Compromise

So yeah. I've lost count of the number of people asking me why I got banned from Judo, so I guess an explanation is in order.

Shortly after the gathering I told my parents that I had to go to Judo the next day. It was 12 in the morning, I was cranky and in severe need of sleep (apart from gaying Daniel up I had gone to the state gym and was aching in places where boys do not want to ache) and I wasn't very diplomatic. I yelled down the stairs: "Oi tomorrow I need to go Judo aa!"

Now you may not know my parents, so let me introduce you to them. My parents are as Malaysian as they come - they are Chinese, they are old enough to be cynical of Bolehland, and they are very, very exam oriented. I had warned them earlier that this coming sem exams wasn't going to be anything nice to look at, and, yes, dear son would study over the hols. They latched on to that - "How the hell are you going to study if you go Judo!? NO MORE!" and after 10 minutes of yelling up and down the stairs I slammed the door and made two calls and went to sleep.

That was the end of the conversation. Ultimatum. No turning back. Shuddap and study.

I had known for ages, though, that I'd have to stop Judo in the middle of the academic year ... the only question was when. This question was now answered, and the most I could get from them was one last day at training, to settle all the outstanding Judo stuff I had yet to do.

I told Sensei shortly after changing into my gi. We sat down by the windows, the rest of the state team warming up, and I explained to him what had happened the night before. He kept quiet as I talked, looking away from me in that thoughtful manner of his, and he turned back only to reply.

"It's a pity, really." he said, squinting in the sunlight, "You're doing quite well."

The rest of the training session I could feel his gaze like a solid thing, watching as I tried a new variation of Osotogari I had worked out in my head the week before; watching as I did moving uchikomi; watching as I did free throws. I guess I represented to him all that was screwed up with our education system - an athlete shows promise, then the exam oriented society steps in and smashes any chance that athlete has of doing well. But that's life, isn't it? You take the chips you get and you move on. Swallow and look ahead. Stand tall.

At the start of 2008 I told myself that I wanted 3 things. One of those things was to represent Sarawak in Judo.

I did, one month ago, for the Nationals.

And I suppose that's enough. I mean, I've done loads for one year - I've set up what Ravin started, that Thomian debate club; I've trained a new generation of debaters; I've redesigned and rebooted The Square; I've dealt with enough teacher politics to last anyone a lifetime. One outing for Sarawak in 2008 is wonderful stuff - God I thank you - and I'm not going to complain.

So maybe it is for the best. Maybe when I'm done and finished with 2008 I'll look back and say: "Yes, it was all worth it." It'll be something to look forward to, but it'll be for later. Now I've got to get myself together and start studying my ass off.

Till that day.