Ahhh... the tournament

I love the tournament. Each year it gives me an immeasurable gift. Let me tell you about my tournament experience.
Each year after Christmas, my daughter and I start talking about the tournament. We consider what to enter and what forms to do. This year it was more involved as it required her to learn a new form so that we could do it together. We get right to work, practicing, revising and laughing a lot. You would think that that would be the big pay off right there but it is only part of it. The bond that we share as we prepare for the tournament only enhances the one that grows as we practice our Kung Fu together throughout the year. We talk about how it is going to feel at the tournament, what it is going to be like and what we expect to learn from it.
This year, I was not sure what to expect. Last year, my goal was to compete well in the sparring division and I was successful. This year, I had more confidence, I was better prepared and I did not place as well. I still was not sure what my goal was.
Sunday morning dawned bright and clear and I understood everything. It was an absolutely amazing journey and that was the lesson learned this year. I didn't really appreciate it until the day after and then it hit me like a ton of bricks. I am exactly in the right place that I want to be, practicing my Kung Fu everyday and evolving into the person that I want to be.
It wasn't until after the fact that I understood the lesson, so do yourselves a favor next year. Enter the tournament, plan what you want to do and sit back and enjoy the ride. Don't worry about being nervous or judged, just chose a goal and keep your sights set on it.