My First Tae Kwon Do Tournament

By Carolyn Townsend

( I am now a red belt. The story is when I was a blue belt)

When I first knew that I was going to a Tae Kwon Do tournament I was so excited and nervous. When the day came I was so ready I hardly ate breakfast. I got my uniform washed really well, and then I got in my uniform, tied my belt and thought to myself :"What if I don't do well and I lose the tournament?! That would be really bad!" My mom kept telling me "Don't be nervous. We're just proud that you're trying. We'll still be happy if you don't win." But I really wanted to do my best. The Tournament was in Baltimore, Maryland. I drove there with my family. When I got to the tournament, it was a huge gym, full of people sitting on stands and there was a huge ring in the middle and that's where the boss of it was. I practiced really hard on my form and stretched. There were people who went to the tournament from Yong Studios, including Mr. Kim and Ms. P. I was happy when I saw them because they were my teachers.

Then I sat down and one by one kids went up and did their forms, and I saw people doing flips and other exciting things, and I was scared I would lose. Then my turn came! When I did my introduction I tried to say it loud and strong! I did my blue belt form as hard and strong as I could. Then my form was done and I saw my score. It was really good because something's going to happen to me in the story. Then it was time for us to line up and the people in the back were the ones who got fourth place. Then they lined up four people in the front. The last one was the one who got first place, which was a belt. Then second place got a big trophy. Then third place got smaller trophies, but not really small. And I'll tell you the exciting part: I got second place! I was so happy. It was such an amazing day. It was one of the best days of my life. And that was my very first tournament.

THE END