Niece competes today

My niece has been practicing tae kwon do forms to compete in the National Tae Kwon Do Tournament in Texas. She is fascinating to watch--good hip rotation, high kicks, loud ki ups. She will perform two forms in the initial competition, and to move on, she needs to be in the top 50%, then in the top 8. Her instructor believes she will place in the top 8, but acknowledges that there are some very good competitors in her group. If she places well, she could be on track to be a member of the Olympic Team. I enjoy watching American Ninja Warrior filmed in Pennsylvania. I told my husband that I would like to be a ninja (laugh). I am not tall or strong enough. It is interesting to watch and hear each competitor's story. One woman competed for her young autistic daughter. Another athlete drank too much, but got his life back on track, married, and with his wife's encouragement, went on to win the course. He camped for ten days, washing in the river until he could try out. He practiced the devil steps by hanging from the supports of an underpass. A young woman tried the course for her father who had Alzheimer's and has since passed away. Though she did not complete the course, the announcer said that her father would be proud of her. No matter whether or not the men and women compete the course, they should be proud that they had the opportunity to compete.