WP!

Wow, ok, last Saturday I had my first WP Karate competition! I only fought, since I don't know enough senior Katas. It was extremely exciting, and I was hardly nervous!!! I really enjoyed it, and it was really only for the experience that I went. My amazing friend, Ashton, coached me in and out of class for 2 weeks before the competition, I am so grateful for such a fantastic friend!

It was an early start to be at CPUT by 8 for 8:30

After waiting outside for a long time, we finally filed in dojo by dojo. Ashton, Laurens (a boy who trains with us) and I stuck together until Laurens and I had to go on. Ashton is too old to compete since it was a children's comp, so she was there to support us.

Eventually my division was called, and as I walked across the floor my stomach turned! I was all of a sudden nervous, but I squelched my fear and kept going. Luckily there were the kata competitors first, so my nerves had a chance to calm themselves. I got chatting to some of the girls, and found that my brother knows one of their sisters :)

I found out that two of the girls in my weight division had been to SAs and one to WC! And this was my first WP only!

The girl I was up against beat me 7-3, but I was fine with that. I was hoping for another fight, and not so happy that they had not scored us fairly, but I was out. I still got a bronze medal, since there were only four of us, but it was worth it, and so much fun!

I am so happy!

~Keren

Today

Today was a really cool day! Before I can say what I did i have to explain. Sensei Dirk told us on Monday at Karate that it was our last chance to register for the fighting competition, so of course I entered. Then the other day my Dad called somebody to check it we (Josh and I) are actually entered, we were told yes of course! Then later that day we get a sms to be told that I wasn't actually entered! So then I decided to go with to the competition and Dad was going to see if he could get me entered, he did it of course. So then they said line up, and I wasn't even in a gi!!! So I ran into the bathroom, ripped of my clothes, got dressed and ran out again, leaving my stuff in the bathroom! So as usual I waited the whole day to go on and ended up only fighting Ashton and losing, anyway I learned new things and will be better next time! I don't regret losing for some reason, I'm fine with it. So that was my morning.

Then this afternoon Zak and I went to the Chaeli Cottage, him to me an ambassador, and me to be a mentor! I'm very excited o be a mentor this year, we will each be assigned a few ambassadors who we have to mentor, it's going to be loads of fun!

Tonight I'm going to watch Fame at BHS with my mom, I'm so excited, we have front row seats! We are going because my friend Nicole has a part in it, I can't wait!

~Keren

First day of High School (sort of)

Today was my fist day of 'high school'. We spent the day organizing everything, and deciding all the subjects I would do this year.

This afternoon I went to the van der Lindes so Zak could do horse riding. We had a great time swinging on the new swing they put up over the river :).

It was also my first day back at Karate, I was extremely tired :(!!!!

So that was my first day of high school!!!

Mock Grading

Today was my mock grading for Karate, the real thing is on Thursday.

I wasn't as nervous as usual, I felt peaceful, which is a good thing! I punched this one person in the face, that's the second time!!!

I hope the real deal is such a breeze!

-Keren

Karate Kid premiere

At Karate we have been talking about going to do demonstration outside Blue Route Ster Kinekor for the release of the new Karate Kid movie. So, on Friday we got an sms from our Sensei asking us to come to train that evening to get together a dem for the next day. Josh and I were very excited to do this, so at the drop of a hat we went to go train. Not many people showed up for training, but we put together a dem in one and a half hours!

First of all, two of the Orange belts did a Kata, an imaginary fight.

Then, to show the different levels of pre-practiced fighting, Josh and Logan did their level, and at the same time Ashton and I did our level.

Then two of the younger kids did a high level Kata, called Jion.

Next, Megan and Alex did some free fighting.

Some of the more senior students then attacked our Sensei, and he took them each down differently.

We rounded it off with a plank breaking demonstration. It was so awesome, here is the link to see it on You Tube:

Jion Martial Arts, Plank Breaking Demonstration

www.youtube.com