Spring 2026 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!

spare sparring

Went to sparring the other day but I only got through the first few line drills. My foot is still too tender to bounce up and down or kick anything.  I did, however, receive a sparring credit from the PMAA seminar, so I only need two sparring classes to finish up. 

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Week 11 - Harmony

As strikes and blocks flow together, we see that life, too, is a balance of forces. Harmony comes not by resisting every challenge, but by moving with wisdom through it. 

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9/20/25

Today was pretty good. i went to sparring class and helped out with the classes after that and then did leadership class, which is what i do every saturday. After that I came home and was pretty productive. I did all my requirements and stuff, practiced violin, and got a good bit of research done for my sociology paper, i also started making an outline for it. After that I played volleyball with my friends and came home, showered and ate dinner. I am going to watch a movie now byeee

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9/20/25

My day was this morning I woke up got my uniform on and went to Master Shellys school in lake norman. After that  I got breakfast and then I went home Did my two mile and did the rest of my Exercises and I just chilled for the rest of the day.

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9/20/25

Today was a normal day. First I woke up and went to sparring. Then I helped out with the junior tigers, got a mentee session in, helped out with the family class and took leadership. After that I ate lunch and read a book for some time and called my friends. Finally I played volleyball with my friends came back and I am about to watch a movie.

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9/20/25

Today I went to black belt class in the morning and I helped out in the family class afterward. Once I got home, I took a shower and then I got started on my requirements. I had just gotten back from school trips, so I was very behind. But, I managed to get almost caught up and now I'm watching my favorite college football team get beaten up. So, yeah it's not great.

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9/20 #30

Today I had to go to my gramps early so he can take me to Saturday class while I was there I learned the rest of the 1st don one step with jack now I feel better now then when my grandpa took me home I worked on essays and I’m still right now working on them.

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Saturday

Today I went to the black belt class, then came back for pictures. I went shopping for ingredients to make pho, which I will probably do on Tuesday. 

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9/20

Today was definitely a busy day but let’s start from yesterday because I fell asleep before I could journal. I had a very long band trip to Hough High School and played at the football game, it was very exhausting. Today I had my pictures taken and also attended a birthday party which was very cool and we played a lot of laser tag.

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9/20

Today I went to sparring class and did pretty well. I also ran 2 miles today and got all my requirements done. Hopefully going to eat out later. Bye

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Entry 35

I missed my journal yesterday because my day was so full. Co-op whole day, then black belt at night. I did my run with my Dad first thing in the morning today.

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#68.

I’m tired. That’s all I want to write but it won’t let me.

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friday

Today was black belt class and sparring. i ate chicken and tater tots for dinner. Goodnight.

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9/19

Today was a normal day at school. I had another tryout/meeting for a club i want to join. I didn’t do well in band today either. After I came back home I did all my requirements and I did absolutely horrible on my run today. I’ve been getting times I got in the beginning of the cycle. I really need to lock in. After that I had dance class and I made some really good pasta for dinner. I watched TV and now I’m going to work on some essays for the cycle. I really wish I went to the pmaa seminar because I could’ve gotten some good credits from them. This cycle I didn’t go to any of the seminars and I really regret it. That’s it for today.

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9/19

i went to school came back and went to class. thanks to the pma seminar i finished all my credits for this cycle which im glad. after that my dad made a fire and we had smores which was really good.

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9/19

Today I got a 100 on my social studies test and got to play in the band for the football game. Only problem is our team is buns so we lost 6-27. Bye

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9/19

Today I had to present in front of my science class with the rest of my group and my group made me say really corny jokes. then I came home and did some homework then I went to taekwondo.

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9/19 #53

Today I went to school and I had my grammer test 2 today and my senrio quiz too. Soon after school I went home and cleaned my room plus my homework I did, Later around 6:00 I did my requirements. thats all and I am about to play with my cats.

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9/19 #28

Today I still woke up 20 minutes later than I planned for the bus so I had to cut down my schedule but tor my sake I will skip to the first class so today was also my science teacher 60th birthday so we had to go wish her happy birthday and that’s really it I did not do much else 

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9/17 #52

Today I went to school and I did so much math and science. Also I did my homework in class and my requirements but a lot of days have been very chill.

