Well, the day after the tournament, both Luke and I got sick with colds. Oh joy! At least it waited ’till after the tournament. I’m glad about that. I was feeling a tad under the weather so I didn’t partake in the invitation to play in a 8 Shamisen Hextet. Oh well. That put a damper on things.
Monthly Archive for August, 2006
Since I just finished the Youth kumite, there was a few more youth things before Luke did Indiv. Kumite in the Adult Kumite section. I watched some of the matches. They had weapon Katas which were fun to watch.
It was 2:00 and I was getting a little hungry and thirsty. (I had a bagel for breakfast and the sparring made me thirsty) Jon, Allisa and Kai brought snacks but I didn’t eat any of them yet ’cause I didn’t want to be full up when sparring or Kata-ing. I split a juice thingy with Luke to get a bit of fluid in me.
An hour later, it was time for Indiv. Kata! Daniel, Luke and I did it along with four other people (not at the same time). I recognized one of the Karatekas from JKA Stanford. We all did Heian Yondan. Luke got 1st place, I got 2nd and somebody else got third.
After that, Indiv. Kumite started. Luke went up against this guy who was a little rough. In Kumite, you aren’t supposed to make full contact. Well, this guy plowed Luke through the chest. All in all, that round ended early.
An hour later, the team stuff started. We first did Team Kata. Kai, Ekapol and Bao did a Kata (Bassai Dai), Another group did a kata and than Daniel, Luke and I did our Kata (Heian Yondan). We got 1st, the other group got 2nd and the Kai group got 3rd.
Afterwards, we did Team Kumite. There was only two teams (including us) in Team Kata and we all knew each other. Our team was Daniel, Luke and I. The other team was Kai, Bao and Ekapol. Since we all agreed that it was a little unfair (since our team was two green belts and a purple belt and the other team was all Brown belts), we switched it up a bit. Kai came over to our team and Luke went to the other team. After that, we arranged who would fight who. Since I knew I probably wouldn’t have a chance with either Brown belt, I chose to spar with Luke.
Well, When I went up to fight with Luke, nothing happened. Seriously. We knew how each other fought so well that we couldn’t get a worthy strike in without it getting blocked. I accidentally hit luke in the face three times but none of ‘em counted (at least I didn’t get disqualified). Long story short, it was a draw. So the other two guys fought and “we” won! (I say “we” in quotes ’cause I didn’t really rack up any points. [at least I didn't lose the match to give the opposing team any points])
After that, we were all done. We saw some neat weapon Katas. People used staffs, Sai, Kama and some paddle thingy that looked like a oar. After looking at that, Luke and I finally ate some snacks. Soon, the rest of the gang came in and ate a bit. Afterwards, we drove to a pizza/bar. It was really dark in there but our eyes adjusted. We had a delicious italian garlic pizza. Mmm! Hit the spot!
After that, we left and got dropped off at our house.
The tournament was a fun experience. If I were to do it again. I’d just do Kata since we prepared for Team kata a long time and knew the Katas in the palm of our hand. I’d only do Kumite again if I really practiced it and got really proficient. Besides, I’m not sure I’d want to compete in a tournament again. It was a really fun day and a great experience but waiting 5 hours to compete for 3 minutes ain’t my cup o’ tea (plus, having that knot in my stomach feeling for that long doesn’t help).
When we arrived, there wasn’t a parking spot to be found. We got out of the car and signed up. I thought the tournament ended at noon but I guess it would be much longer than that. Luke and I signed up for Team Kata and Team Kumite but we looked on the roster and we were signed up for Indiv. Kata and Kumite as well and the Team stuff. Even more interesting was in the Indiv. Kumite, I was put in with the Brown belts! (even though and Green belt [well, 5th kyu])
At 10:00, I stretched out and got warmed up since I thought I’d be on pretty soon. After an hour, I started to cool off. I was still anxious and there’s nothing better than being nervous and waiting.
Somehow, I befriended a 7 year old yellow belter boy. It started out friendly. He asked me what if I’d be sparring or doing kata, if I had a brother, if I could roll up his gi-pant legs a bit (since they were way too long). Later on, he started following me around. Around this time, I didn’t really want to talk since my mind was on the tournament. Later, he started making circles around me. Oh boy.
