Tournament Stuff . . .

I was talking to my dad on the phone earlier today about the upcoming Panama City, FL tournament coming up this weekend.

Since I'm on the tournament staff, I try to attend all of the tournaments in our region throughout the year. This one, in particular, is especially nice to attend because of it's location - white sand beaches of the Gulf Coast - and because of all of the fun things to do while there - go carts, bungee, shop, eat, and of course, the beaches. Sometimes, Braden and Jamie can't go with me to all the tournaments, but they'll be able to go to this one, which allows for a mini-vacation, something all you self-employed readers. . . well, anyone for that matter, look forward to.

We talked about us riding with my mom down to Panama City. He's even letting us borrow his Escalade - the one with the TV's in the headrests, pre-loaded with cool video games (much to Braden's delight). It'll make his trip - who am I kidding - my trip a whole lot more enjoyable. I've got it all worked out . . . there are two TV's. . . one for Braden, one for me, Jamie can drive and my mom can work the navigation.

What's also cool about this tournament is that it's on Labor Day weekend, which extends the mini-vacation a much-needed extra day. My dad's even getting us an extra night's stay and may be able to go, too. As much as we love it here in Statesboro/Portal, we're really looking forward to a fun and relaxing weekend.

Now for those of you who may be a new student or just haven't been able to attend a tournament yet, let me tell you a little bit more about what these tournament things are all about.

First of all, if you're not in the American Taekwondo Association (ATA) then this stuff doesn't necessarily apply. What I mean is the ATA is large enough to have it's own tournament circuit, meaning all of the competitors and judges are members of the ATA, using ATA rules, policies, procedures and techniques. This allows for greater safety, structure, and competitiveness. Other tournaments and tournament circuits may allow different martial arts, have different rules, and may not offer the structure and uniformity that ATA tournaments provide. Having said that, here's an overview of ATA tournaments:

The ATA Tournament circuit starts in June each year with the ATA World Championships in Little Rock, Arkansas, the International Headquarters of the ATA. There are two National tournaments each year, Spring Nationals in Las Vegas and Fall Nationals in Orlando. There are five or six regional tournaments each year. Our region, Region 108, makes up Georgia, Alabama and Northern Florida. Attendance at these regional events ranges from about 500 to over 1000 competitors. Competitors range in age from about 3 to about 73 - and up. Competition is open to all rank levels: beginners to black belts to instructors. Competitors compete for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place trophies. All competitors 16 and under that do not place will receive a competitors trophy.

Currently, there are five areas of competition: Traditional forms, Traditional Weapons, Xtreme forms, Xtreme weapons, and Sparring. Students register for these tournaments with their instructor and then work with their instructors to prepare for competition. Competition usually takes place on Saturdays, with special seminars and training events on Fridays and/or Sundays. Most families drive to the tournament the day before and spend either one or two nights in the host city, making the most of their mini-vacation.

Competition is divided by age and rank, with specific staging times assigned to these groups. (staging is the process of gathering a rank and age group and then dividing the group into smaller groups for competition.) The maximum number of participants in a competition division is 16. Once the competitors are staged, they are then taken to an open ring for their competition. Xtreme forms and Xtreme weapons are done together, first thing in the morning, while traditional forms, weapons and sparring are done together, but after all Xtreme competition is done. This gives the Xtreme competitors time to change into their traditional uniforms for traditional competition.

ATA tournaments are held in large convention halls, gymnasiums, or resorts that can comfortably accommodate the competitors, judges, special guests, dignitaries and their families. The day starts around 7:30 am with the Black Belt Judges Meeting. Tiny Tiger (the youngest group) and Xtreme competition start around 9am. An opening ceremony follows around 10am. After the opening cermony, competition resumes, starting with the youngest and lowest rank students. Competition usually wraps up around 4 or 5 in the afternoon.

The ATA's goal with tournament competition is for all participants to have a safe, enjoyable experience that they'll want to do again. Concessions, engravers, photographers, and merchandise vendors are available to help make the experience even more memorable. Of course taking in the sights and attractions of the area, making new friends, and enjoying time spent with family is what a lot of students remember most about going to tournaments.

So, what about you? Interested in learning more about tournaments? How about competing in a tournament? If so, please contact us and we'll get you signed up, set up a plan for your training, and fill you in on all of the other details that'll help you and your family have a great tournament experience!

What a week!

Here's just 3 reasons why this week was awesome:

First of all, I'm an Olympics-nut, meaning I'll stay up hours on end glued to the tv to see which country, which athlete will win the next medal. Every night this week when I got home, I couldn't help but turn on the tv to watch - it's addictive. But when you see all the great athletes, the records broken, the medals won, the elation of victory, and the disappointment of defeat, you can't help but watch. Even the sports that you don't ordinarily watch, the low-profile events, seem to have new appeal just because they're now being done AT THE OLYMPICS. And how about the high-profile stuff like gymnastics, swimming & track? All the drama, intensity and competitiveness - it gives me goose bumps just thinking about it. It makes me proud to be an athlete, proud to be an American!

