1 Year

In the past couple of months I have started and abandoned 3 or 4 separate blog posts.

They either sounded stupid to me after I wrote it down, or they were super short and needed to be like a facebook post instead, or I was like "Does anybody even read my posts anyways?" But today is the 1 year anniversary of my 1st blog post, and that one I needed to write, it was a pretty cathartic for me, and I was just at the tournament that inspired it. The other ones I like, but they also sound forced to me. Writing is most definitely not my strong suit, the spoken word I've got down pretty well. When I write, I have a chance to re-read and go back and make edits, which means I tend to over think what I am trying to say, instead of just going with it. I am also a spur of the moment kind of person. My best stuff comes when it is not rehearsed or practiced, in fact it sometimes is when I am put on the spot and have to magic something that sounds awesome. Writing always feels like it needs to be more polished. Anyways, without further ado, keep reading for what's been going on in my karate life.

The Good - I won Gold at the USA Open. The Bad - I followed it up with a Bronze this past weekend (somebody needs to train more). The Ugly - my social life when I am doing two a days, lol.

I had a really big win a couple weeks ago, I finally won my division in kata at an NKF event. I have been trying to accomplish that for close to 3 years now. I then turned around and had what I might say was my biggest win ever, I won gold in my division at the USA Open. I don't even know if I have words for how big of a win it was for me. It was a great feeling.

And I got my training partner back! Anthony's knee still isn't back to where it was, but it's back to being able to train regularly. It's funny, I didn't realize just how much I missed having him as part of my workouts (I knew I missed him, lol,), but there is nothing like getting something back to drive home the lack of it. It also makes me train harder, because you know competitive and all.

And then frustratingly enough, I followed up my two big wins, with a Bronze. I suppose losing to the eventually winner in the first round softens it...but, no, not really. The saying goes, you either win or you learn. The weeks leading up to the USA Open, that's all I did was train. I ate a little and slept some, but I TRAINED. Then after the USA Open, I still trained, almost every day, but not like that. So there's the lesson, relentless pursuit. Which takes us to The Ugly.

Social life? What's that? Well I suppose that's a bit of a stretch, but not by much. I think it's been over a month since I saw one of my closest friends, she helped me move, so I don't know if that counts as social time? And I do get to see my best friend every day, but I live with him thankfully.

So here is to the difference a year makes. From not winning a round, to winning my first two gold medals, to moving, and working, and training and everything that a year brings.