Naomi decided that she didn't really want to keep doing Kung-Fu once they started teaching forms (a routine that incorporates the technical movements the students are learning). Her teacher was disappointed that she wasn't returning because he thought she was really good, but we didn't feel that it was important to keep her in it if she didn't want to do it and we felt like she had gained the confidence and skill to defend herself if she ever needs to.
Ethan, however, LOVES it!! He is constantly practicing the forms - we have gotten more than a few strange looks at the grocery store as people try to figure out what the boy is doing in the aisle as he follows me around.
Periodically, the school has a belt test where the children are tested on their form and other techniques they have learned to see if they can step up to the next color belt. Ethan took the test to see if he could get his yellow belt. He was soo excited and a tiny bit nervous. They have to test in front of a panel of teachers, all of their peers, and all the parents - I think that's enough to make anyone nervous! We were thrilled to find that Ethan scored 99.9% on his belt test! The teacher said only one other person in the history of the program has scored that high!
Since moving, we transferred to a different site for the school with a different teacher. Ethan is the only yellow belt there this summer, so he has been getting one-on-one lessons. His teacher keeps telling me how much he enjoys teaching Ethan and that he is on his way to being a master black belt one day. Ethan of course beams when he says this. When we started this I thought it would be a good short-lived activity that would help their confidence and self-control, but I'm beginning to think it may not be quite as short-lived as I had thought!
