Tag Archives: wrestling

Lessons Learned from a Group of Middle School Boys

Today’s 44 was a great way to work your hip flexors and butt while getting a  triceps workout.

In the tricep dip position on the floor, pull one knee in to your chest – 

ready
ready
extend leg and dip
extend leg and dip

After doing 44 with one leg, it is necessary to switch legs and repeat (DUH!)!!  The downside is your arms don’t get any break!!!  88 total dips!

ready on side 2
ready on side 2
extend and dip
extend and dip

So, Chris actually took the pictures for me last night (see the fuzzy socks?) but I did the 44 this morning.  However, the first time through I did them wrong – I was just reclining on my elbows and thinking it was a super easy move.  When I uploaded my pictures I realized my mistake so I had to do them all (both sides) again – my butt and hip flexors really got a workout!!!

Screen shot 2013-12-08 at 8.04.06 AMI know lots of people who would rather spend hours with a group of  little kids than middle school kids.  However in my previous life (before kids so 15 years ago) I was a middle school science teacher and a coach (volleyball, basketball and track).

I love the 11-14 year old range of kids – they are still on the cusp of wanting to please adults but also needing to venture off – very teachable!!!

And – they are also capable of teaching us (adults) many things if we are willing to be receptive to them.

Screen shot 2013-12-08 at 8.05.15 AMYesterday while “enjoying” my time in a gym surrounded by adolescents (mostly boys!), I observed several things that I thought were worth sharing.

A little background on the tournament – this was a varsity level tournament so it was mostly 8th graders and many of these boys have been wrestling on club teams for 5-7 years.  (Hunter was 1 of only a few 7th graders from our school who went.)

1.  One of the boys on our team lost his 2nd match and was upset.  As an 8th grader (13 or 14 years old) it is so hard to let anyone see you cry – he was trying to fight it and brush off the tears so no one would notice.  Another one of the 8th grade boys was sitting close to him on the bleachers.   He didn’t say a word – just slid over and put his arm around him for just a second before moving back to his spot.

I thought it was the kindest gesture he could have made!  He showed he cared but he didn’t make a big deal about it.  Most importantly – he didn’t make the other kid feel bad for the tears!!!

Hunter getting ready to start
Hunter getting ready to start

2.  When Hunter lost (rather quickly because he got pinned) in his 2nd match, his opponent took the time to talk to him for several minutes.  This was a boy from another school who had never met Hunter.  On the way home I asked Hunter what they were talking about.  He said the boy was offering up a couple of pointers and things for Hunter to try in future matches.

Wow!!  That kid could have made fun of Hunter for getting pinned so quickly but instead he was kind and offered up some help!!!

waiting for his turn
waiting for his turn

3.  Team support is alive and well!!!  Hunter could have left anytime after his 2nd match because he was done for the day.  However, he wanted to stay and watch his teammates – and these boys really did watch and cheer on the other guys from their team!

Even though wrestling isn’t my favorite, I’m all about supporting your team, so we stayed and watched (well, I watched when someone from our school was up but mostly read my Nook!).

4.  I was a litte worried about how Hunter would react after his 2nd match – he actually got pinned in both of his matches yesterday.  However, he was completely fine when he came over and sat down.  At first I thought his attitude was kind of lax and that he should at least be a little upset.

What I didn’t realize at the time was that he knew going in that he was going to be up against boys who were older and had been competing much longer than he has (just over a month for him!) and that the day would be a great learning experience for him – he went in planning to do his best and to learn as much as he could during the whole experience.

Screen shot 2013-12-08 at 8.33.07 AMHunter didn’t win any matches yesterday but he still came out a winner because of his attitude and willingness to learn!!

So, the next time you’re surrounded by a group of loud, noisy (maybe stinky) pre-teens and teens, remember – they have plenty to teach you if you let them!!!

Favorite age group to be around – babies, preschooler, elementary kids, middle school, high school, college or adults – What is your pick?

Happy Sunday!

Kim

True Love and Some Saturday Funnies

For my 44 today I did a move that worked just about every part of my body!!!  

A single leg squat –

squat on right leg
squat on right leg

into warrior 3 –

warrior 3 (with arms down not out)
warrior 3 (with arms down not out)

then a row.

row
row

44 of these were HARD!!  My right leg was shaking pretty much after 3!!!  Then, I got to switch and start all over on the left leg!

squat
squat

 

warrior 3
warrior 3

 

squat-warrior 3 - rowAnd, in case you care – Hunter did the pictures last night since no one would be able to this morning!!!  (Chris has drill this weekend, Hunter had to leave at 6 with Chris to get to school, Jordan is sleeping.)   I didn’t feel the need to put on my shoes – pink fuzzy socks are fine for pictures!!!

