Ah, I love the month of October...
Ok, not just because that is the month I was born but for many things. The nice weather, the last karate tournament for the year, usually a Shiloh Martial Arts Association Tournament, etc... but this October is one of my best.
August, September, and October 2008 I competed, bringing a friend with me all three times. The August was his first, for me that's another story. We had a blast. My previous blogs and Taekwondo Accomplishments have many of those listed. But this month was like, wow!
Prior to doing my weapon form, I was told by another school's instructor that one of his students wanted to speak to me. She is a 15 year old purple belt in another style of taekwondo. She told me she had to pick a hero to write on for English. She couldn't decide on one, so she wrote about her favorite two, Eli Manning, and me. Me? Really?? Well, I was taken by surprise. I hope that she can email me the paper. I'd love to read it.
I was placed in a men's division for weapons because no women were competing in weapons. I earned 2nd place. I was beat by Ryan, a guy who takes his bo staff and does fancy twirls, throws and catches, tumbles, and such. His approach isn't traditional, but XMA style. I did a traditional style form with the bo. I hope by next season to get another weapon up to my bo level of performance, to add variety to the ring. I also earned 1st in forms, combining two of our purple belt forms back to back, Ship Soo & Jin Soo, and called it Ship Jin Soo.
I then found out that I had won the women's grand champion overall trophy, which is 5 foot tall. I had to disassmeble it to make it fit in my car, with my friend in the car with me. I kept joking that I was going to attach him to the hood, and keep the trophy in the car. Ha. As I was loading my car I was told by people going outside, that they were calling me up to the judges stand, I won the Women's Black belt Grand Champion jacket as well. Wow!
Not too shabby for having issues with my body this year... from the right hip issue, to now the most recent, my right foot feeling numb upon walking on it, near the ball of the foot, to turning 30 soon.
I then went to visit my parents, and grandmother and they were so proud of me, mom having to take all her photos, and they asked when I was testing for my next level of black, and they all are going to make it this year. Dad's requesting off from work Monday for it, and it'll be the first time my grandmother will see me do karate, my mom saw only a purple belt test, but was sick when I earned 1st, and dad, well he's seen it. I hope my nephew can watch too, as now my parents want me to teach him. He's 6.
I love the month of October. :)
To God be the glory!
