European Champions!

 

King's Lynn won the European Championship of kuk sool won for the third year in a row!

This means that the school keeps the hugely expensive hand-embroidered championship flag for ever. Which will annoy the boss in America (Grandmaster Flash, or somesuch), as he'll have to shell out for a new one. The team assembled for the local press to take a most-victorious team photo....

....which was remarkable, as two minutes earlier the scene was very different!

Can you spot Sam?

Kuk Sool Won UK Championship 2010

Sam is the UK's silver medallist for his belt and age group!

We journeyed up to Liverpool on Friday night, ready for the competition on Saturday. Sam was putting on a brave face but actually was terrified. But when we got to the venue, he seemed utterly unconcerned!

Sam was due in Ring Two at ten o'clock. We waited ringside from ten to ten. The judges didn't appear for another hour, during which Sam was incredibly patient, polite, well-behaved and utterly cool. The picture above is an unusual view of my fantastic, handsome son.

Here you can see Sam in the terror zone, just before the contest. He looks scared. He was scared. When they were called forward the assembled parents all had last words with their children. "Remember, low stances!" "Thumbs up when you do number five!" "Loud kee-yups!"

As Sam dipped into the arena I told him "Have fun, do your best!"

We'd already talked about the whole tournament experience. Sam was a little worried about having to do routines in front of people he didn't know. We had agreed that it was Most Excellent to be taking part in a UK Championship in a sport at the age of seven, which Dad didn't achieve until he was twenty (UK cross country championship if you're curious). We'd high-fived over the fact that Most people will Never take part in any UK Championship, and we both had (or were about to).

Here you can see Sam telling the judges who he was, and what he would be doing. To my utter amazement, in the Techniques class, Sam decided On The Mat which three techniques out of fifteen he would be demonstrating. I was gobsmacked when I found out. It obviously worked as he won a silver.

This picture shows Sam just about to start his Techniques. Jesus H, he's got his "game face" on hasn't he! He was a determined little bundle of energy in Liverpool and reaped a just reward.

Sam is the second best seven-year-old in Britain.

Blue Stripe Ceremony

Last weekend Sam moved up a grade in his latest kuk sool won promotion ceremony.



The school always hold a formal ceremony to present promoted students with their new belts, which is always a proud occasion for the students and their parents.



Each colour group is called up separately and parade in a line waiting for their awards.

The school's black belts then ceremonially remove the old belt and tie the new one in its place, in a whirl of arms, belts and children.

The old belt is tied in a loop and placed around the promotee's neck.

There's a handshake with the boss for all the successful students.

Before a team photo, which prioduces a scrum of parents. I thought I'd try a different angle for a change....

....and the end product isn't too inferior.

Sam was actually a lot happier with his new belt than he looks here!

Kuk Sool Won Demonstration - North Wootton Primary School

Sam took part in his first ever martial arts demonstration on Saturday - on one of the hottest days of the year. The King's Lynn kuk sool won club performed at North Wootton Primary School as part of their summer fund-raising fete.

Sam did very well, in fact the whole school showed excellent form throughout, and the spectators enjoyed the performance a great deal.

I have a lot more exciting, thrils and spills photos, but they don't include Sam, so I feel uneasy to publish them here. I will, however, be giving them to Elaine at the school, and she may post some of them on the King's Lynn kuk sool won website. Have a look!