Two hours later, I had completely cooled off. One of the black belt competitors was there and wondered if I wanted to warm up with him. We sparred a bit and he gave me some very good advice: #1, keep the hips open. #2, don’t stay in one place, keep moving.
Three hours later, I was finally called up. Boy, being nervous for 3 hours sure ain’t fun. I anycase, I was in line with the brown belts(my age). One of them asked the other how long he had been training. He said all his life. Oh boy.
Well, I went up with one of them. When the main judge said, “Hajime!” We rumbled! I managed to suprisingly get the first point when I did a jab-reverse punch combo (kazami-zuki/ yaku-zuki). A whole point is pretty good. Usually, people get half-points. They can get whole points if the technique is really good and clear. I guess mine was. Of course, after that, I was mauled. I mean I didn’t get hurt but that was the last point I ever got. I somehow did a Mai-Geri front kick and did a second roundhouse kick which was a huge mistake ’cause my legs were far apart and he got a clean strike to. . . you know, where it counts. He probably got 5 points from that strike. I’m glad I had a groin protector!
So, after that overwhelming defeat, I went back to the warm-up room. It’d be a few hours ’till I got back out to do Indiv. Kata and the team stuff.
We were gonna go to Jon’s salon at 8:10AM to carpool up to the tournament. I dreamt that we overslept and didn’t make it in time so I woke up at 6:00 and could never really go back to sleep ’cause every 15 minutes, I looked at the clock.
At seven o’ clock, I got up. I did some things on the ‘puter and at 7:50, the rest of the crew started to rise. Since it was foggy and cold ‘n all, I put on my sweatshirt. I knew I’d probably need to bring it ’cause I would be cold walking to the salon and going up to the tournament. Plus, I was a little nervous (the anxious/anticipation kind of nervous) and being cold and nervous ain’t the best combination.
Anyway, five minutes before Luke and I would set off for Jon’s salon, Ma drew a bath for herself. I looked and thought, “hmm . . . that looks warm.” Since I was chilly and a little anxious (the same kind of anxious that you feel right before a test or going on stage), I figured a warm bath would help me relax a bit. Well, I got partway in and wooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!! It was HOT! I figured, “well, I’m halfway in, might as well go all the way in.” Talk about a hot spring. IT was so hot my fingers felt prickly and frozen. Well, five minutes of that and I was hot enough. After that, we left.
It was chilly out and normally, I would’ve worn a sweatshirt but I was still so toasty from the bath, I wore shorts and a t-shirt.
When we got there, Jon was packing up and went to get a cup o’ Java. We fiddled around with the swivel barber chairs ‘n all. Soon, Allisa, Daniel (who’s our third team member in Team Kata) and Kai came. After getting directions, we all huddled in the two cars. Jon went with Allisa and Luke and I went with Kai and Daniel.
On the was up on the highway, we were driving side by side. Jon (he wasn’t driving) suddenly rolls down the window, takes out a oar-like-thing and pretends to be rowing the car. lol! . . I guess you had to have been there.
A couple hors later, we got there.
Last week, we bought these mouthguards for the tournament. I was the first one to soak mine in warm water to conform to my mouth. The thing was, I didn’t read the instructions (since I think instructions are for sissies) so I only put it warm water (since two people told me not to have the water too hot but they have cheaper quality mouthguards so it’s a different for them) and then put it in my mouth. It still felt ackward after I bit down but I could just, ever-so-slightly, barely see molar imprints in the guard so I thought it was ready to be used. . . even though it still felt ackward and I almost gagged when I put it in.
Well, today (the day before the tournament), Luke got his mouthguard out to put it in water. Now he read the instructions and boiled the water. After that, he looped the special string and plug through the air holes (so they wouldn’t get squashed down). When he took the guard out of his mouth, it was a perfect imprint of his teeth! Obviously, I did something wrong. So, since I thought that string was just so I could put the mouthguard around my neck like a necklace, I threw it away so I used Luke’s.
I put it in the hot water and lo in behold. . . I’ll let you figure out the rest.