5 Tournaments in 42 Days

Pretty sure I have already mentioned it, but karate runs my life. Karate says go, and go I do. Which means I have gone to 5 tournaments in the last 42 days.

I have competed in New Hampshire, Georgia, Oklahoma, Florida and Nevada. I changed 3 different time zones in less than a week.

I had one of my best wins ever with my team partner. We finally broke the top 4, and took a 3rd place in team sync. We even pulled a 9.98, one judge separated us from 2nd and 3rd. Previously we hadn't done higher than 5th place. It was a great win.

I also got a bronze at the USANKF Nationals and Team Trials, which was super cool! At that tournament I also didn't even make it past the first round in my other division.

At other tournaments I took 2nd's and 3rd's in divisions I normally take 1st in. It has been...well...frustrating I suppose is the best word to use. Or the best one to use that little ears can hear, lol.

One of my coaches recently talked about eating dirt in relation to competition and how eventually we all have to eat dirt. We all have to put in the time. And whether you eat dirt to start and spend a lot of time trying to get that coveted win or come in strong and then find yourself struggling later in the game, at some point, you will eat dirt.

And if the last 5 tournaments are any indication...I am becoming a dirt eater. It's like the better I get, the more I realize how much better I am going to have to be. No one likes eating dirt, it sucks to be honest. I hate losing. I know everyone hates losing, but I really hate it. I probably don't hate it more than the average person, but it sure feels like it sometimes. And I definitely think he was correct when he said that it's harder to eat dirt after being successful, then to eat it at the start of it. Another thing about eating dirt, you have no idea how big or small your pile of dirt is, you just have to grab a spoon and start eating. And hopefully it is not a mountain.

I am currently sitting at an airport getting ready to head home, I have two more weeks before I am going to be heading to Washington for the next tournament. In between now and then I know I will be doing a LOT of training, and holding my spoon in the ready position.

#juststrongambassador #hulkifer #juststrong #trainhard #usankf #karatelife #persistence #karate #eatdirt