Hapkido Kid

Grant just started taking Hapkido classes.  So far he really likes it.  He will be going to the regular class on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Friday is sparing night.

I think having another teacher in a place of authority he must listen to will be good for him.  Also, it will teach him to be disciplined. There is no talking during the classes, and they are expected to listen to, respect their teacher, and address him as "Sir".  Plus, they also say the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of every class.  Bonus! 

Cory took Grant to his first sparing class today, and he came home with lots of gear.  Cory said he had a lot of fun, and did really well. (I heard he was the only to earn five points by using a kick to hit his opponent's head gear.) At this age they are only allowed to use kicks for sparing.  Grant wanted to put all his gear back on after he got home (well, except for the cup and the mouth guard).

He even wanted to wear his head gear for game night, but quickly figured out it wouldn't be very comfortable, and changed his mind.

They also do occasional "Ninja Nights" for the kids.  They are having one tomorrow night and Grant is very excited.  The kids can go, have pizza, and just play and be crazy for a few hours.  Grant should fit right in!

After-The-Fact-Ninja-Night-UPDATE:  Well, the ninja night wasn't quite what he had expected.  The kids had four hours to "play".  The four hours included, not one, but two movies, and time to eat pizza.  So how much actual playing did they do?  Probably not much.  Cory went to get Grant around 10:30, and he's not 100% sure, but he said the movie they had playing at the time looked like Labyrinth, yeah, that creepy movie with David Bowie.  Remember that one?  Yikes!  When Grant got home he told me he didn't want to go to ninja night again.  He said the games were fun, but they watched two movies and the second one was "terrible".  He also told Dad in the car on the way home that the actual classes are "way more fun", and he felt bad for all the little kids there that night "who were up so late".  Cory told Grant he could skip the next ninja night if he wanted too, and Grant said, "Yeah, and maybe the next one, and the one after that..."