On September 8th 2013, I attended the PMAA tournament in Altoona PA. It was a small tournament that is outgrowing it’s venue. It was very crowded and competitors were jambed together and were getting tired of waiting their divisions.
I had been judging all day and we were all getting tired and frustrated. A Brown Belt (I think his name was Otis) stepped up and was struggling to remember what to say. He started to do a sword kata and would do 4 or 5 moves and stop and wrinkle his brow, put his head down and shake his head and struggled to remember the next move. I was thinking why was he here he doesn’t know his kata. Everyone of us on the judging panel gave him a low score.
Then Otis got up and did empty hand kata and again the same thing, he was struggling to remember more than a couple moves. He seemed physically and technically pretty good but after about 4 or 5 moves he would have to stop and think and then struggle with his memory and then do 4 or 5 more moves. Suddenly I remember my brother who was handicapped and often would struggle with moves or remembering what to do next. I realized he had some sort of problem with memory but was trying with every ounce or his being to do his kata. He was out performed again but apparently the other judges had realized the same thing I had and softened their scores. He still lost but the scores were a lot closer than in the previous division.
Then came 3 point fighting. Again Otis steps up and fights a brown belt by the name of Charlie, who had a team uniform on and was obviously anxious to fight. He was bouncing around and was a fast and very good brown belt. Otis moved around and seemed to have a couple pretty good combos and could throw some nice kicks and punches. As the fight went on he gained a 2 to 0 lead on Otis. It was at this point it seemed that the Charlie seemed to realize that Otis was special needs. He seemed to ease up a little and and leave openings in his guard. There wasn’t much time left when Otis managed to score a point. Time ran out with Otis losing 2-1.
We announced the winners and then they came up to the judges to thank and shake our hands and I told Otis awesome job, that was a close fight. He smiled and shook my hand and said thanks.
That was not the greatest fight I ever saw.
Next Charlie walked over and asked Otis if he was doing one point fighting. Otis said no. Charlie said could you please do one point? I would like to do one point and I don’t have an opponent. Otis reluctantly agreed.
The fight started and Otis went on the attack throwing kicks and punches and backfists in combinations that were pretty good. He kept his hands up and Charlie threw punches and kicks that landed only on Otis’s arms or were easily fended off by Otis. Otis mounted another attack an he threw a kick that lowered Charlies hands and Charlie mysteriously left his hands a little too low and Otis scored easily with a backfist to the side of Charlies head. The head judge called for score. All 3 judges threw their hands up in agreement. The head judge announced winner. I don’t think Otis believed it because he looked a little stunned. Charlie was the happiest loser that I ever saw. He was smiling, realizing what he had just done.
We lined up the 2 competitors to announce the winners. First we announced second place Charlie and then the Center judge announced and First Place Otis! It suddenly sunk in. Otis got a big smile on his face and started to pump both of his arm in celebration saying YEAH! Everyone on the side of the ring clapped and cheered. Otis was finally a champion! I told him great job, you are one awesome fighter Otis. I wanted to tell Charlie that that was one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever seen but I couldn’t talk.
That was a great moment for Otis and the greatest fight I’ve ever seen. Otis was a Champion!!
