Warning: Rated “STPP” for Strange and Twisted Parental Pride (or Stone Temple P-Pilots…take your pick)
I admit it: I may have shed a tear today.
How can you not when you know the effort, dedication, and sweat someone has put into achieving their goals… Their Dream? How can you not when you watch your own flesh and blood, your 13 year old daughter (who is 43 kg soaking wet) kick another kid with brute force and malice, and raise her fist in victory over her vanquished foe.
Magic….*sniff*….pure magic.
This is the first World Championship that I have attended in its entirety and it has been extremely exciting to see the athletes up close, in action at their highest level.
While there are many non-contact disciplines represented at the event (and some UNBELIEVABLE athleticism and artistry) within the first 1/2 hour of the event, I had seen 1 man separate his shoulder and another woman lose by a Techincal Knockout as a result of an very well placed head-kick.
The sport’s detractors would respond to this in their Church Lady voice with “Oh m! That is just awful!” On the other hans, I say that this builds character! There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t wish that I could bring this kind of character-building exercise to the office. Unfortunately, there are laws prohibiting this so, instead, I’ll just have to let my daughter build character while everyone else just rots away to a deeply immoral state.
Today I watched my little girl dig down deep inside herself and deliver an outstanding performance in the ring. She was poised, confident, and when she actually injured her opponent, compassionate and genuinely concerned for her well-being…
And then she kicked her again.
*sniff*
[editor's note: Brittany fights on Tuesday November 2 for Gold Medal in the World Karate and Kickboxing Championship. To date, her best finish in the Worlds has been Bronze...this girl REALLY wants the Gold!!! ]
