Another Saturday, Another Karate Tournament

So today Mariah had another karate tournament , in Mesa AZ. You know what, it wasnt bad at all. The big thing we've been working on has been her sparring. Her sparring for the most part has been her weakest part of her package.

Here's the odd part today. She got 4th in Forms, 4th in Weapons (usually her strongest areas) and she didnt place in sparring, but today sparring was her best event. She was attacking, not being passive. She was charging like a bull and attacking in combos, unlike her usual habit of backpedeling and trying to create offense from her defense. Even one of the Sr instructors in her school noticed the spiked improvement in her sparring.

Now as far as weapons and forms go, you know, I told her, every tournament isnt gonig to go perfect. There are plenty of wrestling tournaments I was in where I'd lose early, and there were plenty I'd win or make the finals. I think she understood that she's not going to be 100% every day but she can try.

She did good today. I'm proud of her. The way I see it was , she may have lost her sparring match, but SHE lost it, she DIDNT give it away.