Nelson gets ready for sparring while testing for Red Belt Dec 2003.
Sign up for the Jan 2006 Tournament
Starting in October 2001 Nelson, Caitlin, and I started studying ATA Taekwondo under Mr. Kevin Mende in Cumming, Georgia. Nelson had been asking for several months to be able to learn Karate. He started first and then asked Caitlin and me to take classes with him. Now we are all moving forward and having a good time. Taekwondo has given Caitlin and Nelson another physical fitness outlet to go along with the dance and gymnastics. We are trying to get Mary to join us and she says she might soon. Our Taekwondo page shows our Goals and Progress along with some pictures. Our class schedule is posted there also.
In October 2002, Mary joined us in learning taekwondo. She received her orange belt in December 2002. She credits her Grandma Brown for giving her the final nudge she needed to join us. See the taekwondo pictures page for some new shots of us during the December testing and November tournament.
In December 2003, Mary and Caitlin decided to stop attending classes. Caitlin is working hard at dance and has just started taking point classes in ballet. Mary is very busy trying to keep everyone where they should be and managing a Girl Scount Service Unit and a couple of Girl Scout troops in the county.
| Nelson | Butch | Caitlin | Mary | |
| White | Oct 2001 | Oct 2001 | Oct 2001 | Oct 2002 |
| Orange | Dec 2001 | Dec 2001 | Dec 2001 | Dec 2002 |
| Yellow | Feb 2002 | Feb 2002 | Feb 2002 | Feb 2003 |
| Camo | Apr 2002 | Apr 2002 | Apr 2002 | |
| Green | Jun 2002 | Jun 2002 | Jun 2002 | |
| Purple | Aug 2002 | Aug 2002 | Aug 2002 | |
| Blue | Oct 2002 | Oct 2002 | Oct 2002 | |
| Brown Rec | Dec 2002 | Dec 2002 | Dec 2002 | |
| Brown Dec | Feb 2003 | Feb 2003 | Feb 2003 | |
| Red Rec | Dec 2003 | Apr 2003 | ||
| Red Dec | Feb 2004 | Aug 2003 | ||
| Midterm Weapons | Apr 2004 | Dec 2003 | ||
| Black Rec | Jun 2004 | Feb 2004 | ||
| Midterm Weapons | Aug 2004 | Apr 2004 | ||
| Midterm Forms | Jun 2004 | |||
| 1st Deg. Black Belt | Aug 2004 | |||
| 2nd Recommended | Oct 2005 | |||
| 2st Deg. Black Belt | Mar 2006 | |||
| 3rd Deg. Black Belt | not likely |
I chose to stop my training in Taekwondo in November 2006. I have developed some bone spurs and have a bulging disc around C5/C6 in my neck that cause some problems with the nerves leading to my right arm. Part of the treatment for this is to not risk getting smacked in the neck or slammed on the floor really hard. It is also good to avoid generally anything that bounces, twists, bobbles, wobbles, or otherwise puts some stain on my neck. My neuro-surgeon was relieved when I decided to cut back on martial arts.
I might rejoin the training at some point modifying it into somewhat a low impact sport. That will be difficult since the sparring is really the fun part of it for me with the rest of it being just training that makes the sparring safe, effective, and exciting. I have had about one year off at the time of this writing and can really tell in all the ways that lack of excercise tells on a body and mind. I will be doing something to fix that soon.
Thank you for reading. Best of everything in your training and life. - Butch Howard
Today Not Possible, Tomorrow Possible. - H. U. Lee
Our class schedule can be found at the School web site.
Nelson gets ready for sparring while testing for Red Belt Dec 2003.
Nelson blocks a round kick to the head.
Nelson executes a tension punch in the Chung Jung I form in the mini-tournament Dec 2003.
Nelson prepares for Bhang Mahng Ee weapon demonstration in the mini-tournament Dec 2003.
I am just about to leap into a run-jump side kick. The board did break.
Mr. Whittington lands a punch to my chest as I recover too slowly from a kick.
I land a round kick to Mr. Clark's head.
The instructors at the judging table during the Feb2003 testing.
Mary testing for Yellow Belt
Nelson testing for Brown Decided
Caitlin testing for Brown Decided
Bill Clark breaks two boards with a run-jump side kick. Bill is one of the adult student leaders at the school.
He tested for and earned his Black Belt on the day this shot was taken.
Mary earned her Orange belt Dec 2002.
Mary doing her one-steps to test for Orange belt.
Caitlin testing for brown belt.
Nelson testing for brown belt.
Mr. Lary, Mr. Mende, Ms. Still
Caitlin performs her yellow belt form.
Nelson performs his yellow belt form.
Mr. Lary let me know that I was in some trouble with Ms. Still for posting some pictures of her presenting us with our yellow belts because of the unfortunate expressions she had at the time (camera surprise). Ms. Still, I apologize for showing those in public. I guess this means I have to take them out of our Cafepress catalog, too. Too bad, they were big sellers.
Copyright ©2002-2005 Kenneth R. Howard Jr.