Competition Mom

After I earned my yellow belt, I was feeling pretty good about my progress.  My oldest daughter had already advanced to green, and we had begun entering her in tournaments. Typically at TKD tournaments, there are two events: Poomse and Sparring. Some kids do both, or one. We learned during her very first tournament that Poomse was NOT her thing.  She got out in front of the judges and completely clammed up.  Sparring seemed to ease her anxiety and she was able to focus much better.  She earned a bronze medal and was so proud of herself!  We were over the moon that there were no tears!  

Her first tournament was at our own Dojang, but that was just the tip of the iceberg.  When tournament season is in full swing, you can bet your bottom dollar that there will be a tournament every weekend.  Every.  Weekend.  Now, that's not to say you have to be at all of them, and many pick and choose which ones to participate in.  We learned quickly that TKD can get kinda expensive, what with hotels and registration fees.  

I don't recall if it was my daughter's second or third tournament when it was brought to my attention that *I* could participate too!  Sparring still frightened me, so I said I would like to try Poomse.  Master and the other instructors showed me the pattern and helped polish it up so it would look sharp.  In Poomse (especially for Black Belts), presentation is crucial.  If you look like you don't care, your scores will reflect that. You are judged from the moment you sit at the edge of the mat until the end of your Poomse.  

Being that it was my first time out, and I was a yellow belt, oh and that I'm a 30 something mom, I think the judges took it easy on me.  There is a protocol to be followed when you enter off and on the mat (I knew enough to bow!), but the judges speak Korean to you, so you have to be mentally prepared for that.  But they were helpful and kind (which can be unusual), and I ended up with a gold medal!  We were on a winning streak as my oldest won her first gold medal against some tough competition.  Before I knew it, a fire had been lit and I wanted more gold.

My big girl won her first gold!

 

Back when I studied music in College/University, I majored in Voice, so that meant a lot of solo singing.  I tend to be shy, and I *really* hate being put on the spot, so when it was time for me to sing, in whatever setting, I would get terribly nervous.  I was always praised for my singing talent as it came naturally, and I felt especially judged when I did it.  My stomach would churn and the butterflies were doing laps.  Like anything, once it was all over I began to feel much better.  Poomse isn't too far off from solo singing.  It's you and what feels like a zillion pair of eyes staring down at you.  Not to mention 3 very intent judges who I swear don't blink ever.  You're being judged on your ability to perform the program/piece, if you will.  Difference with Poomse is that you are given your score immediately, and after your place has been declared, you're ushered off to get your medal at the award booth.  I thought maybe it was like the Olympics where they give you your medal right then and there!  

My second tournament was a biggie.. the Jimmy Kim Invitational in Long Beach, CA.  This tournament has around 1000 kids competing... in ONE day.  Every tournament is the same, Opening Ceremonies (if it's a big enough tournament), Poomse, and then Sparring.  Black belts are always last, and those poor kids sometimes don't get to spar until quite late at night and often past midnight.  But for me with my lowly yellow belt, I was almost literally the first competitor.  The nice thing about TKD tournaments, is they have several mats to help capitalize on the space of the venue, and to help move things along.  Otherwise it would be disaster.


Everything went well for me which was quite unusual.  I had half expected to be crouched down in a corner somewhere waiting for my stomach to quiet down.  I had a few butterflies, but they certainly weren't doing laps and somersaults.  I think because this was something so different for me, I wasn't afraid of not doing well... you aren't born knowing how to do Poomse, it's something learned, and that gave me comfort going in to this competition. Once again I came away with a gold medal, and I felt there was nothing stopping me.  I couldn't wait to get my orange belt and start working on a new Poomse.

Gold for momma!

Warrior Princess