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.
0 Responses to “Tournament – Part 2”