Also this week, I had lunch with my son and his kindergarten class on Tuesday. It was our first lunch together at school. He got the sandwich lunch. I got the plate lunch. It was good, but being there with him at school was great. He's been having a tough time when his mom or I drop him off in the mornings, but Thursday was a breakthrough day - no crying. I gave him a surprise later that day for being brave (a Ben 10 toy from Walmart). I know it took a lot of courage, and I couldn't have been more proud of him!

My third awesome event this week was my mom's birthday. Wednesday was her 70th birthday, but her party was on Saturday. The whole family got together in Savannah for a surprise party for her at a local restaurant. The food was great - the dessert even better. Everyone had a great time.

You know, as I think about my mom, I begin to realize how much she's influenced my life.

She was very athletic in high school and college, competing in swimming and track and field events. She loves to watch sports on tv and remains active today. She's a sixth degree black who's won numerous World Champion Gold Medals over the years! . . . SHE's the "Olympian" that I've watched on the medal stand. She's a true athlete. She makes me proud to be an athlete, proud to be her son (there goes the goosebumps).

Oh, and SHE was the one who took ME to kindergarten each morning and had lunch with ME at school. I know I cried a lot when she dropped me off at school, and I know she couldn't have been more proud of me on that day I didn't cry. I wonder if she bought me a toy for being brave?? She probably did.

I hope that when I celebrate 70 years that it's with my family - and that I've lived an active life - and that my son is as proud of me as I am of her- and that I've influenced my son like my mom has influenced me.

Finding the positive . . .

I went to my first tournament back in 1987. It was an ATA tournament. I was a green belt, about 14 years old. I was competing in forms and sparring. I don't remember much about my form, but I do remember the sparring match: a quick and decisive loss to the guy who eventually won 1st place that day. I didn't get hurt, well not physically, but remember being very nervous, anxious . . . and yes - I'll say it - scared.

My second tournament was also as a green belt. It went pretty much the same way: other guy won - still scared. Not a very successful way to get my tournament career going, right? Well if you consider success as winning a first place trophy, then no. But let me tell you about why it was a success.

Time to get philosophical on you. Here goes:

You and I know that when we move outside our comfort-zone by challenging ourselves with difficult tasks, or trying new things, or going forward even though we're afraid, we are growing as a person, learning about ourselves, and building the framework of future success! How do I know this? Books tell us, successful people tell us, (your mama probably told you, too) and I bet that if we go back and think about those "outside of my comfort-zone" experiences, we'd find that there was something positive that came out of it. I'll be the first to admit that it doesn't feel like it when it's happening. But, usually after time has passed and a new similar experience comes up, we remember that original experience (our feelings, our actions, and our results) and somehow we're able to get through this new experience a little easier: we've grown, we've learned, we've built up something inside us that helps us to keep going. Sometimes the positive that we get from an uncomfortable experience is blatant and very useful. At other times, just knowing that it "didn't kill ya" is good enough . . . and just as useful!

So what about my great tournament start? Well, after those first two tournaments I didn't compete again for a few years. Why? Maybe I was scared or had just gotten turned off to tournaments? Or maybe that "positive" just hadn't been realized yet, or was growing inside, or just wasn't manifesting itself yet? When I did start competing again in tournaments, it was as a Black Belt, at the ATA World Championships. How did I do at this glorious return to competition? Zero in forms - Zero in sparring. Nothing it seems had changed - but wait (insert proverbial lightswitch) - something had changed. Don't know what it was, but this time, I kept competing, I wanted to compete, I looked forward to competition. After several tournaments, I started doing better. I started winning forms trophies and not getting beat in the first round of sparring. After several years of tournaments I started winning first place forms trophies and started winning more and more sparring matches (even placing first at times). And, what do you know, in 2005 I won a forms championship and was the 2008 runner up for the forms championship! How about that. A lot learned since that green belt in 1987.

Now as a 5th degree, I've been attending tournaments for many years. I've competed in weapons and done well. I've trained 3 World Champions. I'm a member of our region's tournament staff, a group of officials who work to make the tournament run smoothly by enforcing rules and fixing problems. I still compete, too. And I still get a little nervous before each competition. But, having come this far, I know that with each "failure" comes some future success and with each success comes more success.

So, for my students and the people that know me and read this, I challenge you to find the success in any failure. I challenge you to move outside your comfort-zone and try something new, something different, something you've been avoiding. When you do, you may have instant success, instant achievement - so keep on going, find more success!

Or when you do, you may NOT have instant success, you might flop or flounder, or do OK. If that's the case, look hard for that elusive - sometimes tiny - positive thing that will help you to build your future successes >> even if it's the relief and satisfaction of just knowing that it didn't kill ya!

How it all came about . . .

