tooooouuuuurnament!
So today I competed in my first karate tournament. On a normal Sunday, I would probably be just beginning the day at 12:00 PM, lazing around the house starting to think about what to do during the day. But today, by 12:00, I had already performed a weapons form and a regular form in front of judges and spectators, stood waiting and watching my friends compete, and been swept up in the excitement of a tournament.
I hadn't wanted to go because I knew I would be so nervous. I didn't want to give up my traditional idyllic Sunday morning reading newspapers and drinking hot cocoa for the stress of a karate tournament. But I am quite glad that I did it - I'm glad that I didn't have a choice (the tournament was a requirement) or else I might have missed it.
It was loud and full of action and movement, nothing still. It was overflowing with emotion and excitement. There were about twelve different rings, each one stocked with imposing-looking judges, scorekeepers looking important with their record pads, students practicing and being nervous and zipping about trying to hear the announcement for when their division is going on - and teachers giving them preparatory talks and words of advice and support - and families and friends sitting in the spectator seats cheering. I liked the energy of the place and shocked myself by having fun.
I wasn't as nervous as I had thought I would be. I was nervous on the ride down to the tournament, but once I was inside waiting for my turn the nervousness faded. Maybe it was chased away by the excitement in the room, or by the encouraging words of teachers and friends, or by the sense of camaraderie felt by seeing my fellow students from the dojo all being equally nervous.
My best friend Nikki went before me and I cheered for her and the other student from our dojo in her division, Ben. Eventually, it came to my division and one of the judges called out, "16-17 Intermediate Weapons Forms!" I went up into the ring with Andrew, another boy from my dojo in my division. We went up and waited with the two other competitors, whom we did not know. The judge took our cards with our name, school, and division written on them and then called out the first name - mine!
So I went up and went through the tirelessly-practiced introductory ritual - bow to the judges, give a little speech about who I am and what dojo I am from and what I was doing - and then I bowed again, backed up, and started the form.
This was where I surprised myself by having fun. Instead of shaking to the point of almost dropping my bo like I thought I would, I enjoyed doing the form! It was my favorite form and I tried to put all I could into it. It was over sooner than I expected and I bowed out of the ring to let Andrew in next.
The day went on like that - watching my friends compete, watching strangers compete. Eventually I did a non-weapons form that was not as much fun as the weapons form, just because I like weapons forms better. It really was a good time and an interesting experience. It lasted from 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM but it felt like a whole day.
I'd do it again. :)
I hadn't wanted to go because I knew I would be so nervous. I didn't want to give up my traditional idyllic Sunday morning reading newspapers and drinking hot cocoa for the stress of a karate tournament. But I am quite glad that I did it - I'm glad that I didn't have a choice (the tournament was a requirement) or else I might have missed it.
It was loud and full of action and movement, nothing still. It was overflowing with emotion and excitement. There were about twelve different rings, each one stocked with imposing-looking judges, scorekeepers looking important with their record pads, students practicing and being nervous and zipping about trying to hear the announcement for when their division is going on - and teachers giving them preparatory talks and words of advice and support - and families and friends sitting in the spectator seats cheering. I liked the energy of the place and shocked myself by having fun.
I wasn't as nervous as I had thought I would be. I was nervous on the ride down to the tournament, but once I was inside waiting for my turn the nervousness faded. Maybe it was chased away by the excitement in the room, or by the encouraging words of teachers and friends, or by the sense of camaraderie felt by seeing my fellow students from the dojo all being equally nervous.
My best friend Nikki went before me and I cheered for her and the other student from our dojo in her division, Ben. Eventually, it came to my division and one of the judges called out, "16-17 Intermediate Weapons Forms!" I went up into the ring with Andrew, another boy from my dojo in my division. We went up and waited with the two other competitors, whom we did not know. The judge took our cards with our name, school, and division written on them and then called out the first name - mine!
So I went up and went through the tirelessly-practiced introductory ritual - bow to the judges, give a little speech about who I am and what dojo I am from and what I was doing - and then I bowed again, backed up, and started the form.
This was where I surprised myself by having fun. Instead of shaking to the point of almost dropping my bo like I thought I would, I enjoyed doing the form! It was my favorite form and I tried to put all I could into it. It was over sooner than I expected and I bowed out of the ring to let Andrew in next.
The day went on like that - watching my friends compete, watching strangers compete. Eventually I did a non-weapons form that was not as much fun as the weapons form, just because I like weapons forms better. It really was a good time and an interesting experience. It lasted from 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM but it felt like a whole day.
I'd do it again. :)
posted by Laura at 3:23 PM
2 Comments:
L.T. KICKS ASS IN KARATE! Literally! I hope you did great L.T.! You are the head ninja and protector of C.P.S.
Yeah, I like the weapon forms too. I only stayed in Karate long enough to learn the Knife Techniques though T_T. I wanted to use a Long Sword so bad... Oh well. I guess there really isn't time for everything. Good job Laura!
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