This was her speech:
1. INTRODUCTION
My name is Kimberly Buckholts, I’m ten years old and I am a first degree Black Belt in TaeKwonDo. I started TaeKwonDo when I was six years old. These are my instructors, Master Tom Chase and Master Peter Chase, who are both 5th degree Black Belts. The place where I train is called a dojang. I train Tuesday and Thursday evenings here in Randolph and every Saturday morning in Burlington. My goal in TaeKwonDo is to be able to attend the Junior Olympics, which will be held in Detroit, Michigan in July 2008. TaeKwonDo is a Korean based Martial Art which has also developed into an Olympic sport. My favorite part of TaeKwonDo is sparring. Students begin by learning basic kicking, punching, and blocking moves. The discipline of TaeKwonDo teaches respect and improves both self confidence and concentration.
My uniform, also called a dobak, consists of pants, a top and a belt. The American flag is placed on the right sleeve. The Korean flag is placed on the left sleeve and the Blue Wave Association patch is placed on the front of the uniform. My belt is both red and black because I am under the age of 13. Once I’m 13 I will be given a solid black belt. However, I am still a 1st degree black belt. My belt right now is called a Poome belt.
Students start out as a white belt and work their way up through the ranks which are white, yellow, green, blue, red, and black. The Blue Wave Association has several seminars, weekend camps and one tournament each year. I have participated in twelve tournaments around New England. Here are the medals and trophies I have won. After I successfully tested for my Black Belt I received these certificates from the Taekwonos Headquarters called Kukkiwon in Korea.
My name is Kimberly Buckholts, I’m ten years old and I am a first degree Black Belt in TaeKwonDo. I started TaeKwonDo when I was six years old. These are my instructors, Master Tom Chase and Master Peter Chase, who are both 5th degree Black Belts. The place where I train is called a dojang. I train Tuesday and Thursday evenings here in Randolph and every Saturday morning in Burlington. My goal in TaeKwonDo is to be able to attend the Junior Olympics, which will be held in Detroit, Michigan in July 2008. TaeKwonDo is a Korean based Martial Art which has also developed into an Olympic sport. My favorite part of TaeKwonDo is sparring. Students begin by learning basic kicking, punching, and blocking moves. The discipline of TaeKwonDo teaches respect and improves both self confidence and concentration.
My uniform, also called a dobak, consists of pants, a top and a belt. The American flag is placed on the right sleeve. The Korean flag is placed on the left sleeve and the Blue Wave Association patch is placed on the front of the uniform. My belt is both red and black because I am under the age of 13. Once I’m 13 I will be given a solid black belt. However, I am still a 1st degree black belt. My belt right now is called a Poome belt.
Students start out as a white belt and work their way up through the ranks which are white, yellow, green, blue, red, and black. The Blue Wave Association has several seminars, weekend camps and one tournament each year. I have participated in twelve tournaments around New England. Here are the medals and trophies I have won. After I successfully tested for my Black Belt I received these certificates from the Taekwonos Headquarters called Kukkiwon in Korea.
2. KORYO
At every rank, students must learn a set of different definitions. This is to get used to speaking in front of people. The definition I need to know for my 2nd degree black belt testing, which will hopefully happen in March of 2009, is called Koryo.
(recite Koryo)
Koryo is the name of the Korean dynasty dated between the years 918 and 1392 from which the country Korea derived its name. It is a designation which implies origination of a national character and identity. The people of this dynasty successfully defended their homeland from the Mongolian imperialism which much of Asia had succumbed. This form represents the cultivation of a strong conviction and an unyielding spirit.
Now I’m going to perform Koryo, which is my first black belt form. (do Koryo)
3. BOARD BREAKING
I am going to attempt to break these boards. Each pine board is 1 inch thick, 12 inches long and 8 inches wide. The kicks I am going to attempt are…
Flying sidekick - Step turning side kick - Double board step behind sidekick
4. ONE-STEP SPARRING
This is Austen, a TaeKwonDo class mate, who will be assisting me in performing one-steps and sparring. One-steps are drills that help us practice reacting to an attack.
5. PADDLE DRILLS
These are called paddles. They are used to help us practice focus without hitting each other. This is an example of some paddle drills.
kick switch kick switch
6. GEAR
This is my sparring gear. We have to wear gear so we don’t get hurt. My chest protector, also called a Hogu, is double sided. There is a blue side called Chung and a red side called Hung. My helmet protects me from headshots. These are my shin guards, my arm guards, my gloves, my foot protectors and my mouth guard.
7. SPARRING
Now I’m going to perform some sparring. Sparring is fighting for points. In my dojang, we do Olympic type sparring. Some gyms do point sparring. We do full contact sparring. In a sparring match you will be one color and your opponent the other. There will be 4 judges scoring with video-game like controls and the score is displayed on a computer monitor. There is also a center referee. There are three 90-second rounds and two 30-second breaks between rounds. A good hard shot to the mid-section is worth 1 point. A controlled kick to the head is worth 2 points.
Please watch as Austen and I are going to spar a short match. Master Chase will be our referee!
I want to thank Austen for assisting me and my instructors for taking the time to come here.
I will now answer any questions or comments.
At every rank, students must learn a set of different definitions. This is to get used to speaking in front of people. The definition I need to know for my 2nd degree black belt testing, which will hopefully happen in March of 2009, is called Koryo.
(recite Koryo)
Koryo is the name of the Korean dynasty dated between the years 918 and 1392 from which the country Korea derived its name. It is a designation which implies origination of a national character and identity. The people of this dynasty successfully defended their homeland from the Mongolian imperialism which much of Asia had succumbed. This form represents the cultivation of a strong conviction and an unyielding spirit.
Now I’m going to perform Koryo, which is my first black belt form. (do Koryo)
3. BOARD BREAKING
I am going to attempt to break these boards. Each pine board is 1 inch thick, 12 inches long and 8 inches wide. The kicks I am going to attempt are…
Flying sidekick - Step turning side kick - Double board step behind sidekick
4. ONE-STEP SPARRING
This is Austen, a TaeKwonDo class mate, who will be assisting me in performing one-steps and sparring. One-steps are drills that help us practice reacting to an attack.
5. PADDLE DRILLS
These are called paddles. They are used to help us practice focus without hitting each other. This is an example of some paddle drills.
kick switch kick switch
6. GEAR
This is my sparring gear. We have to wear gear so we don’t get hurt. My chest protector, also called a Hogu, is double sided. There is a blue side called Chung and a red side called Hung. My helmet protects me from headshots. These are my shin guards, my arm guards, my gloves, my foot protectors and my mouth guard.
7. SPARRING
Now I’m going to perform some sparring. Sparring is fighting for points. In my dojang, we do Olympic type sparring. Some gyms do point sparring. We do full contact sparring. In a sparring match you will be one color and your opponent the other. There will be 4 judges scoring with video-game like controls and the score is displayed on a computer monitor. There is also a center referee. There are three 90-second rounds and two 30-second breaks between rounds. A good hard shot to the mid-section is worth 1 point. A controlled kick to the head is worth 2 points.
Please watch as Austen and I are going to spar a short match. Master Chase will be our referee!
I want to thank Austen for assisting me and my instructors for taking the time to come here.
I will now answer any questions or comments.
So, the really "Scary Guy", his "Bar Maid" and their "Pirate" and "Cheerleader" daughters went out to party...
