Tournament & Swim Test

Dear Dad,

We had an exceptionally busy weekend, but I got out New Jersey for a day so I was happy. G3 had a tournament up in Andover, Massachusetts. To avoid traffic and to avoid getting in too late, we opted to pull him out of school early so that we could get on the road before rush hour. Yes, I know you wouldn’t approve of him missing school. But I assure you, he didn’t miss much, if anything. School is not as rigorous as it once was. 

Kati’s cousin invited us to stay with them. G3 was excited because he really likes having and visiting with a cousin—Sarah—who isn’t too much older than him. We got there in time for dinner and had “make your own pizza” night. Shrimp and pineapple apparently go really well together. I’m not sure if you would have agreed, but it wouldn’t have mattered, since you didn’t like cheese or tomato sauce. For you, pizza was never an option. While I really enjoy pineapple, I can’t eat too much of it. I don’t know if it’s the acid or a slight allergy, but it makes my tongue feel almost numb. Plus, anything I eat after pineapple tastes weird, as if all the flavors are flat, bland around the edges. And remember that time when we had pineapple—was it Thanksgiving or Christmas—and you pointed out that my tongue had turned black. Oh well, I guess I will have to make sure I eat it in moderation in the future.

On Saturday morning, G3 was really nervous. It was going to be a small tournament and the competition certainly wasn’t going to be as fierce as in other tournaments this year, but we did expect a few of G3’s main competitors to show up from New Jersey. We arrived early to watch his instructors compete. They both did exceptionally well, bringing home more than one medal each. Then one of his instructors asked him to keep score in a ring she was judging. G3 was happy to do something other than stand around and wait. While he kept score, Sarah showed up to watch and G3 was happy to have someone other than us there to cheer him on. 

ATA has dropped its mask mandate, which means most of the audience—and the gym was packed—was not wearing a mask. I don’t care what the CDC says, I do not feel comfortable being in such a large crowd with germs being spread so readily. But I had no choice but to be there. G3 would have been disappointed if I wasn’t, and I wouldn’t have wanted to miss him compete.

When G3’s age and belt were finally called, we were surprised that only one other boy from New Jersey had made the trip. His presence made G3 even more nervous, but the great thing about G3 is he doesn’t get rattled under pressure. Oftentimes, he performs best when the stakes are the highest. In all the tournaments G3 has participated in, he had never placed first (except in in-school tournaments). G3 changed that on Saturday, by placing first in forms. He really needed that victory, not just to boost his standings in the state, but because beating the other boy from New Jersey (who placed third, after losing a tie breaker for second) was a much needed psychological victory. He needed to believe that he could do it. Not only was his score from the judges the highest, but as the boys were getting ready for the weapons event, the center judge went over to G3 and told him that his stances were outstanding and that he had done a really good job. It’s one thing for a judge to give a good score, but to receive a compliment from the head judge is even more gratifying.

In weapons, G3 tied for second and then won the tie breaker, with two of the three judges pointing to him at the end of his second performance. Again, it was the psychological victory that was most important. Since switching from the oh-sung-do (one-handed sword) to the bahng-mahng-ees (double sticks), he had not placed in the weapons event at a tournament. He works hard. He stays late after most practices to practice his form, but he hadn’t seen the results he wanted. Perfecting a weapon’s form is not easy, and the bahng-mahng-ee is one of the more challenging ones. In four months, G3 has improved greatly. He almost makes the form look easy, and I am truly impressed with how well he performs it considering it is still relatively new. However, he still needs to tweak it some more and add a bit more power before he is truly competitive with it. Yet, placing second on Saturday showed him that he is making progress and that the work he has been putting into his form has not been for nothing. He just needs to keep at it, and by next tournament season, he should be much stronger.

One of G3’s instructors wanted him to compete in combat sparring. He hasn’t competed in that event since his first tournament—years ago—because in his former school they didn’t work on it enough for him to pretend to be competitive. But at this new school, they work the kids equally in combat sparring and sparring. And G3 has shown a great deal of improvement since he started training there. His instructor’s faith in him was not ill placed. Both Kati and I were surprised that he took second place. Again, the competition was not as fierce as in other tournaments, but as in forms and weapons, this was a good boost to his self-esteem.  Sparring, was the only event in which he didn’t place, but he is no longer getting shut-out in the first round. I suppose that is something. Baby steps. One point at a time, and maybe someday he’ll spar as well as he performs his forms. 

Needless to say, we were very proud of him. I know you would have been proud too.

G3 went home with Sarah, and they both seemed excited to spend some “cousin time” together. He even convinced her to stop at McDonalds to get him a McDouble. I blame you for his addiction to McDonalds. While eating his burger, one of his teeth fell out. When they got home, they told Sarah’s parents that they had a fender bender, but they were okay except for G3’s tooth which got knocked out. They had fun concocting the story. We were relieved that it wasn’t true.

I had really hoped to see my—your—cousins on Sunday, but the date for G3’s Boy Scout swim test was changed last minute. We were supposed to get tested tonight (Monday) but they changed it to Sunday instead. If G3 didn’t test, he wouldn’t be able to go on the May rafting trip, nor would he have been able to complete the requirements to advance to Second Class. I was disappointed that we had to leave early. Hopefully the next time we are up in Massachusetts, we’ll be able to see them.

The swim test—I took it, too—was super easy. We only had to swim four laps—three doing either the breast stroke or the crawl and one on our backs—and float for five seconds. I had no doubt that we would pass. Both G3 and I have spend so much time in the water that swimming is as easy as walking. But of course, the whole time I was there, I thought of you. I remembered how much you enjoyed telling the story about that one summer when you and my brother were the only two people from his troop at camp to pass the swim test. Even years after the fact, you were proud of that achievement. Most of the boys seemed to pass yesterday. I wonder: Was the test easier than it used to be or are suburban kids more likely to know how to swim than city kids? Regardless, when we left the pool, I wanted so badly to call you. I really wish I could share these Boy Scout moments with you. 

I miss you!

PS — I made Poppy’s french fries for dinner. The last time I made them, it was for you on one of G3’s birthdays. It’s amazing how little things make me think of you and then I feel sad because I’m reminded again that you aren’t here.