The World Tournament is over for another two years. It was a wonderful time - I took five mini-seminars, three full seminars (oh my aching legs!), and competed in four divisions. I didn't place in anything (the closest was a 4th in kumite), but Ian, our brown belt and the only other competitor from our dojo, came home with a 1st in weapons. That's the trophy he's holding in the photo - pretty, isn't it?
Unfortunately, he's also holding his ribs, which is also in the photo, but less obvious. There were no other 16-17 year old brown belts at World's (which is puzzling, it's usually a large division) so they tossed him in the 18-29 ring, and the much larger 23 year old he was pitted against beat him up pretty thoroughly. First time I've had a paramedic called to the ring for a student, and I wouldn't care to repeat the experience. Ian is fine, but he'll be nursing sore ribs and a nice lump beside his right eye for a while. He's taking it in good part though, and not at all discouraged from going to the next World, which is good.
Now it's time for us to start getting ready for our own tournament. It's an open tournament, Sept. 24th, just outside of Louisville, KY. Last year's was a great time, and I hope this year goes as well or better. We'll certainly be in a better location, since Sensei has managed to secure us the IUS Athletic Center. I'm planning on competing this year and not just judging the way I did last year - we'll see how I do with trying to do both and tracking our students.
6 comments:
It's a shame you didn't place - I know you've been working really hard. On the upside, that means the others are really good, and you get to learn a lot.
I likely would have placed in weapons - several judges remembered my kata favorably at the after-party - but my sai got hung up in my obi on the draw (I.e. right at the start of my kata), and a weapons fumble pretty much means you won't place.
And we did have a nice solid group of women competing - everybody looked good to me, but I didn't feel like I'd wandered into the wrong group, which is a nice place to land.
Oh my gosh, poor guy! I hope he's feeling better soon...
Thank you so much for your comment. Wow, if your husband doesn't like anything over 27C he would not like it here!
Sounds like a great event! I am still recovering from the seminar I attended last week. :)
Congratulations to Ian. I hope his ribs heal fast.
What a great event! Poor Ian! I hope he's feeling better soon.
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