rode the bus with us also won his forms competition, narrowly beating out a Flower Mound competitor. Cara Romeike from Flower Mound won her division by so much that parents of other competitors saw her first 3 moves and just dropped their heads.
Better than that, though, the camaraderie of the Dallas area group just shocks those from other area. Somehow, the instructors have instilled an atmosphere where the competition is quite fierce right up until the end of the round or of the competition. Winning is fun, but the reason we have tournaments is to bring out the best in TaeKwonDo training.
We try to train together, we test together, we work together, and we compete against each other. At the end of the day, we make our fellow students and instructors better. That's the goal and Baton Rouge showed the results!
Let's get back to training after Spring Break.
Mr.V
Both of the school owners in Southlake are still eligible to compete, and each won at least one division. As always, our high ranking teenagers placed well in their divisions, (EJ and Amanda) winning both forms divisions. The Southlake adult who rode the bus with us also won his forms competition, narrowly beating out a Flower Mound competitor. Cara Romeike from Flower Mound won her division by so much that parents of other competitors saw her first 3 moves and just dropped their heads.
Better than that, though, the camaraderie of the Dallas area group just shocks those from other area. Somehow, the instructors have instilled an atmosphere where the competition is quite fierce right up until the end of the round or of the competition. Winning is fun, but the reason we have tournaments is to bring out the best in TaeKwonDo training.
We try to train together, we test together, we work together, and we compete against each other. At the end of the day, we make our fellow students and instructors better. That's the goal and Baton Rouge showed the results!
Let's get back to training after Spring Break.
Mr.V
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Demo Team and Different perspectives
14 years into my martial arts career, I notice I think much more like an instructor than a student. This changes when I am due to test, or when I have foolishly volunteered to break a bunch of concrete using a technique I've never done before. Then it is imperative you think like a student!
However, as my 13 year old son Carson starts up again after a break of several years, and as Cameron gets back to class after his ridiculously rapid recovery from his femur break, I find myself occasionally thinking as a parent. At home, I get a good perspective from the kids on the views as students. A couple of things have really struck me over the last few weeks.
The demo team reportedly did a tremendous job, technically the best team in the country (according to the judges) last week. I got to tell some of the guys how proud I was of them tonight, in my role as an instructor. Cameron got to spar Drew Cain in the last class, and came home amazed by how much Drew had improved from his perspective sparring Drew as a student. Sylva Cohen has been raving about how well the kids have been working together in this iteration of the demo team. Among the newer members, Michael Cohen has developed leadership, Drew Cain has developed as a teacher. She is proud as a parent and an instructor.
Ms. Cohen almost single-handedly resurrected the demo team last fall in an impossible time frame to be ready for this competition. Ms. Reiner before her had gotten the team back together to amaze in Jackson, and as the 2008 version of the team faded away, Ms. Cohen was particularly hopeful that it would continue, because of the progress of members in the martial art and the challenge it continues to lay in front of them. It might have been OK for us to not have a team, but it wouldn't have been the best thing for our developing martial artists.
I don't take for granted how blessed we are to have the quality of trainee and certified instructors in the school. As instructor coordinator, I see what these guys can already do. When I help with my son's cross country team, I yearn for the type training and experience in handling students that goes into teaching the kids at hv-tkd. Tonight, though, as a parent, I had a little bit different perspective.
As the lead instructor in a large class, frequently you serve as the ringmaster or the CEO. Meanwhile, you end up assigning students who need closer supervision to instructors assisting in the class. Tonight, my 13 year old was in class. He has the moves in his form down. However, he is going to compete in Baton Rouge and really needs to polish that form, needs good, specific instruction after being out of the program for several years. As the lead instructor with a bunch of bars on my black belt and a pretty stripe down my pants, I did something without thinking.
The best instruction Carson got tonight was not from me, or from Mr. Strickland, or from any adult at all. I assigned Ms. Cleveland to watch Carson carefully. As an instructor it was the right thing to do, and it was natural. As a parent, I don't know what better endorsement I could give for the quality of instructors in the program.
We continue to strive to keep this quality as high as it possibly can be.
Thanks to all, and good luck with testing.
Mr.V
However, as my 13 year old son Carson starts up again after a break of several years, and as Cameron gets back to class after his ridiculously rapid recovery from his femur break, I find myself occasionally thinking as a parent. At home, I get a good perspective from the kids on the views as students. A couple of things have really struck me over the last few weeks.
