Martial Arts

Yesterday we went to a martial arts place. Unfortunately, it was not Tae-kwon-do, which is what my prior martial arts school in California was. It seems that many people who know little Tae-kwon-do, but instead have belts in other martial arts, start a Tae-kwon-do school because Tae-kwon-do is much more popular in Kentucky than any other martial arts, including karate. Thus people interested in making a lot of money can do so, saying they have a certain rank, which they do, but they do not say they have it in Tae-kwon-do, thus they do not effectively teach the martial arts.

But the new place is not like this, it does not teach Tae-kwon-do, but instead a mix of Kung-fu, karate, and Jui-jistu. I find the differences hard to adapt to, because Tae-kwon-do was much more direct, and this type seems more circular in feel, and how you defend yourself. For example, moving your fighting stance in Tae-kwon-do foward and backward is done simply by stepping forward, however, in this martial art, you do something called half-mooning. In which you slide your foot forwards, (Or backwards, depending on how you want to move.) but in a circular motion till your foot that was in the back, is now right next to your other foot. Then you move forwards, in a circular motion, till the foot that was behind you is now in front of you.

AWANA

AWANA is one of the most known Christian programs for kids. It reaches kids of all ages. The most known groups of AWANA are Cubbies, Sparks, and T&T. I have had the privilege to work with AWANA (mainly with Sparks) for the last three years (this year being my fourth). This year has been very different than any other year for me, but before I get to that let me tell you about my first three years.

My freshmen year of high school I found myself working at AWANA. I do not know why I did, maybe because I had nothing better to do. So I started as a LIT (leader in training). My jobs were to help the leaders at game time, this included keeping the kids in line, and when the game leaders wanted to have the leaders play a game I would be everyone's choice. I also helped the kids say their bible verses. The first year was the hardest year for me, but it also made me understand many things that would help me not just in AWANA, but in life today. I was helping in one of the biggest handbook groups (where the kids say their Bible verses). Not only was it one of the biggest, it also had the three biggest verse-sayers in the club! We never had enough time to hear all the verses. After the end of the first year I did not know if I was going to help again, but the fun times are the times that stuck with me. The hard time were soon forgotten in all the fun of the summer.

When my second year was coming up I could not wait to start! I was ready this year for having a big handbook group of kids, and work hard with my group. What I was not ready for was a small group of kids that had almost no verses to say. I was bored to death. Then I saw that other groups had too many verses and kids to handle and God gave me an idea. After my group was done and the leader was with them (I was a LIT that year too). I would go help the groups that needed it. Because of the last year I was used to working hard so when I had an easy job I would go help the people that had the hard jobs.

My third year was the weirdest AWANA year I have ever had. Early on we had Game director (they should be called Dictator) problems and we had to look for a new "director". At this time I was planing to be a leader next year. But because of the problems I started to help with games more and more over that year. At the end of the year I even had been the Main Dictator of Games two times. I could not wait for next year!! I was going to be the Dictator for game all year! Then I found out that our family was going to be moving... I was bummed.

Our new church this year was starting AWANA for the first time in a couple of years, and they needed a Game Director... they did not get one... they got a Game Dictator *Evil Laugh*. This year has been very different for me. I came from a church that has had AWANA since Noah got off the Ark (really). And now I am working at one that has had AWANA seven weeks. The first week we had 16 kids from the Sparks and T&T combined (the other AWANA had 40-80 kids for Sparks alone). It has been hard to work with new people and to adjust new way things are done. But it is a great time and I can never wait for the next week.