For a long time now, Alden has been studying Tang Soo Do, a Korean Martial Arts form practiced by Robbi’s Dancing With the Stars partner, Mark Pagano.
She has enjoyed learning how to punch, kick, block, and speak Korean. And I have enjoyed watching it happen.
Kato has also been watching. Cautiously, curiously, wondering what it’s all about. He is a kid who takes his time to study a situation before diving in. But earlier this week, he decided it was time to give it a try. And so Mark ordered the very smallest outfit available and Kato tried it on.
And then he stepped into the do jang (kind of like dojo, for you Karate Kid fans), just as class was getting under way. Fortunately, his big sister was there to show him the ropes.
While everyone else was practicing low punches, Kato expressed a degree of skepticism.
But when it came time for forward punches, he was starting to feel it.
His high punch may have lacked the power to shatter oak planks, but it was a beginning of what may someday evolve into a furious attack.
Kato was my sparring partner for the self-defense portion of the class. Here he is, executing a “low block,” meant to break the iron grip of his attacker (me) before fleeing to safety.
In Tiny Tigers (the little kid Tang Soo Do class), the focus is less about giving your attacker the beat down and more on getting yourself out of a dangerous situation; I approve.
Kato’s take? Tang Soo Do is fun.
The next class is Saturday morning. I can’t wait to see what happens next.