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9/16 #51

Today was not really much to do and I went to school and I had 5 tests in class. After school I came home to my dads house and I did my homework and my requirements.

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9/19/25

Today we went on a field trip to the Knight Theater to see Step Afrika. It was a really cool performance and I was yelling a lot so my throat was hurting lol. After that we went across the street and there was this really cool place where we ate lunch. It was like a little park but there was this huge art balloon dome thing, i dont know how to describe it but it was really cool and we took a lot of pictures under it. After that we went back to school and we had free time. My teacher was playing spiderman no way home on the tv so I was watching that. After that I went to art club and I made a poster for the kickball tournement thats happening tommorow. After that I came home and did homework because I have a college paper due and its...

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9/19/25

Today was a normal day. First I woke up and went to school. Then I came back ate a snack and went to black belt class. After that I came back home changed and went to dance class. Finally I watched tv and ate dinner

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9/15 #50

Today was amazing because our homeroom teacher told us around the end of the school year we are going to go on a feild trip to SC Murtle Beach or knowen as the outer banks. When I got home I played with cheeto and taffy my cats. nothing much today though.

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Sep 19 day #40

Today I got a lot done. I didn’t have school today so thats one reason today was good. I went to my grandmas house from 8 till 5, so I was there almost the whole day. At her house I did my requirements and I finished an essay. Im really having stressful thoughts about the essays thats Im not going to get them done in time. But all I can do is keep on working. We also swam at my grandmas house and me and her went to Sam’s Club. After her house I went home and studied my written exam. Then I had some more stressful thoughts. And I am now about to go to bed.

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Another week gone?

I can't believe we are going into week 11. What happened with the time? I feel pretty good for the most part, but I'm sloppy on a few things as well. I'm worried about sparring and take-downs because of the injuries I've had this cycle. 

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9/14 #49

This morning I played with Cheeto my kitten he jumped close to 6 or 7 feet high in the air, I also played on my phone and did my requirements.

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9/13 #48

Today I went to the saturday bb class which was pretty fun but master Evins was not there. After the class I went to go run 2 miles and do my requirements, soon after I went home and took a nap from 10:00 to about 5:00.

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9/12 #47

Today at school we went to live annocments and me and my friends talked and stuff. Soon after school I went to my dads house and stayed the night, when I got home I did my requirements and I ran 2 miles.

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09/19/2025

Today was pretty good We worked on the written test during BBC. For dinner I had pizza and cheesy bread. The bread was so good.

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9/19

Today was fun. I did my first black belt class on a Friday, which was pretty interesting after that me and my mom got pizza. And then when I got home, I talk to my friends on a call for a little, but after that I had to go do my run And that’s all I’m done today. 

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9/11 #46

Today at school we all went to the gym and my class is going to start doing a club only for 5th graders next week. Soon after school I went to the track and ran 2 miles and I went to my dads house and stayed there for an hour or two then I went to my moms house and ate and slept.

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Sept 19

Today we tried to meet Master Marcus for a mentor session but he forgot haha. Thankfully Master Chelley was there and she was able to help us with bolo. We went to black belt class tonight and got to work on staff which was good. 

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9/19/25

My day was good. There was no school today so I slept in.  After I woke up I did my Exercises then I  Got started on finishing my history of the kwans essay  for me it was it really fun learning about the Original kwan's school. I had a fun time. For dinner we went out to eat and then I got home and then Just chilled for the rest of the day.

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9/19

I had a very slow run this morning, I'm not happy about it, it does not make me feel confident going into next week.   On a positive note, I'm studying the written and doing okay on my wife testing me.  I've done well on my curriculum practice, but only okay on most of my physical stuff.   Looking forward to a fun weekend with the family (and some TKD).  

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Float Like a Butterfly, Sting Like a Bee

This week was very eventful, as the weeks at the start of the school year often are. I am getting more comfortable with my regular schedule, and Tuesday in particular had a lot, despite me not having any classes. My homework is not as much as it was last semester. I have a few more things to do tonight, although it shouldn't be too bad. Taekwondo training with the UMN club is going well. I sent some of my poomsae videos from Hanmadang to the club president, who was interested in seeing them. I am trying to fix my form from those videos. I feel like I don't float enough, so to speak.

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#67.

