Whew, this is a busy month!
September 6th I had two students earn green belt and one student to earn blue belt. Then after their test I held another test for two students going to brown belt. Brown belt in our system is about half way, or just over, but the level they can become instructors if they wish to teach both the physical and spiritual side of our system. Both of these students said they wanted to be instructors. They have earned instructor status.
September 13th I competed in a SMAC tournament in Madison, MS along with a friend. My friend is a green belt in another system, so he has to compete with that rank, though he is only an orange belt with us. He earned 1st in forms, and 2nd in weapons. His weapon divison was very difficult, because he was the lowest ranking student, and the one with the least amount of practice. The other guys have trained for a long time, but due to their syles of martial arts they have not earned black in their divison, though they have the tme in. One of his compeitiors told him he's been doing that same form for over 4 years now. Geesh. My friend has only competed one other time, and that was last month.
In my division there were women so I had to compete with the black belt men. I earned 2nd in forms where .3 points seperated first and second. In the weapons divison a fancy bo xma style won 1st. However, the same guy who beat me by .3 points in forms beat me by just .2 points in weapons. He did a semi xma style, nothing fancy with kicks or so, but just had two numchukus. The rest of us in our divison did a traditional form.
September also has two birthdays in my family, my sister turns 29, and her son turns 6.
Sepember 23rd my students in Marion are performing in a home school association demo. I'm getting anxious and excited! It's our first.
Finally the 9th, 11th, 16th, and 18th I have / had to teach for my instructor while he's out of state. His school is a lot larger than my school, and it's been fun, but work too.
Come on October... oh wait, hold on, that's a busy month too. Gah.
Let's see: October 4th promotions, October 11th, last 2008 SMAC touranment, and my last as a 1st dan black belt, Ocotber 18th the 3rd annual Shiloh tournament, and the 31st I turn 30. Noooooo!
