This was the 11th annual Karate Tournament here at Ramstein, Germany. If you place first, second or third you get to go on to the big tournament in Texas! Sadly Luke didn't do well. He participated in the 5/6 year old yellow belt group. There were 29 kids in his division and over 200 in the competition! The Karate Tech group from Italy even showed up! Luke was a young competitor and a new yellow belt. It didn't matter how proud I was of Luke the tears still came falling down.
Luke was deep in concentration.
Like many of the other competitors Luke practiced his form before the competition started, and believe it or not that kid was watching Luke for what to do!
This is the Karate Tech Ramstein group. Master Jorge teaches at 3 different bases here.
Here's Luke with a group of kids from his division as they all wait to do their forms for the judges panel.
Luke began his form and froze! I mean it, he forgot everything! He looked like a deer in headlights, and he knows this and can do it in his sleep! After the competition Master Jorge asked me what trophy Luke got in forms. When I told him he didn't place he gave me a very curious look. I told him how Luke froze. He couldn't believe it either.
Here's Luke after getting all his gear on. He thought the mouthpiece was pretty cool.
This is the bow after the match. Luke did win his first match, but sadly lost his second. To make everything better after the loss we headed over to Popeyes for some chicken.
So it's Luke's first basketball season! We were really excited for him to play after having such a great soccer season. Luke loves being out on the court and running with his friends. Here he is walking away from the ball. I don't think he even knows where the ball is. He must have known I was taking a picture.
Action shot.
Where's the ball?
Another action shot.
Here's the team getting a little pep talk from coach Shannon. Luke is number 3, you can see how small he is. When the kids get the ball no one wants to pass, they all want to shoot of course! You hear all the parents and coaches yell pass to Luke he's open, or which ever kid is standing there not hiking his pants up to his chest. (We also have a kid who pulls his jersey over his head and plays looking through the mesh of the jersey, it's pretty funny.) Of course they don't pass they get as close to the basket as they can and shoot. When Luke gets the ball, which isn't often, the minute someone yells pass the ball...he does. I have to admit he makes some pretty good passes, but I'd still like to see him score too. After 4 games he has taken a total of 3 shots. And, hasn't made any of them, not totally his fault though the other kids tower over him. After his last game I asked him why he doesn't take any shots. His reply was, "Mommy, I don't want to be the guy who shoots the ball. I want to be the guy that passes the ball." I'm very proud of his selflessness, but I can't help but think he gets a little embarrassed when he misses. Whatever his motivation at least he's having fun!