Today went to top golf with my football team and ate a lot of wings.

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thursday

Today i went to school and to taekwondo. Then i made waffles. Goodnight.

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9/18

Today was a pretty normal day at school. My dad is going on a trip with his friends to when I came home he was packing. I had some food and chilled for a little while and said bye to my dad. After I started my requirements. Usually Thursday is the easiest because I have no other classes but I missed class on Monday and I need leadership credits so I went for a class today. I had a fun time helping today and after I came back I went on my run and I tried a new route and it was odd. I came back and ate and then I joined a meeting for an organization I’m in. I had a shower and now I need to study for my science test tomorrow.

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F

Hello today I woke up and went to school and then I did A helpmate seshon well thats all byyyyyu.

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Entry 36

September 18 - Entry # 36 School was good. We got interim reports today. I've got all A's in all of my classes so far, so that's good. After school we came home and hung out with the family for a while. Worked on requirements, played a video game , ate dinner, then showered and got ready for bed. It was odd not having sparring today, because I've always went on Thursdays.. but I like the idea of having 2 off days back to back.

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Starting my skid

Hunter S. Thompson once said that the intention of the King Tiger Black Belt cycle is that, at the end, you should "skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!" If he is correct, then I am right on schedule to arrive just as he stated.  

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9/18

i went to school came back and rapped up an essay, pretty sure i have one left. went to tkd after that and got my last leadership credit, ive got 20 on both leadership credits now. so far not so bad. 

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9/18

Today was fun. I went to school and after school, I went to taekwondo and helped out at the drills class and sparring class. After that, I had went to hockey practice and we had a scrimmage, which was very fun

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Thursday

Today I did my requirements early and went to the gym at lunch. Work was busy, but I still had time to get to the pool for an hour. I went to sparring and did a class assistance tonight.

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9/18

Today wasn't too exciting but yesterday was, I had my math diagnostic which went pretty well because I like math and then I went to see the Lumineers live at PMC which was exciting and really cool.

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9/18/25

Today was a normal day. First I woke up and went to school. Then I came back did my requirements. After that I went for a run and played outside with my friends for a while. Finally I went to my friends house for dinner and did my homework after I came back.

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09/18/2025

Today I felt unlucky and lucky. Unlucky because I had to take a reading diagnostic which went from 1st block to lunch so I missed 3rd block/band my favorite. I feel lucky because I did not have to do sparring YAAAAAAAAAAAY. I have some more sparring classes than I need so I got to skip it today.

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9/18

Today was once again another normal day at school. I got back from school and chilled for a bit then I went to sparring after that I had dinner.

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9/18

Today i had therapy and then came home and did my excersises now I'm doing my poomse self-defense and kicks

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The 18th

So today I left early from school because I went to therapy . I finished in time for sparring. That’s it bye

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7/18

Another exhausting day on cycle 😅😐🙁☹️😟😫😫😫 aaaanyway I managed to get the vast majority of my school work done before lunch it was just English that I had to do and I'm composing a poem tomorrow apparently but whatever the big thing today was the fact that it's Thursday so sparring class😫😫😫 anyway it turned out to not be that bad the black belts went to the back obviously that would include me and I sparred Carter Jackson and Zane and Zane actually wasn't that bad because I had this weird adrenaline rush right at the beginning but anyway that's about it bye

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Sept 18

Today was hard because my back is hurting and I decided to skip sparring so I can rest.

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September 18

Today was my mom’s birthday I made a painting for her and a bracelet! We didnt do much today that’s all nighttt!

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9/18/25

My day was good as usual I woke up did my Exercises and got dressed for school. After school I went home relaxed for a bit and then went to the Dojang for sparring I got home around 6:20. I have no school Tomorrow  because of the teacher work day. So I can sleep in and that is my day.

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9/18

Today, I had nothing big go on, had to clean the house though. Almost done with all my requirements.  Hope you had a good day

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Entry 34

To I ran two miles with my dad. It was so tiring! I will also will be going to sparring class today. See you all soon!

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wednesday

Today i had tacos for dinner and played clash and went to taekwondo which was good. Then i ran. Goodnight.

