I'm finding myself in a predicament that I do not enjoy. As I am no longer a member of the ITA, I can not compete in their tournaments any more. I competed for well over 10 years in traditional Taekwondo, so this is not something that is very easy for me to give up.... especially as my body is in the stage that is usually considered as prime. So what is left to me? Sport Martial Arts.... Here is the delima. I HATE SPORT MARTIAL ARTS!!!! I hate it with a passion. (I wish I could justly express in words my utter distaste for SMA, but you have better things to do than read a small novella about the deficiency of SMA) I find about as much honor in SMA as I do in professional wrestling. I feel as though the SMA world has lost focus of the art form in which the martial arts where created. There is no consideration for technique in sparring, nor is there any cosideration for what is practical in katas/forms. But I find that if I want to compete, I must do so in such an enviornment. I am going to call a guy about a tournament next weekend in Dalton, GA. I am in no shape to fight at any true competitive level right now, but I think that I may go ahead and do it this time. I guess we'll see how it works out.

-Jeff