TKD/Yoga

Nationals is so close! Only about a week away! It is really a scary thought, but an exciting one. Throughout getting ready and conditioning for nationals I have learned so much and pushed myself so much. I have really worked on identifying my strengths and weakness throughout the whole process. I have always said my balance was my weak point, so I started doing stretches at TKD to help. Over the past few weeks I have been doing balance conditioning with the bouncy workout balls. At first I could not even balance my knees on it holding on. Now I can do the half frog for over a minute! The balance really comes from my core muscles, it is like the saying that the center or "core" is important to everything else. My strengths of my confidence for board breaking has helped me improve my trying new challenging techniques to use in my board breaking routine in Dallas. I have also been doing my Wii Fit Yoga routines daily to also build my balance. That has really helped and has been something I stick to and do every day. (learning outcome) My other learning outcome for nationals of collaborating well with others has been great! I have really grown close to my teammates and master throughout this process. I like how we can be of all different ages and belt ranks, but we can still all help each other out and try to help the other succeed. During the past 3 weeks there was "national camp" during the day for 6 hours twice a week. It was so hard to push myself to limits I never thought possible, but I also made a stronger bond with my team. Having my master give me personal motivational feedback was awesome. Along with this I made a friend in TKD who really believes in me, and has faith in me, and helps me where I struggle. Both learning outcomes are great for me! And the YOGA project is still in progress. DALLAS HERE I COME!!

Some of us from the national workout camps during the day.

CTA!

Ciara Neill

Taekwondo Update

Nationals are vastly approaching, and let me tell you, it is WAY harder then I thought it would be! I have been training so much trying to make attending classes a regular habit, and working on my weaknesses. Due to my lack of balance I learned that I have to work really hard on my core muscles, so I have been really doing stretches focused around that. For my goal of collaboration with others, I really wanted to get to know my team at CTA so that I have a strong support system and so I know how to support them. Is is also important knowing how to work with others when it comes to critique to only improve yourself. This is becoming really evident as I come up with my board breaking routine, and hear constructive critism. Almost Nationals!

SSSP Taekwondo Addition

Event two for Shimmer Sparkle Shine Project (SSSP) is for May 26th at my teakwondo, and I have mentioned already. Some changes to the activity scheduled is the craft time for the "About Me Brochures" I was thinking, and I really like the aspect of the boost books on how they can add things to them later to keep on using in and with the brochure they can't do that. When doing research on other activities I found out that Girl Scouts has a self esteem campaign too filled with resources. They suggested that each girl do a book about them where they do five pages, each page being different, about what makes me unique or special. I loved that idea, because I could put extra pages in it for the boost book part of it too. I want them to be able to put the quotes and resources we give to them somewhere. In the program there is also going to be a point where the younger girls are divided from the older girls. The younger girls are going to do an activity where a story is read, and each time something mean is done to "samantha" then they rip a piece of paper off (the paper is a picture of "sam"). Then if something good is said they tape a piece back on. The idea is that you can fix the things you do to people, but the damage will be forever there. The older girls will be focused on the media's impact to what we consider beautiful. We will go over facts, and how the media photoshops images. Then they will be put to the test to use propaganda to sell a clothing line to women, while making sure it doesn't negatively shape the girls who want to "buy" the product. They day is quickly approaching and I can't wait. Ciara

SSS Project

I am so happy to finally uncover the official logo for shimmer sparkle shine! It was made by an amazing CU Boulder student! Here it is..Drum roll...

The event for Teakwondo is fast approaching on May 26! I am getting excited for it of course! It is going to be different, which has helped me to come up with multiple activity ideas for the future, so that it is different at every event. The girl scouts have a new self esteem program with ideas on things to do, which is a great resource. I just wanted to give you a quick update, but more to come! Ciara

July 2nd is the Date for Nationals!

Nationals is approaching fast! It is getting scary, especially with my foot hurt again. I twisted my foot the wrong way a few weeks ago, and ever since then I can't run on it again, or do any huge movements with my toes. That has put a damper into my warm up routine. This reoccurring pain did lead me to work on my first learning outcome; collaborating with others. I talked to my master and his wife, who is also a black belt, on alternatives because I was highly frustrated. They are going to work with me to come up with a new warm up routine as everyone else is running and such so I can still condition. That makes me feel so much better, and I learned that I don't need to be afraid to ask for help or something different to accommodate my injury better. I have also been working on learning outcome number 2 of being aware of my strengths and weaknesses. My balance was really well there for a while when I was doing yoga routines on my wii fit. Sounds crazy, but it does work. For the last few weeks I haven't been practicing Yoga, which I have notices that my balance is off again. Therefore in order to get ready for nationals I need to work outside of the dojo to maintain good balance. I was also told that strengthening my abominable muscles will help with that as well. Now I am just brainstorming board breaking routines. One inch thick boards are no problem for me. Im thinking of putting two one inch thick boards together to break something two inches thick. It is all still in the works. For the poomse (form) part of competing, I will be doing a different form then I did at state. I am very thankful for this. At state I did Taegeuk Oh Jang, which many say is the hardest form. I defiantly agree because your body motions need balance, which is soo hard for me. At Nationals I will be doing Taegeuk Yuk Jang. I like this form so far. It has a lot of hand techniques which are a strong point for me. Here is a youtube video of it! I will keep you posted! Ciara