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Entry 35

September 17 ‐ Entry # 35 Had an okay day at school. After school, we had pictures at the do jang. Then, instead of my usual sparring class on Thursday's, I went to sparring class today. It was my 10th class for my requirements. I also helped with the white belt class. After class we went to taco bell for dinner, then came home to get ready for bed. Tomorrow will be an off day since I took sparring today. 

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9/17

i went to school came back and did some requirements. then i was watching a videoa about police officers and got a police radio on my phone. i thought it was cool, there's a lot of action. 

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Entry 33

I ran 1 mile today with my Dad. Then, went to church at night.

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9/17

Today was picture day at tkd and it was also sparring class. But I could not stay for that class, because I had hockey practice which was fun. anyway I am going to bed now

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Sept 17

Today we had a good feast day and then I photographed the Fraternus challenge ceremony this evening which was fun.

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#66.

Today was chill day with only a little fun at football.

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9/17/25

TOday at school we didnt really do anything that interesting. In math we just learned whatever we did yesterday and in english we finished presenting and then we started a writing assignment. In sociology we just took notes and did some worksheets and in history we also took notes and did worksheets. when i got home i did requirements and then i went to taekwondo and we did this thing called battle of the belts where we had to do poomsaes and we had to pick a belt group to compete against. after taekwnodno i just came home and ate dinner and stuff and did homework. 

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Finally!!!!!!!!!!!

We finally got our Chromebooks but they are just for testing because our personal devices haven't arrived. Then I wen't to North Charlotte for BBC. Only 2 and a half more weeks

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9/17 Curtis Journal

For the 3rd week in a row Abigail and I spent Wednesday night at north Charlotte doing to sparring and black belt classes. Maybe I should have skipped the gym this morning because I am exhausted! Sparing was fun and working on those side step movements is a good challenge for my brain-muscle link. Im tired and headed to bed!

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9/17/2025

Today I went to guitar lessons and practiced scream by avenged sevenfold. After that I did a mentor session with Master Foster. I am finally done with journals!!

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9/16#26

Today I went to school had a good day and won trivia when I went to taekwondoe I had to work on high yellow and now I know what I need to work with Landon on.  

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9/17

Today was another day at school, I got home and went to my sister’s cheer thing. After that I went to soccer practice then I had dinner.

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September 17

Today I woke up and did Requirements. Then I did a lot of school after I worked out and went to tkd! Night!!!

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9/17/25

Today was a normal day. First I woke up and went to school. Then I came back ate a snack and did my homework. After that I went to taekwondo took a class and got a mentor session in with Master Knight. Finally I watched tv and ate dinner.

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Wednesday

Today I didn’t feel the best so I took a little easy. Schools usually the same so I’m not gonna talk about that too much. I did help out with class. That’s it bye

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Wednesday

Hello today I woke up and went to school I went on a feald trip to the wwc then I went to king tiger after school and helped out did a leadership then I went to church well thats all byyyyy.

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Sep 17 day #39

Today was pretty good. I woke up went to school, after school I went home and then went to an appointment. After that we went straight to taekwondo, and my brother and I got our pictures done. After that my brother left and I did a sparring class.

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9/17/25

My day was good. As usual I woke up did my Exercises I did 40 push-ups today. After school I went home and got dressed for the picture thing at the dojang it was pretty quick and then I got back home did my two mile run and relaxed for the rest of the day.

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9/17

Today I went to north-Charolotte for sparring, then I came home and got 9:32 on my mile. that's all bye 

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9/17 #27

Today, I went to school where I had some fun, won candy, and I got told that a tree fell down in front of my house, and that the bus can not go to my house, so my dad had to pick me up. Later today we have taekwondo pics, and I will work on my essays. 

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9/17

Today I got a 100 on my Social Studies One Pager and got breakfast in class from Hazel. I'm also going to church later today. Have a good day.

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9/17

I had a good start to the day, woke up early and went through the curriculum.  I'm getting there, slowly but surely.  I glitched out on Green belt self defense and kick defense, but took my time and got the right moves (I did validate against the videos in the app).  THen I did some standard physical requirements.  

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9/16

Today I almost missed the bus because I thought it was going to come in my neighborhood a different way like it usually did but when it came in it almost didn't see me, I got on though. I barely had anything at lunch, only some pineapples because they had pizza for lunch, yuck. I helped out an did warm-ups in class so that was cool. I ran a mile did some homework, and I'm about to go to bed right now.

