Uni Games '08

*Let the games begin!

Well, 29 September 2008 was a big day in Melbourne as it was this year's host city for the annual Australian Uni Games (AUGs). This year Melbourne based universities are hosting 28 events with over 7000 competitors from all Australia. I should probably point out that unlike the US, Australian Universities do not have collegiate sports teams. In other words there is nothing like the SEC here for footy. This adds to the significance of the AUGs games as it is the only chance for Uni's get to determine bragging rights for the upcoming year.

Here is a bit more info for those so inclined: www.unigames.com.au

As you may or may not know I have recently taken up Taekwondo (see previous posting) and decided to compete in this year's games. To compete I had to first attain a yellow belt and then commit to Sunday sparring sessions. Needless to say there was a lot more to it than I had anticipated!

Before going further I should probably state the basics for a Taekwondo competition. The overall objective is to win as a team. To do this teams amass points as individual members win fights. The most points results in the winner. This seems fair enough except there is no limit to the size of a team giving larger squads the advantage.

*This year our club sent a relatively small team of 14 competitors.

The individual competition is a point system as well, with 1 point for a body shot and 2 points for a head shot. Body shots can be kicks or punches and head shots can only be kicks. Fights last for two, 90 second rounds with a 30 second break in between. That is pretty much all there is to it.

*Pre-match excitement.

I ended up competing in the middle weight division (76-84 kg or 176-188 lbs) which is just below heavyweights. Believe it or not I am relativly large for the sport!

*Are you ready for this?

After waiting around half the day it was finally my time to fight. Needless to say I certainly had a different feeling in my gut than I remember having before a tennis match!

*Gettin ready to go with my coach, Jae Yueng!

*Channeling my inner Jean-Claude Van Damme!

*MOOOORTTTTALLLL COOOOMMBBBAATTT!

After a flurry of kicks the match was over and my opponents range seemed to get the better of me. I lost 4-2. I will say that I just missed landing a head kick in the final seconds but I guess it just wasn't meant to be. Even in loss I still had a great experience.

*I may be getting too old for this!

Oh yeah, believe it or not that gave me a medal anyway!

*My opponent...bit of a height advantage.

In the end our team ended up finishing second with 4 members winning gold. There were certainly some great matches as one of our guys beat a 110 kg competitor! As for me, I believe next time I will try and channel Chuck Norris!!!

Settling Back In...

*1st Annual Inman Park Hot & Humid 5K, September 2008

Well, I got back from the States last week and think I'm finally starting to sleep regularly again. It was a wonderful vacation and it was really good getting to visit with everybody...especially Snoop. For all that are curious, we're still trying to get him shipped over here, but his bloodwork has not been good enough for the Australian quarantine services. Alas.

It's a big week coming up here down under. I've got a new job starting on Tuesday. I'll be working for the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) in their policy department. I'm super excited. I'm not sure how long the job will be mine, as I'm replacing someone who has gone on leave for six (6) months and may/may not be coming back. I'm really enjoying the short-term work arrangements though-- it gives me an opportunity to try different things out.

John is going to weigh-in today for Uni-Games '08. This will be John's first Tae-Kwon-Do comptetition and as Leif says, "he'll be using himself as a human weapon". I'll be covering the event, so look later this week for commentary and photos.

Also in the news.... On October 2nd, I turn 30. John and I will be celebrating this milestone(?) next weekend with a getaway to the Great Ocean Road. Who knows where the road will take us, so stay tuned!

At the end of the month, John will be taking his Confirmation of Canidature examanination. This is the first step towards the doctorate...if you don't count being accepted, getting the scholarship and moving.

It is officially not winter anymore.