Greetings from Okinawa!
Finally have some spare time to sit and relax with a coffee in hand before another marathon training session tonight. Haven’t had much time to read or look at all the World Okinawan Karate Tournament social media madness posts until now. And what has been put up by competitors out there, boy was I not disappointed. Before I delve into my thoughts, for those close to me will understand how I feel towards such events. Entering Japan at this current moment is still more challenging than trying to persuade anti-vaxxers to get a covid jab. And so, by participating in this tournament meant a free visa into Japan, an opportunity I didn’t have to think twice about.
Ok, so here I am reading various posts from various people on how overtly proud they are of reaching the Top 20 in the world (out of a field of 21); or posing with such pride with their participation certificates with their sensei by their side; let’s not forget about a fellow Aussie who boasted about qualifying for the main rounds of the World Tournament…. So What!
Well, it is now time to toot my own horn. In doing so, I will refer to the acronym as T.M.O.H.
T.M.O.H. #1
In my division I had to overcome over 40 competitors, the most out of any category and age both in karate and kobudo, completed 6 rounds of competition (many categories were decided in 3!), and I placed 3rd overall. The top 10 were all Japanese, and there was me – some random gaijin from Straya.
T.M.O.H. #2
So who did I actually beat? The #1 and #2 ranked Okinawans who won the local competition to qualify for this world tournament. 2 competitors who routinely compete in such kiai fests, and can I add in that I also knocked out the runner up from the 1st World Tournament. Poor dude didn’t even get a place.
T.M.O.H. #3
Win or lose doesn’t matter as putting your kata performance in 5 judges’ hands, when in reality half of them don’t even understand the kata being done is somewhat ludicrous. I had fellow competitors and coaches approach me to state how they thought I should have won the whole thing…..which leads to the last Toot My Own Horn moment.
T.M.O.H. #4
My score in the semi-finals was actually higher than the other 2 semi-finalists, but due to it being a knock-out round, was simply a matter of chance on who you were paired with.
Anyway, that is more than enough tooting toot toot nonsense to last me a lifetime - apologies.
So where is this all leading too? Well as I was standing on the podium receiving my medal and certificate, I couldn’t help thinking but ask myself what is wrong with me?! Why am I not feeling any excitement, no feelings of joy, nor was that “f-yeah I did it” satisfaction present. My kobudo sensei came up to me afterwards to provide corrections from what he had seen from my kata earlier on.
Instead of a “Congratulations Champ!” I was only told fix this, this and this. That feeling of receiving correction from my sensei, well that is the gold medal feeling I was looking for. It just lit my eyes up like a kid waiting to open Christmas pressies. Any correction given is a true privilege. To top it off, the very next day, a brutal private peak Okinawa summer kobudo session was had- 4 hours non-stop. Training only concluded when he thought our kata was semi-acceptable. Forget about having lunch on time or making plans to meet up with mates at a certain time while training with our old school sensei. Training seems to come first, while the world’s outside dramas can always wait.
Like always, my trips to Okinawa have always been filled with unforgettable moments, and this time was no different. Who would have thought I’d be corrected on my zenkutsu dachi and mawashi uke after over 3 decades of performing such moves. That for me was absolutely gold - A smiley feeling I couldn’t wipe off my face.
To be able to let my hair down and have a long chat with my sensei in which seemed an eternity since our last meeting; being able to catch up on all the latest juicy karate goss; but simply just being in Okinawa soaking up that unexplainable joyful and tranquil feeling. No medal or prize will ever surpass such moments!