We got there about halfway into the registration process and there was a REALLY long line. Hmmm... turns out, kids come from ALL OVER to be at these things. There were some from Des Moines, Omaha and St. Louis! Cool! The line went really fast and we even had time to pickup the "participation" trophies and buy the boys t-shirts and patches before the intro stuff started. Joe kept saying how this was already better organized and laid out than the last one.
They did a few black belt demonstrations and then had all the kids come down to line up with the groups/sensei - there were about 8-10 kids from the boys' class (Joe said there were only like 4 last time and it was closer to home!).
After that, the kids came back up to their parents (talk about a melee!) and the wait began. They broke it into "events" and then into age groups. Each age group was then divided into belt class - whites and yellows only (2 lowest levels, so mostly younger kids like the boys). So, it went something like this:
- Strongest Kick (kick a meter bag with an approved kick and the hardest kick wins) - 4s & 5s, 6s & 7s, 8s & 9s, 10s & 11s, 12 & up (there were only like 3 older than 11, so they were getting all sorts of trophies each time!) [essentially 5 groups per event]
- Strongest Fist (hardest punch wins)
- Fastest Kick (fastest kick wins)
- Fastest Fist (fastest punch wins)
- Escape Drills - run through a series of 4 "stranger-danger grabs" breaking away in the correct way as fast as possible. Most correct and fastest wins (very subjective however!)
- "Walk with Danger" (explained below)
Both boys did Fastest Fist and the Escape Drill. Travis also did Walk with Danger (Thomas decided just before the event that he wanted to do it too, but it was too late to put him in).
In fastest fist, the boys wanted to use a backfist - which is a quick punch but doesn't carry a lot of 'uumph' with the boys weight behind it. the bag was having trouble registering their punches. But, Travis came in 4th (he was 2nd until the last two kids!) and Thomas took 6th. Not bad!
In escape drill, there was some controversy. We kept our mouths shut around the boys and at the event, but Joe was ticked! See, there are 4 senseis that each do a different hold on the kids as they run through the line and the kids have to perform the correct "escape". These are generally taught as "stranger danger" techniques - the 4 most common grabs used by kidnappers.
The first one is a single hand, same side grab - like a mirror image. So, the sensei grabs the child by the left hand with their right hand (or vice versa). The child then makes a fist with the grabbed hand, places the other hand around that one, steps back and spins away toward the sensei's thumb side. (It really works BTW - try it!). Apparently, this is where not only our boys had trouble but all the boys in their line. The first guy wouldn't let go of any of the boys and made them really fight to get out - but the girls got an easy out on it. 2 of the 3 top winners were girls at the 6 yr, yellow level. :( Thomas was somewhere in the middle of the line and Travis was 2nd from the end. It was really heart-wrenching to watch that happen, as they had practiced SO hard for this particular event and were so psyched about it - and so READY for it!
[For those who want to know, here's the rest of that event:
- Single hand grab (described above)
- Double hand grab - both hands grabbed from the outside by the sensei's both hands. Child lefts up both hands to the outside (like lifting hands to put on a hat) then brings them down in 'chop' over sensei's wrists.
- Front choke - sensei places both hands on child's shoulders to simulate choking from the front. Child takes hands "up like a rocket" (sort of like praying hands, through the open gap) and "out like fireworks" (pushing hands off shoulders)
- Back choke - sensei places both hands on child's shoulders to simulate choking from behind. Child clasps hands together in front of face or higher (depending on height of assailant), steps back on one foot and spins in the direction of the back foot. Clasped hands should hit the adult around the watchband area, HARD.
As a parent helper, I've had my fair share of watching these kids and walking them through the moves. Some of them could do some serious damage even when they're being nice to the helpers - I pity the person who would try to take them!
back to the tourney...]
The last event of the day for white/yellow belts was the "Walk with Danger". This is sort of a "fun" event that's almost a precursor to doing a Kata if done correctly. Basically, the kid gets up and pretends his fighting off an imaginary attacker doing whatever blocks, punches and kicks he can remember and do correctly in 20 seconds.
We signed Travis up for this one since he LOVES to pretend he's a Power Ranger with all the crazy martial arts moves and we figured he could come away with something to even him up with Thomas in the "big trophy" department (Tom got second in the escape drill back in November). Travis has been feeling really secondary to Thomas in a lot of areas lately (really seen in his report card this quarter!) and we wanted something to really boost his ego a some.
He was about halfway through the performance list on this one - and they had mixed 6- & 7-yr-olds as well as both belt colors on this one. *sigh*. We were worried. Especially since he'd just had such a hard time with the Escape Drills and he tends to let "failures" bring him down (instead of making him fight harder). But, he really impressed us - and the judges!
He got up there and first was the only one to "rei" (bow) and then to set into fighting stance - with a loud "Kiya"! Then, he did all the things we worked with him on - X-hand block, low blocks, front knee kick, and when he forgot what to do next he did a series of middle punches. He was the only one to do "Kiya"s (yells) with each and every move. When he was done, I was so proud. Then it got better!
They immediately put him at the front of the line - he was in 1st! Two kids after him had no idea what they were supposed to do and basically froze up. Two others did OK. He was holding up there at the front. I was trying not to get too excited, as he could see me down there where I sat to take pictures and I didn't want to get his hopes up too high just in case. Apparently, after each kid was seated in order, Thomas was up in the bleachers with Joe yelling stuff like "He's still in first! Go Travis! I'm so PROUD of him!" (how cool is THAT for a twin brother??) Wish I could have been yelling too! ;)
The last kid scared us. At first he looked like he might bolt. Then he went after it hard. He was yelling like Travis had, but the moves were more Power Ranger than Karate. Very enthusiastic. There was some debate at the judges table and they went back and forth a couple times with putting him in front of then behind Travis. HUH? Eventually, he was placed behind my boy...
...until they went through for trophies. The other kid went through first, meaning he got the 1st place. HUH?
Then Travis came through with a big old grin (got a picture of THAT for sure!) and a 1st place trophy as well. Apparently, the judges had decided to tie them. OK. Fine. But, the important thing here is that...
TRAVIS GOT A BIG TROPHY! Whoo hoo!
Even better, he got a huge boost in his self-esteem that we're still living off and neither of them can wait to learn more karate. YEA! We really want them to do this for several years, for the flexibilty of the sport, for the self-defense aspect but most importantly for the self-respect & discipline they're learning from it as well.
Plus, mommy is learning a lot too! ;)
[Pictures and videos to be posted when I have more time!]
