Annabelle Hipp: The Karate Kid

It's no secret that I am the president of the Annabelle Hipp Fan Club. But lately, I've been so overwhelming proud of my little niece it's disgusting! I'm the first to brag about what she is capable of but sometimes she surpasses even my expectations.

Yesterday was board breaking at her Dojo. She was nervous, unsure if she would be able to actually break a board with her bare hands. But after a month's worth of training & reassurance by her Sensei... I convinced her she would do great. However, I was unsure too. It defies science, a tiny 7 year old hitting a board with her palm & breaking it. How is that possible? I knew I needed to think of ways to cheer her up after it was over & she wasn't successful.

But that was thrown out the window when on her very first try, she broke a board. My sister has the video & the best part isn't her breaking the board but the look on her face when she realizes she did it. It's the kind of look you want to remember forever. Surprise, pride, amazement. It was priceless. She went on to break more boards using knee strike, palm strike & even broke 2 boards together with palm strike. Then we headed out back & she broke a board that had been lite on fire!

YES! Proving that she is capable of anything she sets her mind too, even something she is afraid of. She tucks that fear away & succeeds. Congratulations Annabelle. You are an amazing girl! (more photos over here)