My Lil' Karate Champion

Sunday was a big day for my lil' warrior Princess & I! It was the Long Beach International Martial Arts Festival & Competition, and my daughters first time going to a big tournament. She was ecstatic, all week leading up to it. By the time we got in the convention center, she was so wound up and excited that she started asking me to spar with her till her fight started! Luckily, some of her friends from Karate class were already there sparring, when we got there, so I didn't have to get beat up by my daughter in public. She's come a long way, from running around the ring to get away from her opponent, in her first sparing match, to competing in a Point sparring tournament, & getting 3rd place, and it looks like this is just the start! After winning a Bronze medal, she is anticipating the next tournament and looking forward to it tremendously! Martial arts has done great things for my daughter, now it has helped make her an international karate champion! Needless to say Karate has made me the proudest daddy on the planet, and I'm thinking of starting to take classes myself. Although, I'm thinking twice about it, now, after hearing my daughter laugh at the 20-something year old that only had a white belt at the tournament. lol. My girl also competed in a competition were she displayed her Kata (choreographed patterns of movements practiced and presented in tournaments)

 No medal for her Kata, but she was all about the Point sparring anyhow.

Just before the fights...

And after the fights...

After the tournament, I got home and passed out. Being a Karate dad is hard work! After my nap, it was back to work getting ready for tonight's art show.