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It was a karate tournament like
any other – all around me shouts rang across the gymnasium and weapons were
flying through the air as students practiced their katas (patterns of moves) for
the upcoming competition. A group of martial arts students from my dojo (karate
school) were milling around at the base of the wooden bleachers filled with
spectators and piled high with gym bags. My enthusiasm for performing was
apparent as I anticipated showing off my talents as a black belt in front of the
judges. However, the old adage “Pride goes before a fall” was about to manifest
itself quite literally in my situation.
My sensei (teacher), Richard
Gilliland, asked to see the weapons kata I was going to perform. My gym bag was
stationed about three-quarters of the way up the stands and the stairs were
rather crowded, so I used the empty bleacher seats as steps to quickly make my
way to the top. Extracting the red and black fans from my bag, I turned to make
my way back down among my friends and peers. Because I was in such a hurry,
though, I failed to notice the strap of someone’s bag lying across one of the
seats where I was stepping. My foot got caught on that strap, and because I was
going too quickly to be able to stop and pull my foot free, I paid the
consequences by tumbling forward and proceeding down the steps in a very awkward
manner – on my face!
When I reached the floor I
untangled myself and with a very red face turned to my laughing friends. I
played the incident for what I could and jumped up with my arms spread over my
head like I meant to fall, and in the spirit of humility and graciousness that
is promoted through the competitive martial arts community I found myself
laughing along with the others. |
