My Black Belt at 70!

LIFESTYLE

In keeping with my philosophy to always learn something new, I decided I would like to earn a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do.

It took me four years of going to Tiger Kim’s (the local dojo) twice a week learning my forms and how to break boards.  It also took a lot of hours practicing before the formal testing for each color belt.  I started with white, then yellow, yellow-green, green, green-blue, blue-red, red, red-black and finally…black…earning each belt before a panel of judges!  This consists of performing a new “form” and breaking a board in a different way each testing whether with hands, fists or feet to the judges’ satisfaction.  For the higher testings, actual self-defense moves are performed against an opponent.  And finally, we incorporate all we have learned as well as how to use leverage to bring our assailant to the floor!!

At present, because it is primarily a self-defense technique, Tae Kwon Do is the only martial art included in the Olympic games.

This photo shows me with my instructor Ralph Dabney, a 5th dan, whom I totally credit for training me and seeing me through, celebrating my achievement after I received my 1st dan black belt certificate at 70 years of age!!

I encourage each of you, male or female, whatever age to try it!!  It is so empowering and a great lesson in self-defense.  My husband, Burt, told me that now “I was in charge of all intruders ! He said from then on when there was a bump in the night…he would send me out to investigate”  😉

BEAUTY

This is one of my indispensable beauty products.  I use them every day on my face, hands, chest and legs wherever dark spots or blemishes appear.  They cost around $8 each and I get them in three shades… Fair, Light and Medium.  They also have a neutral so no matter your complexion one of these shades should match your skin tone.  The reason I use all three is because of my make-up philosophy using the principles of light and dark.  Some areas of our complexion need one or the other.  These same principles are used in all artwork.  I think my art background has been a factor in my understanding of the art of make-up.  And I intend to do a detailed video of how I apply these concealers.  Watch for it in the near future.  In the meantime, these are available in most all drugstores.  Do pick them up and try them.

FITNESS

This video demonstrates two exercises that I do daily and which have helped me keep fit.  One of them was inspired by my father’s example and dedication to using the wheel every day after deciding he did not want a middle-age paunch.  It worked for him and now it is helping me keep my stomach from expanding after several abdominal surgeries!  The other is another example of combining exercises.