Roller Blading

Of the many things I enjoy doing, rollerblading is one of my favorites. My dad, who skates very well, taught me and Will to skate when we were only about 4 and 5 (Will's the younger of us two in case you didn't know), so now we both enjoy skating as well. Jaime was a late comer, and when she was about 7 or 8 maybe, possibly 6, Will and I showed her the basics and got her started. She picked it up very quickly and has improved a great deal over the years.

Once in a while we head over to the skating rink to rollerblade for an hour or two (sorry I don't watch the time). We usually go when our friends, the Wassenburgs and the Lockwoods go. We kids skate and talk, while the parents are content to just sit together and converse.

I love thinking when I skate, speeding around the rink with thoughts racing through my mind... Half the time I'm not even thinking about what I'm doing; I'm just......skating I guess.


Tips for Rollerbladers:

I know I'm not the best person to go to for tips, but I do have some experience on the subject.


Tip #1 Buckle skates are not the best skates to use, even for beginners. I advise you to skates with maybe a buckle and laces. They're usually better quality than the all buckle skates.

Don't get hockey skates unless you don't like making your ankles somewhat sore. They usually don't have much padding inside which can result in your getting blisters.

Also do not get skates that are almost completely made of plastic (they're bad quality and they can also give you blisters). Rather get skates with more material than plastic. AND MAKE SURE YOU GET THE RIGHT SIZE!!!

Tip #2 Wheels. If you prefer not to slip every five seconds, make sure to get rubber wheeled blades. Again, they are better quality. Trust me on this.

I used to have the worst skates with the worst wheels. The skates were practically all plastic, as well as the wheels. I slipped around all the time. I believe that the rubber wheels grip the floor a lot better than the plastic cheapies.

Tip #3 Posture. When skating, do not stand straight up, nor bend over too much. Rather slightly bend your knees and keep your arms close. No flailing! It really does help in keeping your balance.

Tip #4 Roller blades or roller skates? If your just starting, you might want to stick with roller blades. They're a lot easier to skate with especially when your just starting. Many people seem to think that roller skating is easier, but it really isn't. At least, I don't believe it is.

Roller skates are much harder to keep your balance with, because, first of all, they (or most of them it seems) have plastic wheels. Also, they are very easily tipped backwards and forwards since there are only 2 wheels on each side.

Inline skates (or roller blades), on the other hand, are not tipped so easily. Don't get me wrong. You can fall on roller blades, but they don't tip so easily. Also roller blades are, for the most part, made with rubber wheels.


I think ice skating is also pretty cool, although I've only been ice skating twice in my life: once for my birthday and once when my uncle, Mike, took us kids.

Uncle Mike's pretty cool. He's best uncle I've ever had. He just got married a short time ago to a lady named Cheryl. Well, I'm going to wrap this up, tie on a bow, and stick it right here. Lol just playing!

-Courtney-

TaeKwonDo and Black Belt Testing

Tae Kwon Do is a form of martial arts, as you may be able to tell from the name. We kids, me (Courtney), my brother Will, and Jaime, have been taking TKD classes for quite a while now. Will and I have been doing it for about 5 years now, and Jaime's been doing it for about 3 years. Our main instructor, Craig Simpson, has taught us many different things, such as: traditional Tae Kwon Do, grappling (similar to wrestling), boxing, and many other things as well. We've even learned a little bit of Hapkido with one of our other instructors, Cindy Wallow. We've not only learned about self defense and how to fight if need be, but also about many other great characteristics for everyday life such as: courtesy, integrity, perseverance, and self control. We couldn't have had a better instructor than Mr. Simpson or any of the other instructors there for that matter.

On July 25, last friday, Will and I tested for our black belts. Jaime tested for her red belt. The testing took about 3 hours, not exaggerating. It went from 6:30 to around 9 something. It was tiring but we managed. We had to do about 10 different forms, which are sets of different kicks, punches, blocks, and stances that you have to memorize. We got those down pretty easily. We also did some boxing and grappling, three steps, takedowns, and free sparring. We broke boards too. Will broke with a running elbow, jump spinning back kick, running jump fake side thrust kick, and a butterfly elbow. Jaime broke with a running jump fake front thrust kick. And finally, I broke with a jump fake spinning back kick, a jump fake front thrust kick, and a butterfly elbow. I was supposed to break another board with my other elbow, but instead of breaking the board I bruised my elbow lol.

Well finally when the testing was over, Will and I were rewarded new TKD suits, black belts, a certificate certifying that we had obtained our black belts, and a sword. Jaime was rewarded her red belt. In maybe 2 more years or at least a year, Jaime will probably be awarded a black belt as well. If your interested in knowing which Tae Kwon Do school we go to click this link taekwondoworks.biz.

Will and I also had to write about what becoming black belts meant to us. If your interested here's what we wrote:

What Becoming A Black Belt Means To Me

By Courtney Robinson

Tae Kwon Do has been great for me to learn. I've learned
self-confidence as well as perseverance and many other great
character traits. After five years of hard work, I will finally be testing for my black belt. The belt really means nothing. It's the accomplishment that really has meaning. Going for my black belt has been difficult, but that's what makes it worth it. If I could have gotten my black belt in just a few months, what would it have been worth? This concept could be compared to our spiritual lives as well. I mean to be a Christian is to go through hardships and persecution for Christ, but in the end we will get the prize if we don't give up. Never give up! If we go after something and don't give up, we can accomplish almost anything. This is what becoming a black belt means to me.

Why Getting My Black Belt Means Alot To Me By Will Robinson


Getting my black belt means alot to me for several different reasons. First of all, I feel good about the accomplishment of earning my black belt because I've persevered and haven't quit, and because it was alot of hard work to get there. Another reason getting my black belt means so much to me is because I've learned numerous things in Taekwondo such as balance, body coordination, and self control. The last reason getting my black belt means alot to me is because I've been training in Taekwondo for almost 5 years and I'm finally reaching my goal. Those are some of the reasons I'm excited to be getting my black belt.

Just in case your interested, here are some pictures from our testing. Most of them aren't very good because of all the action and lighting but........

-Courtney-

Taekwondo

Taekwondo is a great thing to do for exercise. I have been doing taekwondo for almost four years. I go to Taekwondoworks, Mechanicsville and am now a red belt. (After red is black) My brother and sister are black belts now and they're most-likely going to stop taekwondo at the end of the summer. I do taekwondo on Tuesday and Thursday and at this rate I'll probably be a black belt in about two years.

Taekwondo teaches you many good things. It teaches self-control, integrity, perseverance, courtesy, and self respect. Usually our taekwondo instructor has us test every year. That's when he has us come on a certain day and sees if we're ready to be promoted. He has another person attack you (not violently) and you have to try to get away. You also have to do many other things , but I'll only mention one. Near the end you have to break a board. It might sound hard but if you do it right it isn't very hard. In all, I've broken seven boards I believe, and for my next testing I have to break four boards. One for each elbow and one for each leg. Anyway, enough about breaking boards. Taekwondo is good exercise and fun. After four years, I hope that I can continue in taekwondo and won't have to quit. If you want you can also visit TaekwondoWorks on the web.

Me doing my form

Me getting my red belt

-Jaime Robinson-