So I went to California last weekend to compete in the Cold Steel Challenge. It is a knife and sword competition held in Ventura, California. I actually did pretty good. This year it was only Larry, Roberto and I that went. I was a little reluctant about leaving, seeing as there was the huge hurricane lined up towards the Texas coast, aimed right at where my entire family lives. But Rita took a turn north, so it all worked out fine.

So the first day was knife. We got there and they announced that it would be a single elimination tournament since there were so many competitors, about 52 in all. Of course, I was the only girl there. We knew that we had to take care of business so we wouldn’t have flown 1,000 miles for nothing. I won my first fight that day and lost my second. The first guy I fought felt pretty sheepish and said he hadn’t heard the end of it from his buddies that “the girl” beat him.

The second day was the sword competition and there is some controversy to go along with it. My first fight, #28 was my opponent. Well, they called for him and no one came. Apparently, #28 had celebrated a little too much the night before and was puking in the bathroom. So the match went to me. The second fight I had was with Carl Atienza. And I won that match. Well, what I found out much later was that Carl Atienza is one of the caretakers of Atienza Kali. The guy charges $300/hr for private lessons, just to give you an idea of how big the guy is in this system. Well, I also found out later that Carl was saying that he let me win, and that Lynn Thompson, the president of Cold Steel not only condoned it, but also commended him for it, saying “it was the gentlemanly thing to do.” Mind you, in my third match which was in the top 8, the big Filipino guy from Bahala Na did not let up at all, and I came home with several bruises. Now, I would have so much rather have been typing in this blog that the great Carl Atienza of Atienza kali “schooled” me at the Cold Steel Challenge, that I learned so much from this instructor and caretaker of a system. Is it being a gentleman by withholding your knowledge just because I’m a girl and have much less experience?? On top of that, by letting me win and letting me advance to the next round, wouldn’t there be a large possibility that I could have gotten seriously injured? That doesn’t seem so gentlemanly to me. But what would I know? I’m a girl and I have little experience. 2 strikes in the martial arts world, and I’m waiting for the third. But out of 52 guys, I did make it to the top 8. So there.

Nonetheless, I did have a really great time in California. Berto and Larry are always fun. I also enjoyed hanging out with Larry’s instructor, Ron Balicki and his wife Diana Lee Inosanto, and just the whole crew in general. They are such great people and have so many interesting stories to tell. Plus, the Cali weather was such a relief from the extreme Texas heat. I just wish I had more time to sight see. I’m just always fighting and don’t have time or the means to get away from the tournament.

It was a learning experience all around. I just hope I can go to California some day and not come back with so many bruises.