Day 9 of training Pauline

So it's a new week of training. Todays monday and we will train with master vargas and Sir Don at the central gym around 10am. We trained for about an hour to an hour and half. We worked on speed drills with master vargas and strength and conditioning with Sir don. It was pretty tiring but Ryan and I finished till the end. After training we head to the DSWD to fix things we need for Korea. After doing that we head back to the hotel and get ready for training. We trained with the junior national team and It was a good workout. We did very basic kicks but with different approaches. We also did some stamina drills. We had to give our 100% effort! All in all everything was great ! Thanks again to everyone that helped us get this far!

Thursday training Ryan

Long Day: yes

Good Training: yes

In the morning, we woke up at 5:00am to train with FEU-FERN. The tkd school is great and very strong. The training was great. The hole training was mostly sparring, witch was just what I needed. After we had brunch at a Korean place. Then once we were done we slept. At 6:00pm we had another training with the national team. I spared one of the junior team members. I beat him 11 to 12. After training we had dinner and went to bed.

Day 6 Competition Day Pauline

Today's the big day! We woke up at around 6:30 and had a good breakfast trying to relax and calm myself. Then we head to the venue, Mall of Asia. Not a lot of people were there yet but Ryan and I wait until the opening ceremony. We bow to all our seniors and of course to Mr. Hong. When the opening ceremony started they introduced the seniors and everyone to the players. After the opening ceremony, the national demonstration team performed. It was amazing! They did poomsae, board breaking, self defense, and weapons. They did all kinds of things and all were done with precision! After the demo, the volunteers, referees, and judges set up everything. Ryan and I warm up. My fight will come up soon so I try to break a sweat and warm up so I don't fight cold. My first fight is always stiff but I tough myself out and fight! The score was 6-1. So now I wait and get ready for my next fight. I wait for about an hour and half, and then I fight again. My second match, my opponent was a little shorter than me. I won. The score was 9-2. Then I wait again and while I wait for my next fight, I take a quick bite. Then my fight was up. We sparred for one round because she said she couldn't fight anymore. The score was 6-0. After the semi-final match, they do a demo before all the final matches. I was trying to move around just to keep my body active. Then my final match was up. They change the time to 2 min per round. It was a good match. My first hit was a head kick, three points and we kept going. The second match I had to strategize and keep my points. At the end of the match I won!! 8-2. I felt so happy! This is what I trained for! I realize hard work really does pay off!

Then we get our medals and the gold medal winners get internet service from Smart. After that they announce the best player award for men and women in each division. While they were announcing the junior's best player award for women, they called out my name! I was so happy! The best player gets a phone. I got my self a new phone! (: Then by the end of the day I stop and think about all the people that was there for me 100% and I take my time to thank all of them!

Day 6, 7, 8, 9 Ryan

Day 6 was the tournament day. We woke up at around 6:30. Every kid at the tournament was great. The little kids' speed and technique remind me of Jordan, Nick A, and Luigi, their power and intensity remind me of Katie and Rachel, and their kick selections remind me of Alex. I did great but it wasn't enough to beat those filipinos. I tried my best and that is all I could do and I am proud of myself. The one mistake I made during the tournament was that I used my cut kick against a tall opponent. In the end the score was 3 to 5. The day was a long one. Once the tournament was over, Paulines relatives picked us up and we went Red Mango, a Frozen Yogurt shop, I had original flavor with mangos and peaches on it. I was refreshing!! After we went back to Paulines relatives' house to spend the night over. After a long day I hit the hay and crashed out. The next day we went to Green hill to shop. There were so many cheap stuff there. Then we headed over to Trinoma to shop some more and then on our way home we went to some chicken and rice for dinner. The chicken was so good!! The next day, we took the subway with Paulines relatives to train with Mr.Vargas, and Sir. Don. After we ate at Mang Inasal. I ate a Philipino burger and chicken inasal. Once we were done we trained again at the headquarters. Once we were done we ate filipino food and conked out on the bed. I would like to thank everyone who helped me train for this competition. I couldn't of done it without you.

Day 5 of Training Pauline

Today Mr. Vargas said we will only have an afternoon training because tomorrow is the competition. So we started our day with a Filipino breakfast, rice and meat. It was delicious! Then we went back to our room and got ready for training. Training wasn't that hard but we still kicked with intensity. Then when training was done we had lunch with Mr. Vargas's coach back then, Mr. Kim from Davao. We had delicious food. We had shrimp, beef, veggies, and rice. We needed to eat carbs so we can be strong the next day. After eating breakfast we head to the Mall of Asia, the second biggest mall in Asia. The tournament was going to be held there so we decided to check the venue out and also look around. That mall was HUGE! It was nice! After walking around in circles, we got lost. But we found our way again. Well in order for us to be up, we get some Starbucks. We saw a band playing and Ryan was fascinated. After seeing the Mall of Asia we head back to the gym while Mr. Vargas talks with Mr. Hong, Ryan and I watched the team training. We also take videos of their training. After doing that we head to the hotel real quick then have dinner at Carlo's Pizza. We ate pasta and pizza so we can can be strong for the next day. Then when dinner was done we go back to our room and get ready to go to bed so we can have a good rest and stay strong for tomorrow.

Day 5 of training Ryan

Since friday was the last day of training before the competition, Mr.Vargas let us take a break by having only one training. Even though the training was light, the intensity was still at its best. We started off our day by eating a filipino dish that consisted of sweet meat, rice, and eggs sunny side up. After a healthy breakfast, we did our only training of the day with Mr.Vargas. After an intense training, we ate with Mr.Kim from Davao. The food was delicious!! To cook the food, we dipped it into steaming soup. After we went to the mall of asia to check out where the competition would be held. We went to Starrbucks and I had a mango passion fruit shake. After that we saw a band play. Then, we went back to the headquarters to watch the national team train. Then we ate at Carlos Pizza to get a lot of carbs for the tournament the next day. Then we went to bed earl because we knew we had a long day ahead of us.

Day 4 of training Pauline

Today our training wasn't that hard but it's still intense.

We started off waking up eating breakfast. Then after that we get some rest.

Then we wake up for noon training with Mr. Vargas. It lasted for about an hour to an hour and thirty minutes. We reviewed basic kicks and after we did ten combination kicks for ten sets. It was somehow tiring, but we finished all the way through! Training these last two days will be relaxed and a feel good training since the competition is on Saturday. After training we went to eat at Dencio's. Food there is amazing! We ate filipino food and of course Ryan loved it!

After eating we head back to the hotel. My family came and visited me for awhile. They said they were proud of me for all of my accomplishments and what I'm going to accomplish in the future.

After talking with my family, I say goodbye to them and head into the room and take a quick cat nap. I was resting for our late afternoon training.

Then we go to the Central Gym and train with the sparring team.

First we studied sparred and after we did some going back and forth exercises. After those exercises we did paddle drills. The paddle drills were not that hard but it was a bit tiring and I learned different approaches with some kicks.

After we did paddle drills, we used the shields. We had to kick with full speed and power with some of the most basic kicks. After doing shield drills training was done.

Today's training was a good one and at the end I was sweating like crazy, like literally I was dripping of sweat and it was super hot!

After training with them we had dinner with Sir Ronny who is Mr. Vargas's Student before. He is an immigration officer and he was the one who helped us get through immigration fast!

Again, we ate different kinds filipino food which was awesome!

By the end of the day we felt good because we know we trained hard!