You know I'm not much of a "computer guy". Sure, I check my email, but that's about it - and I didn't even get an email address until 2004! Now don't get me wrong, I like technology and electronics,but I never got "into" the emailing, texting, blogging stuff that everyone around me seems to be doing and enjoying.

So, now my wife's talked me into blogging. She's been blogging for awhile. She enjoys it and people enjoy reading her blogs. She's been after me for months about starting a blog, but I've just been hesitating, waiting, unsure about the whole thing. I'm not sure how it's going to go for me. This stuff comes so easily for her. She's good at it, really good. I would tell you to go check out her blog, but then you'd probably go read hers and not read mine. We're both martial artists, and in this family, she would be considered the Black Belt Blogger and I would be the nervous novice - the white belt blogger! But, like we tell our Taekwondo students to do, I'll go forward with confidence, I'll practice, I'll make mistakes but also make improvements, and hopefully I'll move my way through the ranks of this art called blogging.

With much advice and support from my wife, we've decided that my first blog should kind of give a preview of what's to come, give you an idea of what you can expect to find here. My hope is that this blog will be informative, educational and entertaining. It will be a place to learn stuff about me, Eddie Lott, that you may or may not know. I know you may not want to know stuff about me but my wife assures me that that's one of the intriguing things about blogs, that's why people read them. Anyway, this blog will be a place to see pictures and videos of students, instructors and their families at ATA events like testings, tournaments, seminars, late nights, etc. Each week I'll also talk about a martial arts idea, event, training method, teaching method, tradition or philosophy that I hope you'll find interesting and want to come back again and again to see what's next!

For today, I'll wrap up with some background information about me. If you're not interested, just skip this part and best wishes until next week.

Well, in the beginning there was my mom and dad. They had me on March 15, 1973 in Los Angeles, California. Didn't stay there long. I "grew up" in and around Willacoochee, Georgia - yes, Will-a-cooch-ee, a super-small, South Georgia town located on US Hwy 82 between Waycross and Tifton. We moved around a little during my kindergarten through second grade years but settled into the Atkinson County School System from third grade on. I started my martial arts training in May of 1986 with my two younger sisters. I was 13 and our first martial arts school was a rental property that my dad owned next door to us. To go to class, we just walked across the yard, climbed a fence and we were there. If it were only that easy nowadays? My parents, like most, encouraged/supported/modeled/enforced/rewarded our learning in school. They wanted us to succeed in school. Maybe they thought learning stuff in school helped you do better in life? . . . You think?

Oh well, on to high school. I was lucky. I was able to do and be successful at many things. I played sports (football & track), competed in Literary events (spelling and keyboarding - 2nd in state even!), and was class president for 3 straight years. But I take the greatest pride in the fact that I graduated Valedictorian of my 1991 senior class (even had lunch with Governor Zell Miller). What I don't tell most people, though, is that there were only 76 other people to beat out. Is that good or bad? Anyway, by graduation I was a first degree black belt. I had even taken a break from training during my junior and senior year of high school.

I moved to Statesboro to attend GSU that Fall. During my first 2 years at Southern I didn't really know what I wanted to do "when I grow up". Of course I did a lot of core classes, but I also took psychology classes (because I liked them) and biology and chemistry classes (at one time I wanted to be a physical therapist) and business classes (I think I knew then that I was going to be my own boss - at least until I got married - but that's another blog). During this "unsure" time in college I continued my martial arts training, testing for higher rank and entering the instructor program. And then - somewhere right in the middle of my college career - it clicked . . . I wanted to teach Taekwondo "when I grow up". So, I chose a major - Psychology (mainly because my dad said I should "pick something that you could use no matter what you choose to do . . . you'll pretty much always have to deal with people) - and so it began.

I started teaching Taekwondo in January of 1993 at the Recreation Department here in Statesboro and for the next two years I went to college in the mornings and taught Taekwondo in the evenings. Classes grew and I moved into my first commercial building soon afterward. From there we expanded several times in the original shopping center and moved our location twice, landing where we are now on Northside Drive. During this same time my martial arts training continued. I was training, competing and learning. Also, during this time, college continued. I graduated from GSU in December of 1995 with a degree in Psychology (and a couple classes short of a minor in business). I did manage to graduate from GSU with honors, too - not first in my class - but with honors (there were a little more than 76 other people in this class to beat out.?!) But seriously, I valued education then, and I value it now. Maybe that's why I'm so excited about what I get to do - teach people martial arts-leadership-life skills.

I am truly blessed. Today, I'm a 5th degree black belt business owner/instructor. One of my goals is to test for my 6th degree next Summer. At 35, I'm truly in the best shape of my life. Jamie, my beautiful wife, and I were married in 2000. We have an incredible 4 year old son (who turns 5 on August 6th). We're blessed with a loving family, 3 unique dogs, an unbelievable house and pond on 5 quiet acres of land in Portal, Georgia, a super-small "just north of South Georgia" town about the size of Willacoochee, Georgia. Imagine that.