Snap Shots of Shutdown 2020
March: We started the month of March excited about eating healthy as we observe the
National Nutrition Month, only to be met with shutdowns and uncertainties of an unknown
virus sweeping through the world. Although the world had to stop and we had to shelter in
place, taekwondo moved on, and we continued kicking and punching. It was the true
reckoning of the Five Tenets of Taekwondo.
March 13: Following state guidelines, we officially shut down the school with plans to
reopen in two weeks.
March 18: First day of Zoom TKD.
March 30: The first day of Story Book Zoom meet.
April: As we continued to shelter in place with no real answers and growing anxiety, we
were making history and creating paradigm shifts on our Zoom TKD virtual video training.
Shut down was still in its fun phase with mom and dad always at home and home-cooked
meals and home-baked bread (until yeast went into underground trading) was all the rage.
April 2: Making history with first-ever virtual belt promotion test.
April 6: Poomse video challenge begins. Over 20 videos are submitted with stiff
competition in the red and black belt category. Winners have not yet been announced.
May: While everyone is praying to get back to normal, we also understood that there was
no going back. Indomitability and self-control were at test, but we kept the good times
rolling with hidden talent shows. Some children kept their sense of humor by sharing jokes
and riddles, while others offered mini recitals of their musical instruments from viola to
guzheng (Chinese string instrument). From original art shows to coding and programming,
May was a month of truly impressive entertainment.
May 3: First time in 27 years, Big East TKD Championships is canceled due to COVID-19.
May 9: Ma’am hand delivers new belts to students’ homes. Though ma’am missed all her
students ever so desperately, she quietly delivered the belts into the mailbox to maintain
no contact delivery. Some students, however, waited at the door to get a chance to wave to
ma’am…LOVE.
May 26: Black Belt Candidacies are announced for the August 30 Black Belt Test in the park.
June: Shut down fatigue is real! Uncoiffed hairdos and unshaven beards were also tiresome.
Moms and Dads took matters into their own shears and we saw many freshly shaven do’s
in class. If May was a month of hidden talents, then June was the discovery of new talents.
The motivation was at an all-time low, but we learned that children are resilient beings. We
started the month with an arts and craft project and we made nunchucks with paper towel
cores (they work!) and ended on a high note with belt promotion test.
June 21: 100 days of shut down…but who’s counting?
June 24: Second belt promotion test during shut down 2020
July: Just when we thought it would be over…it was not to be. New guidelines for
taekwondo school openings were released and looks like we will be on zoom for a little while
longer.
July 1: Celebration of Success. No contact belt ceremony was an awesome experience as
students arrived on scheduled appointments to receive their trophies and break boards
while social distancing and wearing masks. Warrior spirit!
We look ahead with a full schedule of black belt candidacy on-site and on zoom hybrid
training. We are excitedly planning the open-air live black belt testing at the park on August
30. Yes, the test will start at 7:30 am, while it’s still cool.
July 12: Advanced Dan Candidates had their first-ever on-site training in the back lot of
dojang practicing social distancing and masks on. What an exciting time to be part of this
elite group of black belts blazing their own trail and moving forward in this time of
uncertainties.
July 22: Red and Black belts’ belt promotion test on Zoom.
In summary: We are grateful for all the frontline heroes and very proud of our own
frontline heroes who have been working tirelessly through these dangerously uncertain
times. A huge shout out to our very own ICU nurses, doctors, first responders, vaccine R&D
scientists, grocery clerks, teachers, and volunteer workers for their courage and
dedication…Thank You.
We are also grateful for all the support we’ve been receiving from our member families
right from the start with memberships and generous donations. We are truly blessed with
a great group of children and families.
Looking Ahead: We will continue to offer our Zoom TKD classes throughout August and
make plans to slowly reopen as safely as we can following guidelines for school reopening
in the fall. Remember to be mindful of our 3W’s (Wash hands, Wear a mask, and Watch
your distance) so that we can resume our 3R’s (Reading, wRiting, and aRithmetic).
Be Purposeful…Live Victoriously!
Pictures from July 1st Belt Ceremony.
Snapshots from the outdoor black belt training.
