Judges! The shout ends each kata performance and has been heard frequently this year in the dojo — and in the garage, at the park, outside Starbucks, etc. — as all the Shannon men competed this season. Jacob and I typically face only one or two competitors in the Under 6 and Over 35 Divisions, but Owen has been taking trophies frequently while facing as many as a dozen competitors. I’m still working on my warrior face, but Jacob and Owen nonchalantly make the Jekyll and Hyde transformation from mostly innocent boys to near rabid mini ninjas. Our sparring stories are similar, but each of us has matured greatly this year regardless of the abundance or dearth of competition.
Owen and I will be thankful for the lessons learned as we enter black belt school together this fall. A half dozen Saturdays and other days of training over four or five months will culminate in a 4-hour test for Owen and an overnight 20-hour test for me. The training regimen and testing process are secrets, but sure to include numerous miles of running and an untold number of sparring matches from point fighting to Muay Thai to sport Jiu-Jitsu. Bruised muscles and tired minds will also need to master over a dozen traditional forms and board breaking before we can don the black gis of honors black belts. It’s sure to be a father-son adventure not soon forgotten.
Owen and I will be thankful for the lessons learned as we enter black belt school together this fall. A half dozen Saturdays and other days of training over four or five months will culminate in a 4-hour test for Owen and an overnight 20-hour test for me. The training regimen and testing process are secrets, but sure to include numerous miles of running and an untold number of sparring matches from point fighting to Muay Thai to sport Jiu-Jitsu. Bruised muscles and tired minds will also need to master over a dozen traditional forms and board breaking before we can don the black gis of honors black belts. It’s sure to be a father-son adventure not soon forgotten.
Yes! I recall those spontaneous transformations on the mats with those facial expressions. I think theatrical possibilities could lie in the future for the boys. I see it now...Peter Pan meets Black Belt Shannon's in Never Land. Naturally yogurt will be served with toppings instead of candy.
ReplyDeleteChristopher-your Black Belt training is a bit intense. I thought your job supplied all those experiences?? Sounds like you need a weekly massage and lots of Starbucks! Joy and Giggles, Mom