Our Tiny Tiger

On Tuesday Chase tested for his new belt in Tiny Tigers. He.did.AWESOME!!!! He is the only one with his rank, which is not only the highest in his class, but also the highest of any Tiny Tiger in history! Since there are no other Tigers that are ranked with him, he is required to test alone. A year ago he would have never done this, but he has gotten so big and brave, he breezed through it like it was nothing. I'm amazed at how much he is tested over and so proud of him!!! He broke his board on the first kick and earned his double-blue stripe belt like it was a walk in the park. He even tested with the bow, which he's only worked with a few times (no other Tigers get to work with it).

I've had several people ask about Tiny Tigers, so I'll explain it real quick before sharing pics. Tiny Tigers is the non-traditional, beginners class at Chase's Tang Soo Do school. It introduces them to the art and gives them the fundamentals for the traditional class. You would be amazed at the amount of discipline Chase has gained from this class and his instructor, Mrs. Sophia, is awesome with the kids. It's based for children from 3-6 and Chase started when he was about 3 years 10 months. He was extremely shy and cried during many a class in the beginning, but has just blossomed in the past year and a half. The goal is to reach their Tiger belt, which is orange with black stripes. Chase still has to earn his red stripe, double red stripe, brown stripe, and double brown stripe before earning his orange belt. I'm hoping to keep him until he earns it so he will be the first Tiny Tiger to ever achieve it, but Mrs. Sophia feels like he'll be ready for traditional soon (I shall win though)!! ;o) When he starts traditional class, he will start over as a white belt (which he'll hate)!

Now, what we've all been waiting for, our Tiny Tiger!!!

Getting ready to begin testing, bowing in

Kia!
Working with the bow, he was really working it!
Broke that board with the fist kick!
Taking off his old belt (blue stripe) and getting ready for the new (see it on the ground)
Chase and Mrs. Sophia, I think he's her favorite! ;o)

~ Kahla

****I am grateful for

1) My Tiny Tiger, Oh how I love that boy!

2) Mrs. Sophia, she rocks it with our buddy

3) discipline that Chase has learned

4) respect

5) stepping stones