Update...

My journal wasn't been updated for a couple of weeks. Like eating, I think I slowly loosing my appetite.. hahaha.

Anyway, I been quite busy in two months now, taekwondo training and competition, Sony Ericson WTA tournament and Marathon.

February 6 and 7 dated my first Tae Kwon Do tournament. Two weeks prior to the date, I been very busy training for 3 hours, 3 days a week. It combines my preparation for the competition and for my marathon a night before the BIG day. Its really a rush training since the students were been away for End of Year holiday.

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9pm, February 6. My first night marathon in Putrajaya, Malaysia. My 2nd marathon to date. Together with my friend, Shai, I join the 7.7km fun run. It was a sweet experience but not sweeter than my first run. I was holding back to run fast since I'm worrying about my leg calf and muscles to contract. If it happens, my taekwondo tournament the next day will be doomed. I finished the race at 9:42pm... yeah 42 minutes after the starting time.. Well, I really thought I might get a medal that time.. but still I got none. Since we have nothing to do after the race, We decided to walk going home and took some pictures in Putrajaya's beautiful lover's bridge :D

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7am, February 7. the Big day. I received an early sms from our group president, Eddy, requesting us to be in the competition place at 7:15. I did not inform him about my activity the other night, so he is expecting me and the rest of the team to be physically fit in that morning. He calls an early meeting for a run-through of the event. Since MMU is the organizer of the competition, We, the demo team are set to perform. I came late.. I wasn't able to join in the run-through. He says its okay. hehehe.

My fight was set to start at 9am, but the program proper started at 10. In my mind I thought, "bruises will be all around my body before We perform". I watched some fights, between the lower category, to observed and see how they move and play the game. Some of them didn't use the whole place to move and chase their opponent. No solid kicks and their stamina are very low. They are panting too much on the first half of the game.

My two teammates won their first match by a no-show opponent. I was next, the butterflies on my stomach started to bother me. I was nervous. I saw my opponent and it add ups the bad thoughts I'm feeling that day. Eddy is in my back telling me what to do if he thinks theres an open spot and possible points which I follow. It was a great match, a great experience and I can't wait to be part of the next tournament. I got a bronze :D

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2pm, February 28. Sony Ericson WTA Kuala Lumpur Open. After attending the mass at the City, Shai and I went to Bukit Kiara Equestrian and Country Resort to watch the final match of the first WTA in KL. I was excited to see one of my favorite players, Elena Dementieva, who I called "Mommy". She is soooo pretty. I still love her though she didn't win. She is good but her opponent, Alisa Kleybanova is superb. Her ball placements are excellent that Elena can't break her serve or even save her own service game.

Mixed Activities :D

We again had a training for the upcoming " Convo Fest". Finalizing the group of each who will attend, I was grouped to those who will do the Demo a.k.a "Taerobics", a mixed steps of aerobics and taekwondo.




We started the training at around 9pm since most of the guys had an exam for the break. This is our last chance to practice for the week since some of them will go back to their hometown tomorrow. The President informed us to prepare for the final practice set on the following weekends.

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I'm also bit excited. 2 days from now will be my most awaited day. I ask my friend Michelle to ask their friend to pick up my gear for the marathon... really I'm so happy and tense. This will be my first so I'm trying my very best to set my mind to one goal.. Finish the run.. It doesn't matter if I get a medals intended for the first 350 finisher or not... But I will be much happier if I got one :D.

Kicking Fun

Had a great time last night. Laughing out loud, smiling all the time and talking about anything under the sun with my kicking friends. It's one of the great times I had with them. Now I really regret that I haven't had the chance to join them at the binding camp. I'm thinking, if We are this lively and happy in a simple gathering, how much more in a plan gate-a-way? Wahhh...

Oh anyway, this happen while eating at the Hostel Canteen in the University after our Tae kwon do training. Actually I already took my dinner at the terminal after I finished my work so I'm not that hungry. I just ordered beef burger for a snack.

Btw, the group already appointed a few people who will stand as the team officers for this year. From President down to Treasurer. If my counting is right there are atleast eight (8) people who will help the group on its goal and objectives. I still haven't memorized all the names of the members since my memory is really bad in remembering it (sign of old age.. hehehe). The few that I know are: Eddy Beh, Derek, Jie Jun(JJ), Nazim and Rizman. The other might take me some time to remember.. hahaha

We also formed groups for the Sparring and Demo team, I joined both. We started the training for Demo last night after the training in preparation for the upcoming "Martial Arts Fest" on 10th of August. Though I will not be available to join the team that time, I still register myself to prepare for future Demo activities. Two sets of extra training was been set within the week, we need to insert extra effort since the date is near. Monday and Wednesday night are the chosen days for this extra training. Another training is set later at 8pm.

We go back almost midnight. I took a quick hot shower to wash my stink before sleeping.

Kicking Update

I wore my yellow belt for the first time last night :D.

I'm really happy that I reached this far.. not that far, yes... but far enough to keep me going and aim for more.

It wasn't like our usual training sessions... It so exhausting.. its an extreme training... and I love it!

I think we jog for about 20 to 30 minutes.. running around on our training area... then respiratory and power exercise like push up, jumping, some sort of pilates etc. I sweat a lot... I can even squeeze some ounce of sweat on my uniform :). Then kick training. Repititive front and side kicking and full force punching. We also do some strategic kicking (okay I just put name on that one).

If you love tae kwon do, I'm pretty sure you will love what we done last night.

