Its All Heart!
I was thinking about the tournament I had participated in a long time ago. It was the final round for 1st and 2nd place in my hometown of Mobile, AL. I was across from a guy that was as every bit as talented as myself. We had been competing since we were white belts and were and still are very dear friends. The round started pretty well and the crowd of some 1000 spectators and competitors were cheering us on, when there was the sudden THWACK! I don’t remember much after that. Everything was just a blur. The round was over, I could hardly breathe because of the blood and I watched as my sparring opponent reached for me, concern in his face. As I was escorted out of the building and to the hospital I saw my partner’s hand being raised and I admit I was a little disappointed at not finishing the match. I REALLY wanted to win against that dude! But, I didn’t. I did my best and I came up a little short. As I made my way to the door the guy ran to me with the first place trophy and handed it to me, raising my hand in victory and thunderous applause.
Later that evening as I went to pay for my drink, the bartender looked at me and nodded to the guy sitting on the far side of the bar, “He said the drink was on him.” I looked and it was the guy that had sent my to the doctors office. I laughed, nodded my thanks to Mr. Mike Wadkins and accepted the drink. As the evening went on and friends gathered to celebrate the end of another successful tournament, I cannot tell you how many people mentioned how much they enjoyed watching the tow us spar in the ring that morning. It became very clear to me that evening that I didn’t lose. I had won something far more than some silly trophy. I had won respect and dignity. I will always remember that tournament. I will remember it for the camaraderie of my friends that night. We were all there. The winners and the losers sharing a moment together where it didn’t matter what place we came in or of the trophies we had won. We had tested ourselves against each other and hadn’t given an inch. Yet afterward, all that remained was the respect we had earned from each other and from those that had watched. More than any other night I learned that competition isn’t about winning, it is about the competition itself.
The heart is what matters. For the adults out there that think competition isn’t for them or their child, or that are afraid to lose, understand that fear of competition makes you a loser. If you compete, no matter what the outcome, you win because you dare to tread where others dare not go! Respect is NEVER earned on the sidelines. It can only be earned IN the ring.
