Karate Tournament 2011

The girls are loving their karate class, and today was their first tournament. They have been working hard to get to this point, practicing their forms and sparring. Addison rarely lets someone get a point on her when they are practicing in class. And Reagan, despite being 2 years younger than the rest of the class, almost always wins her matches. Tommy has ALWAYS wrestled with them nightly, but lately they have stepped it up to some serious training. It paid off today!

This is the whole kinder-karate group.

Addison doing her forms for the judges. They do 10 each of their kicks, blocks and punches while counting in Japanese. She scored a little over 17 total points.
She did great.

Little Reagie chose to do her kata instead of forms, like EVERY other kid. I love that she isn't persuaded by what everyone else is doing. I don't even know exactly what kata is, but it is a routine of kicks and punches that she is learning. It is MUCH harder than forms, but she did a great job. She scored 15.4.

Here is Addison sparring. She scored 8 points and didn't let the other poor girl score a single point on her. The girl is a GOOD blocker!!!

Addison is coming out with a punch.

I got the score board as she was exciting the mats. Red 8 Blue 0.

Now we have Reagan in the red, sparring a 6 year old girl. She holds her own, despite the 2 year age difference. Reagan's Sensei calls her "Tiger Woman". She laughs at her in class every week and always says, "These tiny little scrappy ones always surprise me!". Reagan didn't disappoint today. She won her match 8 to 5.

Reagan scored her 8th point with a swift, hard kick.

At the end of the tournament Sensei geared Reagan up again. They had 2 four-year old girls matched up, but one began to cry and backed out of the tournament. They brought Reagan in to replace her. But, Sensei told Reagan before they sparred to take it easy on this 2nd opponent, that she was only 4. I will have to find out in class on Tuesday, how old Sensei thinks Reagan is. Reagan did take it easy on the girl and only beat her 7 to 5. She really was only 1/2 fighting, I am not sure she knew exactly how to take the "go easy" instruction. This next picture makes me laugh, even though it is all blurry!!! After they score a point, the kids go back to their starting positions to go again. Reagan literally JUMPS back to her spot each time....she is ready to go!

Here is Reagan watching the ref to see if she had scored.

It is all blurry, but here is a little group of kindies with their trophies!

My 2 little ninjas and their sidekick.

Proud Reagan, Proud Daddy!