Today was the AYOP tournament.  First up was 13 white belts.  You read that right... only 13 white belts.  So business picked up only after 1:00 pm when the colored belts showed up.  I ran the colored belt group warm-up and for the first time I got 2 rounds of applause for a foot work exercise that I stole from SBN Matt.  Don;t worry he knows that I've been using that exercise and I felt that I should've gave him credit for it.  The forms rings that I had went off without a hitch and for the sparring rings I had there were some of the usual wind knocking kicks and some accidental face shots. 

In between the rings I judged I watched some of the other rings and there were some calls that I didn't agree with and some of the rings were run in an unprofessional way.  I can't get really descriptive but it just felt unprofessional.  I pride myself in running my rings in the most unbiased and professional way. 

I was so happy for the Mid-City students that showed and competed.  Diane was in my ring and she used the roundhouse then back kick combo that I taught in class and scored a point!!!  She got 2nd place, but she fought in a ring of 8 students.  A first for her I think.  Her younger brother Michael won 1st place with the double front kick (chicken kick) that I taught in class. 

Now the main thing I was able to do was take a huge load of mental notes today.  I watched the other students and I took note of many mannerisms and things that they do that I could teach my students to counter or just blantaly take advantage of.  Then my goal of making Mid-City a force to be reckoned with will come true.  Mid-City has been just a force in the forms competition with the 2 previous instructors... but now I'm going to make tham a force in the forms AND sparring rings.  Hehehe... I can't wait.

It was a good night for me.  I hope the other students that competed and won a trophy brings it to class so that I can brag about them.

That's it.

Good night.