DanDavis
11-07-2004, 03:12 PM
A family that breaks boards together ... earns black belts together
Brenda Wade Schmidt
Argus Leader
published: 11/7/2004
Three generations in Suze Lerdal's family have a new favorite color, at least when it comes to their workouts.
Lerdal, her 7-year-old daughter, Kristin, and Lerdal's father, Bill Ollerich, 63, all earned their first-degree black belts Friday night at Larry Hoover's Black Belt Academy. It was a rare moment.
"We've never had three generations go through like that," Hoover said.
The youngest Lerdal started the sport when she was 4 years old, following in her brother Alex's footsteps. He's now 10 and has a second-degree black belt. Their mother, 37, and grandfather started a couple years ago after seeing how much fun the children were having.
While Ollerich is athletic, Lerdal said she never has been.
"Team sports scared me. I really enjoyed that it was just me out there doing it," she said.
Master instructor Daniel Jorgensen, who taught the family, said the three practice a couple times a week consistently.
"They share a sense of humor and go-get-'em attitude," he said.
To earn their black belts, each one had to do a form - which is 81 moves long - break boards and spar against an imaginary opponent.
Lerdal and her father opted to take their training alongside Kristin rather than in the adults-only classes.
"That's primarily why I've enjoyed it so much," Lerdal said. "There's not too many sports out there where you can compete at the same level or go to the same classes as your 7-year-old kid."
That was the biggest thrill for Ollerich, as well.
"It's a lot of fun that you can involve yourself in an activity that's with your grandkids, and you can both be challenged," he said. "I like the discipline of it. You get a feeling of achievement and increased self-esteem. I think that's especially good for the kids."
When the family members aren't in class, sometimes they practice together at home on their acreage northwest of Sioux Falls.
"We happen to live right next door to my folks. We'd go outside and practice our forms," Lerdal said.
Hoover said parents these days are looking for more in activities than simply to keep their children busy.
"Now they're looking at something that's more than kicking a ball. That's teaching values. The best way to teach values is to be alongside them," he said.
Hoover enjoyed watching the three generations stick together .
"They molded their training around their child. I thought that was the coolest part of it," Hoover said. "It's really neat to see parents and grandparents share their values with their kids and be able to do it with them."
Lerdal and Ollerich both gained more from the classes than merely the workouts. Ollerich said he has greater flexibility and better balance now. Lerdal said the positive approaches in class have made her a better parent at home.
Lerdal and Ollerich could have tested for their black belts in August but decided to wait until Kristin was ready. She had some trouble with the technique for breaking boards.
"She had three testing cycles she went through where she did not break the boards. It had gotten to be pretty emotional," Lerdal said. But Friday night, all the kids in the class broke their boards.
And Kristin said earning the belt made her "very happy."
While Lerdal and Ollerich plan to continue tae kwon do, her daughter isn't sure she will stay in the sport.
The allure of a new hobby has caught her eye. Saturday, she went horseback riding with new boots and her old cowboy hat.
A black one.
Brenda Wade Schmidt
Argus Leader
published: 11/7/2004
Three generations in Suze Lerdal's family have a new favorite color, at least when it comes to their workouts.
Lerdal, her 7-year-old daughter, Kristin, and Lerdal's father, Bill Ollerich, 63, all earned their first-degree black belts Friday night at Larry Hoover's Black Belt Academy. It was a rare moment.
"We've never had three generations go through like that," Hoover said.
The youngest Lerdal started the sport when she was 4 years old, following in her brother Alex's footsteps. He's now 10 and has a second-degree black belt. Their mother, 37, and grandfather started a couple years ago after seeing how much fun the children were having.
While Ollerich is athletic, Lerdal said she never has been.
"Team sports scared me. I really enjoyed that it was just me out there doing it," she said.
Master instructor Daniel Jorgensen, who taught the family, said the three practice a couple times a week consistently.
"They share a sense of humor and go-get-'em attitude," he said.
To earn their black belts, each one had to do a form - which is 81 moves long - break boards and spar against an imaginary opponent.
Lerdal and her father opted to take their training alongside Kristin rather than in the adults-only classes.
"That's primarily why I've enjoyed it so much," Lerdal said. "There's not too many sports out there where you can compete at the same level or go to the same classes as your 7-year-old kid."
That was the biggest thrill for Ollerich, as well.
"It's a lot of fun that you can involve yourself in an activity that's with your grandkids, and you can both be challenged," he said. "I like the discipline of it. You get a feeling of achievement and increased self-esteem. I think that's especially good for the kids."
When the family members aren't in class, sometimes they practice together at home on their acreage northwest of Sioux Falls.
"We happen to live right next door to my folks. We'd go outside and practice our forms," Lerdal said.
Hoover said parents these days are looking for more in activities than simply to keep their children busy.
"Now they're looking at something that's more than kicking a ball. That's teaching values. The best way to teach values is to be alongside them," he said.
Hoover enjoyed watching the three generations stick together .
"They molded their training around their child. I thought that was the coolest part of it," Hoover said. "It's really neat to see parents and grandparents share their values with their kids and be able to do it with them."
Lerdal and Ollerich both gained more from the classes than merely the workouts. Ollerich said he has greater flexibility and better balance now. Lerdal said the positive approaches in class have made her a better parent at home.
Lerdal and Ollerich could have tested for their black belts in August but decided to wait until Kristin was ready. She had some trouble with the technique for breaking boards.
"She had three testing cycles she went through where she did not break the boards. It had gotten to be pretty emotional," Lerdal said. But Friday night, all the kids in the class broke their boards.
And Kristin said earning the belt made her "very happy."
While Lerdal and Ollerich plan to continue tae kwon do, her daughter isn't sure she will stay in the sport.
The allure of a new hobby has caught her eye. Saturday, she went horseback riding with new boots and her old cowboy hat.
A black one.
