Treehouse: Karate Champion Questions His Victory

So, a bunch of dads got us together for karate lessons. It’s a strange setup, but whatever. There’s this one guy in the group—he’s got a super pretty girlfriend, and honestly, none of us can figure out how he managed that.

He’s always zoning out in class, like he’s somewhere else entirely.

Anyway, during sparring, it was me and him, and I couldn’t help but feel this strange thrill. I mean, I was way more skilled than he was, and it felt good to show it. We started going at it, and long story short, I was kicking his ass. But it wasn’t just about the moves; it was the way he was reacting. The noises he was making were so over the top, it was almost comical. The other guys were chuckling, and I felt this mix of pride and confusion. Was I really that much better, or was he just putting on a show?

As I landed another kick, I noticed him looking at me with this weird glaze in his eyes. It was like he was there, but also somewhere else, lost in his own thoughts. For a moment, I felt a pang of guilt. Was I really enjoying this? I mean, I was dominating him, but seeing that look on his face made me question everything. The laughter of the guys around us faded into the background, and all I could hear was the sound of our bodies colliding, the thud of my foot against his side, the way he gasped for breath.

After the match, the guys all gathered around, drinking soda from those classic red cups. I walked over, feeling like I had something to prove, but they just waved me off like I was some annoying fly buzzing around. It stung, you know? I just dominated that guy, but now I felt like I was on the outside looking in. It made me question who really won that fight. Was it about the skills on the mat, or was it about how they perceived me?

Next week, I’m switching things up when we spar again. I can’t say exactly how, but I’m not going down without a fight. I’m going to show them that I’m not just some kid in a karate uniform; I’m someone who can hold my own. I’ll find a way to turn this around, to make sure they see me for who I really am. No more second-guessing myself. It’s time to step up.

-Defining victory on my own terms