Japanese Karate Testing

Grant is being tested for his Orange belt. Our Dojo will merge with the one in nearby Conifer to go through the forms and spar. After attending a tournament at the first of the month Grant knows he is ready. Testing will give him another chance to be in front of people.

Sensei Ingrid starts by warming the kids up with exercises moving across the floor, turning at the feet of watching parents. Sensei David takes notes during the testing, but the kids don’t seem to notice. After everyone has had their turn the kids regroup and bow showing respect for the Dojo, each other, and their teachers.

Japanese Karate Tournament

Grant began Japanese Karate classes early last year. Today is his first tournament in this form. In Texas he competed, but the Dojo held no more than 50 spectators. This competition is in a college gym at the School of Mines, with three rings, and long tables of judges. The bleachers are full of participants, family and friends.

Wado-Kai is the style of Japanese Karate Grant takes. I like the meaning of Wado-Kai: the way of peace, the way of the empty hands. The kids learn focus and control. They count, name forms and stances in Japanese.

Grant is the first one up to present his form, he moves around the ring in fluid lines. When it is his turn to spar he is matched against someone much shorter and I can see him hesitating. The kids finish quickly and adults begin to stretch and get ready. We didn’t realize how big the tournament would be. With stomachs rumbling loudly, and not enough snacks we call it a day.

We take a fat handout with rules and information on the judges’ signals for next time. Lets go eat and celebrate!

New Deer

A new group of adolescent deer showed up to feed. Then a mother and baby appeared. The baby held its tail high in contrast to the adult deer that held theirs hugged closely to their bodies.

By the time all arrived 7 deer, including two young bucks circle the backyard. I don’t understand the pecking order of the females, but it you are male you get to eat first. And if you are young the only one that will let you eat is your mom.

Later in the day I saw the mom and baby again. The baby followed her mom past the back of the house. The mom stepped forward lifting one foot at a time slowly as if pulling it out of quick sand. Then the leg hung in midair waiting for several seconds before it’s set down again. The baby was a mirror image.

The two walked slowly past the study windows rotating their ears side-to-side checking for unusual noises. Before they start down the hill to the meadow they gave us one glance over their shoulders.