I won this trophy 9 years ago. I was recently reminded of it on Facebook. I still have it, tucked away on a shelf, covered in dust.
It is as meaningful and as meaningless as any other object of self-adulation.
I like the trophy design. It's unusual for a trophy. It shows a martial artist carving themselves out of raw material. How appropriate.
As a trophy, it means at a given place and time, I was able to demonstrate some level of technical skill to a group of similarly trained judges. It was for sparring as I recall. Ippon or one-point touch sparring, which is very different from fighting.
Nine years later, I no longer compete. With age has come illness and infirmity. Though I still train, I was reminded of my lack of physical ability several days ago when I could not complete three games of bowling. My legs simply refused to cooperate (not looking for medical or health advice, thanks; I'm under a doctor's care).
But what does this all mean? A trophy for a fairly meaningless competition which I could no longer do even that if called upon.
To me, it simply illustrates that there is a path, and I'm still on the path, and the design of the trophy is prescient. I am still carving myself out of raw material. But the me of 9 years ago could not see the road ahead, only what had been done. It's still true. I keep training. I don't know what the final design will be. Ultimately it matters less than that I keep to the path.
Princes & Kings
Isn't it strange how princes and kings,
and clowns that caper in sawdust rings,
and common people, like you and me,
are builders for eternity?
Each is given a list of rules;
a shapeless mass; a bag of tools.
And each must fashion, ere life is flown,
A stumbling block, or a stepping-Stone.
― R. Lee Sharpe
It is as meaningful and as meaningless as any other object of self-adulation.
I like the trophy design. It's unusual for a trophy. It shows a martial artist carving themselves out of raw material. How appropriate.
As a trophy, it means at a given place and time, I was able to demonstrate some level of technical skill to a group of similarly trained judges. It was for sparring as I recall. Ippon or one-point touch sparring, which is very different from fighting.
Nine years later, I no longer compete. With age has come illness and infirmity. Though I still train, I was reminded of my lack of physical ability several days ago when I could not complete three games of bowling. My legs simply refused to cooperate (not looking for medical or health advice, thanks; I'm under a doctor's care).
But what does this all mean? A trophy for a fairly meaningless competition which I could no longer do even that if called upon.
To me, it simply illustrates that there is a path, and I'm still on the path, and the design of the trophy is prescient. I am still carving myself out of raw material. But the me of 9 years ago could not see the road ahead, only what had been done. It's still true. I keep training. I don't know what the final design will be. Ultimately it matters less than that I keep to the path.
Princes & Kings
Isn't it strange how princes and kings,
and clowns that caper in sawdust rings,
and common people, like you and me,
are builders for eternity?
Each is given a list of rules;
a shapeless mass; a bag of tools.
And each must fashion, ere life is flown,
A stumbling block, or a stepping-Stone.
― R. Lee Sharpe
