Today is my first tournament. I will be competing in the Jr. Black and Brown Forms Division. I have been practicing for months and now I am ready. The form I have prepared is the Water and Fire sections of the Wu-Dang 108 Tai Chi Long Form. I eat breakfast this morning with excitement and nervousness pumping through my veins. Other students from Two Dragons, where I am learning tae kwon do, are also competing and dad and I meet them in Prosser before heading to the tournament.
When we arrive at the middle school where the tournament is being held I sign in and get the number of my division written on my hand so that I, and everyone else, know when it is time to compete. K-16. That is my number.
After I sign in I go to a big gym area where other competitors are warming up. At this point I am trembling slightly and am hardly containing the nervousness I feel. I stretch and then proceed to run through my form. I get all the way through without getting lost. A good sign. I take deep breaths and then look around. Others are practicing as well and everyone is being kind and supportive. I am grateful that this is a small tournament and everyone is really nice to each other. We are all here for fun. My confidence has been restored and I proceed to the main room where, in a few minutes, I will compete.
The tournament begins and the black belt form divisions are first. They are followed by the beginning student forms. Finally, after what seems like an age, my division is called out. We first draw numbers to determine what order we will go in. Then we troop back out to the main floor.
As I watch my group perform one by one my anticipation mounts. I am no longer nervous, only excited. And then my name is called. I bow myself into the ring, introduce myself to the judges and then begin my form. The movements flow together the way they are supposed to. I make a few mistakes but when I sit down I know that I did well.
One of the other competitors is a girl a few years older than me named Shelby. As she walks into the ring I feel sure that she will win. She radiates a confidence that I have never before encountered. Her form is stunning and, as she sits down, I can't help but stare in wonder. I did really well but I have nothing on her.
After all of the competitors have performed I wait for the judges to decide the victors. To my complete shock I find that I have tied with Shelby for first place! We do our forms again. Finally, the judges make their decision. Shelby receives the first place trophy and I the second place. Right after all the award giving we congratulate each other. I am thrilled to pieces when she tells me how beautiful my form looked. I tell her how inspiring hers was. Both of us grinning, we leave to join our families.
Looking back I am not disappointed at all that I did not receive first place. In fact whenever I think of Shelby I think "Wow, that is what I can be in a few more years." The Benton City tournament was a great opportunity for learning and, boy, I did learn a lot! My second place trophy now sits in the Two Dragons school widow along with the trophies of other winners from our school.
