Char Valley Tournament 2016

Well, blog fans (I mean Mom and Dad and Ken and Cathy), I have a fun game for you!  It's just like Where's Waldo.  It's Find Cheryl and Shawn.  One of us is in each of these pictures.  Can you spot us?  We are even in red and white, just like Waldo.

Opening Ceremonies - praying

Receiving my award for 1st Runner Up (behind Scott) for Intermediate (green belt) ages 35-49 for most points from the combination of all three tournaments last year.  

I was in the bathroom for the group picture.

Barb and me watching Elizabeth, who did very well.

I like this picture because I think it makes me look tall.  Right?

Baassai So.  I didn't mess up!

Oh my.  That looks bad.  I only put it on here in the hopes I never look like that with a kick again! 

There were 4 of us in our division, 3 red belts and a green belt ages 36+.  

The other red belt did her form after me and it was awesome - Bassai Dai, very theatrical.  I did mine without messing up, Missy did hers (Bassai Day) without messing up, and the green belt did Pyung Ahn Sam Dan - I didn't really watch it because I was trying to watch Shawn across the way.  So, they called me for 3rd, which made sense, Missy for 2nd, which made sense, and then the green belt for 1st!  Someone must have screwed something up.  I felt terrible for the red belt that did so awesome.  I don't know what that was about or if it ever got resolved.  

So, there were two girls in the red belt 18-35 division.  One was the one I fought in the dramatic fight at Battle on the Mountain.  The other one was the one who told me at breakfast that she liked my style.  Missy and I asked them if they minded if we sparred with them because we spar with each other all the time.  They said it was ok.  Then, Master M., who was in charge, took them aside and talked to them and then said that Missy and I would just spar each other.  I don't know what it was about.  Shawn and I said they must have not wanted to spar with us after we beat them the last time.  But, who knows.  

I did not break because of my ankle, which I hurt practicing my break and has been sore for 3 weeks.  I was finally able to run on the flat today, but I still can't run on hills.  It is getting better, but it is not 100%.  Amber B. asked Shawn why I didn't just break with my hands.  That thought never crossed my mind!

So there it was, Missy and I sparring.  She is the best woman fighter in our school.  We lined up together and I said, "We waited all day for this, we better have fun!"  And, we did. 

See, there's me smiling.  But her defenses are really good and I had a very hard time getting points on her.

 So she won 5-2 and that was that.

There was a lot of drama and injuries in some of the other women's divisions, so I was glad that I didn't have any.  (Joyce broke her knee cap.)

I got over to see the end of Shawn's last sparring match.

I cheered and cheered loudly for him.

 When it was over, they didn't raise anyone's hand, so I didn't know if he won or not.  I kept asking all the spectators but no one knew.

But he did win!  A new belt and a new division (the old guys!) but another spectacular first place victory!!!  I am so proud of him and excited for him!

Alexa telling me about the very dramatic events in her sparring.  She won first place, though!  I was very excited to hear about what happened with her, but also trying to race home.  I told all the babysitters we'd be home at 6:00, and I didn't finish up until 6:08.  And Shawn was later than that!

All in all, Shawn and I very much met our goal of cheering the kids on.  I really think we even helped some of them to victory!  Particular ones were little and big Noah's, Ben and Amir (in the same division), Roger, Jacob, Nathan..

It was a very successful day for our school.