Fall 2025 Black Belt Cycle

Candidate Journals

King Tiger Tae Kwon Do Black Belt candidates blog daily about their journey: their thoughts and feelings, their struggles and successes; their pain and their encouragement. Follow along on their journey; words of encouragement are always welcome!

August 1

Today I went to work and then to class. I was nervous for the pre-test tomorrow but I'm not anymore after seeing that other people are. The only part I worry about is the running because I already know that I'll be the slowest one because I always have been. I've kind of accepted it and I just hope that I continue to make progress on it.

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July 31

Today I went to work and it was very fun. I immediately went to class and now I am home. I will now feed my cats because they are both giving me their saddest faces.

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July 30

Today I went to work and made more pirates. When I was doing my run I took a detour from my usual route because there is the bridge I have to cross and there was this weird fat bug that was face-height and in the middle. I took way with another bridge that was down an eerie path in the shade, and it was missing one of the wooden planks. I still crossed it and then up the flight of stairs on the hill. Then I ran back home. The end

  17 Hits

July 29

Today I went to work and we went to the library for a bit. I did my requirements but I was also supposed to go to a class today but I fell asleep about 30 minutes after getting home.

  28 Hits

July 28

I was wrong to be optimistic last night for the rematch of bowling against my mom. She beat me every single game, one by over fifty points. Next time I'll win though.Today was a relaxed day. I watched some movies and did the requirements. 

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July 27

Today I went to Petco with my mom and I got a new toy for my cats. You put treats in it and the cats hit it and the treats fall out. Boo likes it a lot. Casper doesn't really get a chance to hit it because Boo gets in his way, so he sticks out his paw and grabs treats when Boo isn't looking. I will now be going back to the bowling alley to have a rematch with my mother. I am optimistic this time.

  31 Hits

July 26

Today I went to the Poomsae Seminar and then I went to my grandma's house for lunch. After that I went home and did the requirements. Because of the heat, I go running around 8 p.m. and so I keep hearing some of the coyotes around me when I'm out there. Apparently they chased a bicyclist in the trails where I run. My mom worries endlessly but I think I could beat a few coyotes. They are like small-ish dogs. I have never had a dog but I'm not that far from the houses so I think it's fine.

  33 Hits

July 25

Today I went to work and did my requirements. Nothing different really happened. I did just wake up right now and I'll be going to bed in about 38 minutes. Byeeeee

  31 Hits

July 24

Today I went to work and it was fun. We went to the Raptor Center and saw all kinds of birds, and some even did tricks. We also saw a black snake on the trails. I didn't even notice it until it moved. I kind of fell asleep after coming home, so I didn't really do anything else. Byeeee

  28 Hits

July 22 and 23

This morning when I woke up, it felt like when a character in a movie wakes up after having the most insane party where there is furniture on the roof and a missing door. I think the cycle is starting to get to me because after I went to work yesterday, then went to a class, then did the requirements, I fell asleep while watching Survivor at about 10 p.m., then I woke up for a couple of minutes, then fell asleep again, then went to bed around 12 where I didn't even get to brush my teeth before collapsing in bed and being gone in less than thirty seconds. When I woke up, I was in a half-asleep dream (with my eyes open) about this made-up story game where I was all of these different people at once and one second I was a little kid in a canoe in this...

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  38 Hits

July 21

Yesterday I did in fact lose to my mother in bowling. She won 3 games and I won 2 games. In one of the games, she beat me by like 40 points. It was sad. I did my stuff but right now my cat Boo just sat on me. Now he is laying on me. Byeeee.

  43 Hits

July 20

Today I went to Sweet Frog and over to a friend's house for a while. Later, I got home and ran a mile. When I was heading home from it, I found my friend walking to the playground. I had to briefly explain why I looked like I'd been stranded in the forest for days. Every time I blink I fall asleep a little bit. I will now go bowling, my Achilles' heel.

  31 Hits

July 19

Today I took over a minute off of yesterday's run time. It's still very, very slow but it's definitely progress and was my fastest time yet. I did run directly into a spider web at one point and I think my life flashed before my eyes. 

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July 18

Today was a standard day. I tried to teach my cats how to sit on command. Boo grasped the concept easier than Casper. The latter would look around confused and stand there. I gave him a few treats for effort, too. This means that now Boo can efficiently play hide and seek (though only as a seeker), can play fetch, and can sit. Casper is a work in progress but I am very proud of him too. I made s'mores later that night.

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July 17

Last night I may have possibly, maybe, perchance stayed up a tiny bit late, maybe say 3:40 a.m. watching The Client and Kindergarten Cop, both for the first time, and I did enjoy both of them. I liked The Client a bit more though because it had more action. Regardless, this caused me to wake up around twelve. I proceeded to have a normal day. But even though it's eleven at night, it's not over yet. I will further destroy my mother for my all-time streak as reigning champion of Mario Kart later. That's all.

  46 Hits