Hi-Yaaaaa

Ok, so that isn’t what they really say. I am not even sure what it is that they do say…something along the lines of Ki-Aaaa. At least at our studio what is what they say. Yesterday, i heard ALOT of it. We spent the day at the 35th Annual Tri-State Karate Championship Tournament yesterday.

There were forms, there were fights. Lots of winners, lots of disappointments. I was score-keeping and time-keeping for a lot of the little boys fights and forms, they were the ones who would walk away the most upset. It was heart-breaking watching some of them.

But WOW, was it ever fascinating to watch all of the upper belts. Talk about beauty in action. Some of their forms were amazing.

Look at that grin on his face. I think he was pleased with his performance. And he should be. He did a great job. I know, I watched. He is from Tate’s studio and you know, we have to support our guys and gals!

See the gal in the yellow helmet? She participated in the Continuous Fighting. She has not really been training for that event very long but she is a natural. And well, she placed 2nd! She won the Silver. Tate and I were so proud of her! Continuous fighting is intense, there is no way in heck that I would ever participate in that event. The total opposite of where I want to be…relaxing at  Outer Banks vacation rentals. Guess we all know at what speed I move now.

All in all it was a great day! I saw a dear family friend that I haven’t seen in ages and learned that she STARTED taking karate at the age of 60. She competed as a green belt. Amazing woman! I got to watch many of the young men and women from our studio compete and watched many of them walk away with trophies as big as they are. I got to watch young ones deal with the disappointments life throws at all of us. I watched as they bucked up and congratulated team members while holding back tears of their own. Yes, I also saw some poor sportsmanship, but very little of it.

I watched.