After the training we had some few words with the President, Eddy Beh. He discussed about the upcoming "Binding Camp" this coming weekends at Negeri Semibilan. This is perfect activity to know each other, to form a strong friendship within us, new members. Unfortunately, like the last dinner of the group, I can't join them again. I have to work this coming Saturday and switching a schedule with other colleague is impossible :(. Geez, I really love to know those kids better and be one of their close friends. Anyway, I hope to join them next time.

And then after the training, I head to my friends place to celebrate her birthday :D

New Term For Kicking

I again join the training for Taekwondo last night. There are lots of new faces at the training site. Either they are new who just join or old who decided to return is not clear to me not until the end of the training session. Wow! Most of them, or I would say all of them are new guys who just transferred in the University!

There are many new guys who are already black belters and a few who are white, yellow like me and some blue and red belters. And yes, finally, I got my new belt from Ms. Maggie.. Yahoo!

It's not a common training day since We, lower belters was ask to watch our Seniors doing their 1-8 tier forms. It become some sort of orientation for new members actually. I know no one except from Eddy, the club president and Melvin who is always there in every sessions and our instructor Mr. Moi and his wife ofcourse... bah!

I haven't seen Irene since the new term of session began. It wasn't clear to me what she told me before about the training and her On-The-Job training which is one of her requirements in her University. Anyway, I'm still hoping to see the old guys to join this first term of the year again.

Kicking At St. John

I joined the taekwondo training again at St. Johns school at Bukit Nanas yesterday. Actually I was fifteen or twenty minutes late from the training because I forgot to watch the time while on choir practice. Anyway, I'm still happy that I can still manage to follow my listed schedule for the day.

The team are in the midst of stretching when I arrived. I haven't seen Melvin, who came later after my five minutes in the formation(gladly there are people who came later than me... hehehe).

I forgot the name of the senior leader who ask us to line up to practice some tier steps. I'm still wearing my white belt since Ms. Maggie didn't show up on last Tuesday training. SL(Senior Leader) told us first to practice our basic kicking and punching. Start with the single to double and end to triple punches, lower to counter blocking and front to side kicking.

It is one heck of a training and I really really really enjoyed it. My whole body is sweating... and it really feels great.

Invitation

I got an invitation last night from my "kicking" friends to join the Annual Dinner and General Meeting at the Equatorial Hotel this coming Saturday. Unfortunately, I decline the invitation due to some plans and commitments.

I really love to join them.. they are so nice and happy to be with. They are always laughing in every training sessions which makes everything lighter.

They are all young though :), Most of them are still in College... I think I'm the only working person in the group. But anyway, I'm very pleased that they welcome me to join them... I'm really happy.

Thanks and Sorry Irene.. I wish to join the group plans next time.. :)

Kicking Update

We started the new long term yesterday... but only few people showed up. We're just 9 or 10 if my counting is right. We had a 2 weeks break from training due to school holidays.

I finally got my new uniform too.. it's quite big but they told me it just fit my physique. I feel motivated again.. hahaha.

Mr. Moi, our instructor, keeps on talking about him being acquainted with Monsour Del Rosario... as if I care! hahaha kidding :). I think he is just happy having a Flip student on his class.. his first, as he told me before.

He really amazed me on his value for time. If he told us to come early because he wants to start early.. he will start no matter how many student shows up. If he says training will start at 8.. he will start at 8. If he told us to breath air and cool down for 2 or 3 minutes.. he will sure call us for another formation after 2 minutes or 3. Its his nature I think.. which is good.. I really want set him as example to cure my laziness.. I seldom come late to some of my commitments but I changed now... hehehe

We finished at 930.. and I feel very exhausted... I forgot to bring my bottled water. Good thing, the shop nearby our training site is still open... else I will be dehydrated...

Irene told me that grading for belt upgrades is set in two weeks time.. I am hoping to pass.. :)

Kicking and Punching

So there, our training resume last night from one and half months break.

I am a bit uneasy since I haven't had any practice for the past weeks. I'm worrying that my knees, legs and thighs will betrayed me due to lack of stretching and exercise.. No jogging session for the past 2 weeks, no long walk and only had limited time of swimming.

Anyway, I came late... yes.. and I'm disappointed. Actually, my bad mind told me not to come because of the not so fine weather. Another reason (just to justify my tardiness) is the new location of our training site. I'm not familiar with the area so I got confused.

Just notice, there are some new faces in the group..

Next training will be next Tuesday, I'll make sure to come early.

That's it!

First Kick

So last Tuesday was my official day of being a member of the MMU Taekwondo Club. The thought of being one of them for the first time excites me very much that I arrived at the place 15 minutes earlier that the normal schedule.

Of course that would be a positive act but it turns out that gesture of being the earliest bird is a bad idea, well for me. Since I haven't met them yet, I don't know who to approach among the bunch of students at FCM Atrium which gave me some negative thought and feelings.

Then, I almost lost my patience and decided to head home when my instinct advice me to stay for another minute just to make sure my time wouldn't be wasted. And finally I saw them!

I met Melvin (Melvin or Malvin - I'm not so sure :D) which who stand as the assistance instructor. He is very friendly and accommodating to all of my inquiries. I'm hesitant at first when he invited me to join the session right away but then I realized that is the reason why I am there.

Stretching and jogging was the first things he ask on six of us who are present that day. It is just good to know that I'm not the only rookie present on that training which lessen my nerves. I thought that the first two task wasn't be a problem to me since I always, well no often now, do stretching. I would say that it makes me sweat a lot.

Then suddenly I haven't notice that our instructor, Lawrence, already joins us on our training who teach us the following:

Basic punching (1 count, 1-2 count and 1-3 count) Front Kicking and Side Kicking

Then the rest is a good and unforgettable experience...