Canadian Open

This past weekend at Le Palais Des Congres, was an elite and HUGE tournament with over 950 competitors.  Sid wasn't feeling well on Friday but rested and was insistent that she was good to go to compete Saturday morning.

Elite martial artists from all over Canada and the U.S. traveled here, we were lucky it was so close to home this year.

 Sid arrives and warms up by practicing her kata.  For the first time she was going to perform Kata one and three together.  She had to do something spectacular to even attempt to place in her division.

 There is the focus,  there is the intensity!

 Watching the other kids arrive and warm up we quickly discovered that this was not like any other tournament.  All kids were sharp and crisp in their katas.  They were all doing introductions and looked like experienced competitors.  There were so many 7-8 year olds and some with brown belts who were so good.  Sid found herself surrounded with kids who are as passionate about martial arts as she is.  The competition was going to be tough, most of these kids have tried out for the national team before. 

The division was so big they split the boys and girls for Kata.  Sid was competing against 11 other 7-8 year old girls.  She wanted this so badly, she was so focused!

Sid was called second to compete.  Here she does her intro.

 x block

 cup

 Shooting Star

 Block punch

 Awesome score but was it enough?

 An 8 year old doing Kung Fu took first and she was amazing and Sid won second!  Here is the link to her kata.  Her confidence and intensity is going to take her anywhere she wants to go!

Canadian Open Kata

Next up was fighting.  Another tough division.  There were 7 girls to fight and Sid lost her first fight 5 - 3 but it was a good back and forth fight until the last two points. 

Canadian Open Saprring

 If she wants to seriously compete in sparring at this level she will have to train hard because she is so tiny.  Despite the loss, she still enjoyed the opportunity and happily cheered her teamates and new friends on.

It was a super day.  Only 6 kids from the club attended and the medals and trophies were not as abundant as usual.  Sid now sees where she wants to go and is ready to take it to the next level.  We are so proud of her and so happy she is having such success in something she deeply enjoys.

5 of the 6 competitors.  Absent - Cayden