Neither soccer nor baseball have been a big hit with Sam — or he with them for that matter. Never in a million years, though, would I have thought that Sam would be so into taekwondo. Heck, it never even occurred to me to suggest it — that’s how far from my mind it was. It just goes to show that you just never know, even though you may have thought you knew. Well, we owe all the kudos for Sam’s budding taekwondo hobby to Stink, Judy Moody’s pesky little brother. He is Sam’s hero! It all started when we were reading the highly intellectual Stink and the Thumb-Wrestling Smackdown. (Confession: I love these books almost as much as he does!)
So Stink’s parents make him pick a sport to get some sort of exercise. Naturally for Stink the eternal contrarian, he decides to pick thumb-wrestling of all things. Despite the fact that Stink became a stellar thumb-wrestler, his parents put the kabosh on counting that as a sport. (Who didn’t see that plot twist coming? Then again this book was written for immature seven-year-old boys, so never you mind.) Since Stink had to pick something else, he randomly decided on taekwondo and ended up loving it. That’s when Sam’s thumb-wrestling and taekwondo hobbies were born as well.
Here he is at what looks like some sort of Ninja Training Camp. The yellow belts are sporting their snazzy new “sparring gear” for the first time. Who knew that sparring gear could be so cute — or so heavy? I guess everything is cuter when it is little, just like people. Daddy Mac commented that the kids look like little turtles in the picture below wearing their big red shells. Indeed they do!
Sam even brought his new helmet into school to show it off to his class. When he has it on, though, it looks like he should be in traction in the ICU. But hey, if it prevents him from being in traction for real, then it is a good thing for sure.
At this point Sam already knows more Korean words than me — and I’m the one who lived in Korea for a year. Pretty lame, huh? But then again I have added to his Korean vocabulary by teaching him how to say “mekju juseo” translated to “beer, please!” Master Yi, Master Park, and Master Oh were suitably impressed — and shocked — when he blurted that one out. Wish I had a picture of that!
While you’re at it, make mine an OB with some cucumber kimchi and squid jerky on the side. Cheers!
LibbY
PS If you are interested in trying out taekwondo in Richmond, check out Master Yi Taekwondo at http://www.masteryitkd.com
They are excellent!