SSS Project Update

For right now Shimmer, Sparkle, Shine project is kind of a waiting game. I am currently having the logo made by a CU graphic design student, and the logo is going to say SSS Project and have keys with it. The keys will be the symbol of Shimmer Sparkle Shine because it is a big part of the program. I explain to the girls that people are like keys. Every key is different, and has its own unique shape, and each key also has its unique purpose. Each key unlocks a different door to lead you down a different path. Same thing applies to people, each of us has our own purpose and road to experience in life.
I am also drafting the By-Laws and Articles of Incorporation right now. It is definitly a hard process, a big learning experience. I might make a draft, then have my mom's attourney look over it, and help me along the process. I think having help from someone who knows what they are doing will be a big help.
Part of becoming non-profit, is spending LOTS of money to the IRS to have tax exemption to be a 501(3)c. I don't have the money out of pocket for that, so I started to research fundraising options. There is this place my mom and I like to go to called Canvas and Cocktails. Each day is a different painting, and you sign up a head of time and learn how to paint that painting in a fun atmosphere, and it doesn't matter your skill level. Everyone's paintings come out like the one you signed up for. Well they do fundraiser nights where most of the profits made that night go to the orginazation. I am lucky enough to have them host me a funraising night on June 25. It does cost $40 a person, but it for a good cause. Besides, all supplies are incluided. Here is the link, and a picture of the painting.
https://www.canvasandcocktails.com/quick-signup.php?eventid=2349

I am hoping to raise alot of money that way.

In May I am doing my next Shimmer, Sparkle, Shine event with girls at my Taekwondo. It is going to be a little different this time. I am trying to put together a booklet full of activities, so that each event isn't always the same.

It is still going to start out the same, but instead of presenting the "Things We Find Beautiful" in a powerpoint, it will in photos, since a projector will not be an option.

Since this is for the girls in Taekwondo, we are adding a Taekwondo aspect of discussing the tenants of Taekwondo, which are like values to live by; Courtesy, Intergrity, Perserverance, Self-Control, and Indomiable Spirit. I have volunters assigned to each tenant, and they are going to present it to the girls in the fun way, and a way that they actually understand what it means.

Instead of doing Boost Books they will be doing About Me Broochures. It is kind of like a boost book, like they still get to decorate it, but they answers the questions in it, and it makes them have to think posativly about themselves to answer them. Then we will take the Broochurs and read information from some of them and have the girls guess who brochure it is, based off of the posative things. The goal is also for all the girls to relize each others talents, and grow closer together. (I still need to make this)

Then my master will play some games with them, because that is always a hit when he does it in class. They will enjoy "playing" with him, and that will be fun in an all girls zone.

Then some volunteers will lead them in games, and I take each girl one by one to take pictures of her for her photoshoot. Instead of them being glamour shots, I am having them in their uniform doing Taekwondo moves, to make them feel powerful.

Then for the ending, I will have my master give a speech to the girls, then I will do my normal closing stuff.

I am excited for the progress it is making! Stay Tuned! For info to come shortly hopefully.



Action; TKD Nationals in Dallas

This chapter of Action for CAS starts today, with my journey to Dallas, Texas for Nationals in Taekwondo. It is going to require lots of work, and I am ready to better myself in the process. I will be competing in Forms, along with Board Breaking, and possible blaster sparring. My goals for the journey to nationals are: 1) Collaborating Well with Others 2) Increase awareness of strengths and places for growth. I need to learn to collaborate well with others to rely for help on my teammates, who are also going to Nationals. I also need to work with others on fundraising to benefit everyone to have the chance to go to Nationals, and working with others to come up with a board breaking routine, and trusting them to hold my boards. I chose the second aim again because their is always room for improvement. I did place silver at state for forms, so I know I have many areas for growth to earn a gold at nationals. I want to constantly make myself better for the way to path to earn my black belt. Part of being a good student is always improving, you can never be perfect. The last day of nationals in July 4, so I plan on writing my final reflection for this experience then, and throughout the process. Lets have CTA bring home GOLD and became a NATIONAL CHAMPION SCHOOL!