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9/16

I don’t know what’s going on with me. Last week I had acid reflux and this week I have a sore throat stuffy nose and a fever. Not fun especially with the black belt cycle. It’s so annoying how it happens just when the cycle is ending. I skipped my first 2 blocks of school today because my mom wanted to test me for covid, I don’t have it luckily. I went to my last 2 blocks of school and when I came back I had some food and rested a little before starting my requirements. I did some in the morning so I wouldn’t have to work as hard. I went on a normal run and it was pretty okay. I went to my class today too though I skipped it yesterday because I was feeling a lot worse yesterday. Class was fine today and I got caught up on...

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tuesday

Today i went to school which was boring as always. Then i went to help at taekwondo and then i went to trail life and to run. Then i came home and ate dinner. Goodnight.

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9/16/2025

Today my dad had a buisness trip. I've learned a new thing about pasta. If you boil milk you can make it curdle & then if you add a cornstarch slurry with more milk you can actually make a pseudo cheese sauce due to the fact that curdled milk is just cheese. This is great for cleariac puree.

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Entry 34

September 16 - Entry # 34 Went to school. Today we had the ELA test for the county. I didnt do too good on it. After school, I did requirements, then went to black belt class. Headed home for dinner and to get ready for bed. Have pictures tomorrow at the dojang. Im excited to get to take the picture, along with the other black belts, with Master Shin. It's my first time being able to join in for that one.

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Today

Today is school picture day I also had a field trip to ninja nation. I helped out with a few class. That's it bye

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Curtis Journal 9/16

Tuesday! Nothing new to report, gym early. Did some stick and bolo this afternoon. I still need to finish essays!! let’s keep going!

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9/16/2025

Today I was at school and I forgot I had homework and it was worth a test grade so I was very upset about that. After school I made sure to get all of my work done so that doesn't happen again. I am glad I learned from my actions.

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9/16

Today i had a little homework so I got some of that done before taekwondo, then I assisted with a class and did leadership credits. after taekwondo I did a mentee session and came home and had dinner then I practiced poomse self-defense and kicks.

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Tousday

Hello today I woke up and went to school and I did picture day then I went to king tiger after school and helped out then I went to the doctor well that was my day  byyyy.

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9/16

normal day, went to school snd came back home and did some requirements, after that i went to taekwondo and had a mentor session.

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9/16

Today  I went to a class at tkd to help out which was fun. After I had my first hockey practice of the season.

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9/16/25

Today was a normal day. First I woke up and went to school. Then I came back ate a snack and called my friends so we could do our homework together. After that I had a mentee session and I went to go hang out with my friends. Finally I watched tv and ate dinner.

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Unimaginative Title

I had to take care of some home chores tonight, so I zipped down to the early class to grab some credit. I got home early after class, took care of what I needed to do and now I'm sitting on the couch working on essays. And journaling of course.  

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9/16/25

My day was good as usual I woke up did my Exercises I was able to do 40 push-ups today. And then I got dressed for school. After school I went to the house for a little bit then I went to the dojang to help out. And I got home around 7:15. And that is my day

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September 16

Today I woke up went to the gym and then went on a walk and that’s all night!

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09/16/25 Tuesday

Today I didn't really do much except help out with class. then I came home did my homework which was pretty easy. And I am going to have tacos for dinner  

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9/16/25

Today at school in math we just learned about compound interest or something. In English we did presentations about the way our music taste has changed over time. This was probably the first presentation I actually felt good about presenting. I still felt a bit nervous when I went up there, but it was pretty easy because I knew what to say and it was pretty informal. I also was really excited to share the music i listen to, and seeing other people having their "embarrasing" phases on there made me less nervous. In history we just took notes. After school i just got home and did requirements. I have violin class soon

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9/16

I had a math test today and a US states test. I did good on the states test and dont know what I got on the math test. Have a good day.

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Entry 32

Yesterday I forgot to do my journal so today will count as both. Yesterday me and my dad run one mile. After that he dropped me of at Tae Kwon Do and I helped with the lower belt class. Today I hope me and my dad can get some running in. Sadly I will not be helping out in the lower belt class today.

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