The demo team reportedly did a tremendous job, technically the best team in the country (according to the judges) last week. I got to tell some of the guys how proud I was of them tonight, in my role as an instructor. Cameron got to spar Drew Cain in the last class, and came home amazed by how much Drew had improved from his perspective sparring Drew as a student. Sylva Cohen has been raving about how well the kids have been working together in this iteration of the demo team. Among the newer members, Michael Cohen has developed leadership, Drew Cain has developed as a teacher. She is proud as a parent and an instructor.
Ms. Cohen almost single-handedly resurrected the demo team last fall in an impossible time frame to be ready for this competition. Ms. Reiner before her had gotten the team back together to amaze in Jackson, and as the 2008 version of the team faded away, Ms. Cohen was particularly hopeful that it would continue, because of the progress of members in the martial art and the challenge it continues to lay in front of them. It might have been OK for us to not have a team, but it wouldn't have been the best thing for our developing martial artists.
I don't take for granted how blessed we are to have the quality of trainee and certified instructors in the school. As instructor coordinator, I see what these guys can already do. When I help with my son's cross country team, I yearn for the type training and experience in handling students that goes into teaching the kids at hv-tkd. Tonight, though, as a parent, I had a little bit different perspective.
As the lead instructor in a large class, frequently you serve as the ringmaster or the CEO. Meanwhile, you end up assigning students who need closer supervision to instructors assisting in the class. Tonight, my 13 year old was in class. He has the moves in his form down. However, he is going to compete in Baton Rouge and really needs to polish that form, needs good, specific instruction after being out of the program for several years. As the lead instructor with a bunch of bars on my black belt and a pretty stripe down my pants, I did something without thinking.
The best instruction Carson got tonight was not from me, or from Mr. Strickland, or from any adult at all. I assigned Ms. Cleveland to watch Carson carefully. As an instructor it was the right thing to do, and it was natural. As a parent, I don't know what better endorsement I could give for the quality of instructors in the program.
We continue to strive to keep this quality as high as it possibly can be.
Thanks to all, and good luck with testing.
Mr.V
Monday, November 24, 2008
Quality
As my friend John Wilkinson once remarked - kind of in an off-handed sort of way - "you don't associate with anything but good people, do you?"
At the tournament Saturday, we had over 300 competitors. Tournaments are generally fun, but signing up for a tournament generally reflects 3 things.
1. Commitment to getting better.
2. Commitment to helping a kid get better at martial arts.
or 3. Commitment to the instructor, the school, and the program that the students are involved with.
I thought 300 competitors in this economy was the truest testament to the quality of people who are involved and who allow their children to be involved in the TaeKwonDo programs ... until ...
the Marrow Transplant registration came in with a goal of 10 signups - and got FIFTY! These guys do this all the time, they USUALLY know what to expect, but they obviously don't know TaeKwonDo students and parents.
and ...
our "fun" little 15 minute fundraiser for Downs Syndrome raised its goal of $500. I think if the goal had been $1000, that, too would have been hit.
We will all remember that the tournament ran late and we know those in charge will do all they can to make the next one better meet the schedule. What I will never forget is the quality of people who went above and beyond to serve the charities we tried to help. On Thanksgiving, Thursday, I will be thankful for how fortunate I am to be associated with all of the good people who made the effort to be at the tournament on Saturday.
Thanks to all!
Mr. V
(and thankful that my elbow didn't break instead of the 12 inches of concrete)
At the tournament Saturday, we had over 300 competitors. Tournaments are generally fun, but signing up for a tournament generally reflects 3 things.
1. Commitment to getting better.
2. Commitment to helping a kid get better at martial arts.
or 3. Commitment to the instructor, the school, and the program that the students are involved with.
I thought 300 competitors in this economy was the truest testament to the quality of people who are involved and who allow their children to be involved in the TaeKwonDo programs ... until ...
the Marrow Transplant registration came in with a goal of 10 signups - and got FIFTY! These guys do this all the time, they USUALLY know what to expect, but they obviously don't know TaeKwonDo students and parents.
and ...
our "fun" little 15 minute fundraiser for Downs Syndrome raised its goal of $500. I think if the goal had been $1000, that, too would have been hit.
We will all remember that the tournament ran late and we know those in charge will do all they can to make the next one better meet the schedule. What I will never forget is the quality of people who went above and beyond to serve the charities we tried to help. On Thanksgiving, Thursday, I will be thankful for how fortunate I am to be associated with all of the good people who made the effort to be at the tournament on Saturday.
Thanks to all!
Mr. V
(and thankful that my elbow didn't break instead of the 12 inches of concrete)
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