The reason Hunter had to be at the school so early – another ALL DAY wrestling tournament!  Also the reason I’m up early!!!  Good thing I love Hunter so much because I don’t love wrestling that much (at all!).

Another thing I don’t love? Cold weather!!!!

Screen shot 2013-12-07 at 7.05.11 AM Nothing would make me happier than to spend the day in my sweats inside with the Christmas lights – good thing I love Hunter so much!!!

So – I need to get a move on so I can drive an hour away to spend the day in the gym with a lot of sweaty middle school kids – good thing I love Hunter so much!!!

I thought I would share a few things that have entertained me recently.

so very true
so very true
100% agree!!
100% agree!!

 

not really funny but a good reminder!!!
not really funny but a good reminder!!!

Happy Saturday!!!

Kim

I Choose Happiness!!!

Today’s 44 is one that Josie @ Yum Yucky demoed the other day.  It is called a living plank and it is fun!!!  

Start in plank with a kettlebell (you could use a dumbbell) above your head.  With your right hand, move the KB down near your thighs.  Use your left hand and return the KB to the start = 1 rep.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3Xd89TPqBQ’]

Try this for a new way to spice up your plank.  The last few reps were hard – I had to work hard to lift the KB and not drag it!

Screen shot 2013-11-13 at 6.58.49 AMYesterday I wrote a post full of griping and complaining and then proceeded to let myself be in a major funk all day!

Today, I choose to be happy and share some happy things.

Saturday – Wrestling Tournament:

waiting - lots & lots of waiting
waiting – lots & lots of waiting

 

almost time
almost time

 

fixing to shake!
fixing to shake!

I don’t totally get all that goes along with wrestling – it is new to me – but Hunter had 3 matches on Saturday – he lost his first then came back to win his 2nd which sent him to the consolation round.  He won that match  by pinning his opponent!!!  

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5VMlstalXk’]

3rd place in his category at his very first tournament!!

Sunday – Jordan’s Birthday:

so handsome
so handsome

 

fun times
fun times

For several years now, Hunter has been trying to get Jordan to give him 5!

 

come on - give me 5
come on – give me 5

 

got it!!!
got it!!!

Sunday – Cello Group Concert:

waiting
waiting
cello group
cello group (and someone’s bald head!)

This concert was Hunter’s cello group, a clarinet group and a flute group – all were great.  The cellos ended the program with a version of William Tell’s Overture – it was awesome!!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KvzVijWsKo’]

Monday – Veteran’s Day:

full blues
full blues

Monday – Birthday Dinner (a day late because of the cello concert!):

cookie cake - 15 candles
cookie cake – 15 candles

After looking at all the awesomeness around me – how can I not be happy?!

Screen shot 2013-11-13 at 7.14.11 AMWe all know I love to exercise and today I’m going to exercise my happy!!!

Happy Wednesday!

Kim

 

Painting vs Wrestling

I don’t have any pictures for my 44 today but it is super easy.  I did 44 hops on my right leg and then 44 hops on my left – see?  Nothing to it!!!

Screen shot 2013-11-09 at 6.16.56 AM

 

Today I will be at my first middle school wrestling tournament – ALL DAY LONG!!!

In a gym with 100s of 7th and 8th grade boys walking around in their sinlgets – Screen shot 2013-11-09 at 6.19.09 AMI didn’t take a picture of Hunter when he tried his on the other night – I will try to get some pictures today (maybe).  I thought he was talking about a running singlet – wasn’t prepared for the body suit action!

I’m not sure what to expect, maybe it will be like this – 

Screen shot 2013-11-09 at 6.21.52 AMProbably not!!  I’m thinking I will be doing a lot of hanging out and waiting – good thing I have my Nook to take!!!

Chris can’t go because he is going to work more on the apartment – we worked all day yesterday (and Monday and…).  He fixed all the broken things and I primed everything.  Hopefully he can get a lot of the painting done today since we have people moving in next Friday!

We just found out Thursday that Hunter was going to the tournament today and at first I figured Chris would go (he wrestled in high school and thinks it’s awesome) but then I thought about painting all day again!!!!

Really I was holding out for Option 3!!!!!  Just kidding! (sort of)

Which would you choose for the day (8am – 7 pm), painting or watching middle school wrestling?

Happy Saturday!

Kim