The Naperville Challenge was held at Lincoln Junior High School’s gym. It was way too small a venue for this event. The bleachers were filled to capacity. Competitors were packed in tightly around the rings. A high school would have been a much better choice.
It seemed really well organized – at least from my perspective. The underbelt divisions went quickly. My group may have even finished early. (How often does that happen?)
Although, one of the black belts (not Brett) confided that it was a very tiring tournament for him. As what happens with a lot of tournaments, the black belt events were divided up. (I think they do this so the black belts have to stick around and help with the judging.) This black belt said he was so tired by the time his division was called for open handed kata, that he was just wiped out.
On to the fun stuff:
After my weapons kata, Brett appeared behind me. “I saw the end of your kata. You’re not striking with the weapon. You’re just kind of … placing it there.” I nodded my head, it was a critique I’ve heard before and (seriously) I’m working on it.
“Of course, you might not want to really strike something with this,” he said touching the tip of my toothpick bo.
“It’s bamboo,” I said, defensively. Criticize my kata all you want, but I LOVE my bo. It’s lightweight and slender and beautiful. “Bamboo is like…really strong.”
Brett smirked. “Yah? Try hitting something with it and then tell me what you think.”
I looked up at the chipped tip of my bo. I have hit it against stuff. I’ve hit it against LOTS of stuff. (Sure, most of it was by accident).
Men just don’t understand the bamboo toothpick. They’ll try it out and, make a face of disgust, hand it back. But women love it. A woman tries it out, feels how great it fits in her hands and has to buy one for herself. Bamboo bos are totally “chick weapons.”
As Brett walked away, I turned to the woman next to me, “Bamboo is supposed to be really, really strong.” She smiled and shrugged one shoulder. Her bo looked like it was probably ash.
I got 4th out of four competitors.
* * *
After open handed kata, Brett appeared behind me again. “You look lost and confused when you do your kata.”
“OH MY GOD! That’s probably the meanest thing anyone has ever said to me!” I said. My voice sounded loud and squeaky to my own ears.
“No, I mean you were like…” He then performed (and I hate to admit this) a pretty good impression of me.
In fact, it was spot on: he let his eyes go out of focus, his brow furrowed slightly and a very small smile tugged the corners of his mouth.
“That’s my angry face!” I said, my voice going up another octave. “That’s me being intense and fierce.”
“Really?”
“YES!” My voice not just squeaked; it cracked.
“Try showing more of your teeth.” I bared my teeth at him.
“No, don’t smile. Try doing this.” He turned the corners of his mouth down. I copied him.
He looked into my eyes for a moment. I think he was trying to decide if I was just fucking with him.
“You know,” he said, “you probably shouldn’t be trying to act intense, anyway. Let your technique do it for you. You need to really hit something, not just demonstrate your moves.”
Well, at least his criticism had re-entered familiar territory. The facial expression thing made me very uncomfortable. (Although, it does explain why my kids always laugh at me when I’m mad at them.)
I got 5th out of five.
* * *
Sparring: 3rd out of three. Not much more to say, except:
- I sparred the same person I fought in Chicago
- the match took longer
- I actually got a point in
- I didn’t get clobbered in the head (Thanks, Armando and Bob, who gave me extra sparring practice in the CrossFit parking lot at 7:30 a.m., Saturday.)
I was sitting next to Ray-Ray’s ring, waiting for her to spar. If I left Ray-Ray’s ring, there would be hell to pay. But, standing up, I could see into Brett’s ring and got to watch most of his kusanku kata. I turned my attention back to Ray Ray and discovered her match was moved. (When did that happen?!)
I grabbed my purse and wove my way to the next ring. Glancing back at the black belts, I saw they were announcing the results. I was too far away to hear, I thought he was the last person to bow at the judges. That would definitely a good sign.
Brett was walking in our direction. Discretely, I held my pointer finger up in front of me. It’s not a difficult code, I was asking if he got first. Brett did a quick sideways glance to see if anyone from his division was with him or even looking. With a small smile, he held up his pointer finger.
We did a quick high-five when he reached us. He laughed at Jessica and I trying to yell instructions to Ray-Ray: “Kick, kick!” “Move your feet.” “Holy crap, Rachel. Do SOMETHING!” (That was Jecca. I save my biting sarcasm for after the tournament.)
“So, when you coming down?” Brett asked.
“We’re seriously thinking about it. We just gotta, you know, work out logistics: husbands, children, husbands…when we can actually do this.” I laughed. “I did get Sensei’s blessing, though.”
“Really? Oh, well then, it’s settled.”
Upcoming Tournaments
Silver Sun Showdown
May 14th, 2011 at Hazelwood East High School, 11300 Dunn Road, St. Louis MO. 63138 http://www.isshinryu-stl.com/Allstar_Karate/Silver_Sun_Showdown.html(I won’t be attending this year. I promised the kids we’d go to the Anime Convention, which is the following weekend. But it is a great tournament and I totally recommend it to competitors.)
Illinois Valley Karate Tournament
April 17, 2011 at Shabbona Middle School, 725 School Street, Morris Illinois 60450 Gary Gillette (815) 941-9790(I’m looking at this one.)
