We have had him in Master Cho's Tae Kwon Do for a while. Mainly to build focus and self confidence. He didn't really like it at first and, really, the whole little tiger process (for children 6 and under) was a tad boring for him. As parents, we would go twice a week, drop him off and chase Henry around the pond until George was done. We never really learned the extent of what he was learning until it became time for him to test. The Little Tiger program is a year long and the students start out at white belt moving up different color stripes to get to the yellow belt. If you are an older student, you start with the white belt and test for the yellow belt. No in betweens.
Watching a Little Tiger class is literally the cutest thing you have ever seen short of a chubby little baby huddling with a puppy. Master Cho's recruits their instructors directly from South Korea so these people are hardcore....until it comes to the Little Tigers. There are two masters that teach the Little Tiger class. When I say Master, I don't mean just a black belt. They are truly masters. Controlling the Little Tigers is still a bit of a....challenge for them. At four and five, kids don't really care about staying focused so you see them rolling around on the mat, playing with their hair or posing in front of the mirror. It takes every single ounce of self control for the Masters to not giggle when kids are doing this. It is freaking hilarious to watch. Children will come running up to the teachers and hang all over them and you can tell the Masters love it.
Back from my tangent. For a week prior to the test, we drilled George on every Korean vocabulary term he was given. We were constantly asking "What's 'bow to your master?'" or "bow to the instructor?" We were mortified that he might get a single word wrong and earn the disapproval of Master Cho. You see, there is an actual Master Cho and he is a little...intimidating. His wife, who is also a Master, is very friendly and happy but it's a cold day in he$$ if you get smile from Master Cho. The first time I ever saw him smile was at George during his test.
George tested all alone in front of fifty people and other students. He was the only little tiger to test so he was by himself. Did that bother him? Not at all. I would have been mortified. He screamed out his Korean terms and even sparred with the instructor. Where did this little boy come from?? When did he learn that??? To say we are proud would be an understatement. The kid owned the freaking room. Everybody was routing for him.
If I had to pick the best thing about this program it would be that every single person at Master Cho's has a sincere and earnest desire to see these children succeed and it's evident in the pictures I am posting below.
Here Mrs. Cho is helping George with his belt.
George is sitting quietly since they are graded on how well they focus.
George, all by himself, screaming at the top of his lungs!
Sparring with Master Kim.
Answering questions about Korean phrases. This was right before he started to scratch his butt which prompted Master Cho to ask him if he needed to use the bathroom. Sigh.
In these pictures you see how utterly excited they are that George earned his yellow belt. Master Cho leaned down, took George's hand, looked him in the eyes and said, "Good job, George. We are proud of you." Sniff.
He was also the only child in the class to earn a trophy.
George, you earned this. You worked hard and you succeeded. No one can take that from you.
We could not be more proud of you.
Love,
Mommy, Daddy and Henry
