Yesterday at pretty much the last minute I decided to attend Mike
Cappi's Kenpo karte tournament. It was a first time for me. What
caught my interest initially was that they speciifically had a
softstyle div and for seniors no less! I figured this would be a
Chinese style freindly tournament perhaps good to bring students to
in the future. There was a bit of trouble however. It seem particular
to the Kenpo style but there is a rule about stepping outside of the
ring during a forms performance. This is usually not an issue most
anywhere else. Especially in the blackbelt div. I ended up in 6th
place! *LOL* I was pretty salty over that one and began regretting
coming and bringing a student to boot. Jeana had a big disadvantage
in weapons becuase she had to compete as one big div with the
advanced who were the only ones to to outscore her. Had the div been
spearated she would have one first place. This reenforced my regret.
I was next up for forms. I entered the Chinese div which I was the
only competitor. I had the offer to go in with the other stylists in
their div, I figured if I got screwed in weapons, then I'll take the
guaranteed 1st place with a shot at the Grand Championship in forms
(Not expecting to win). I had the pleasure of meeting Grand Master
Richard "Huk" Planas. He watched the weapons div and tried to help
me, he made a point to be a judge in the grand championship and
adamant about not penalizing me for stepping out of the ring. well I
actually WON!! In 23 years of blackbelt competition I've never won a
forms grandchampionship. Plenty of fighting grands for sure, only one
weapons grand and that was almost 5 years ago. Jeana was up for forms
nearly the same time. After her experince in weapons her motivation
ws down and seemed to just walk through her routine. Half trying to
won 2nd place had she put more into it she would have won first!
Looking at the sparring div I wanted to fight now, But I didn't bring
my gear thinking we would be leaving early, I considered borrowing
gear and entering but I saw all the blackbelts judges left Jeana's
ring to either watch or compete in the Mens' blackbelt fighting. So I
decided to run the damned ring myself, I grabbed two other judges and
a score keeper and we went to work. It's been such a long day for the
kids and the parents, you gotta take care of them or they don't want
to come back. Jeana had noone to fight in the intermediates, she also
had the choice to accept an automatic 1st place or take a chance and
fight in the advanced. Being the trooper she is, she fought! Jeana
fought some tough matches, in her first match she fought the biggest
toughest girl there and caught a powerful kick to the body which
shook her up some. I stopped the match to let her get her composure.
Jeana wished to continue and eventually won to move on the the
finals, she won in impressive fashion with lightening kicks and
punches for 1st place. Id' say the day was redeemed!