reat success throughout the test. I had passed all the individual segments, until sparring started. I fought well the entire time. I made it to the final bout. The situation was I either get first place or third place. either way I receive a black belt. Basically I couldnt lose. Standing in my fighting stance. I gazed deeply into my opponents eyes. Fight!, yelled out the judge. Before I knew it an axe kick was headed straight for my face. In an attempt to block it, my arm was going up as the heel of my opponents foot connected with my nose following through and kicking my arm as well. I thought I had only blinked, but when my watery eyes cleared up I was on my back looking up at people checking to see if Im all right. In the states that move is illegal, but it was Tiajuana so everything was good for my opponent. Neither myself nor anybody else was aware that my nose had broken with that kick, because no blood was shed, therefore I had to go on. I would have won by disqualification if only the judges or I knew my nose was broken. Once again I was in my fighting stance, but this time suffering from blurry vision. All I heard was Fight! again, of course the kid was charging at me again. This time I caught a nice side kick to his stomach, the judge did not call off the point so I kept moving. I then came around with a spinning heel kick and just barely missed his face as he leaned back. Still spinning with momentum of that last kick I continued to spin, but ducked down and spun on my knee attempting to pull off a blind heel sweep. My heel then caught the kid in the knee instead of his ankle breaking his leg right before my eyes. I kneeled in respect as judges came down to aid his broken leg. I kneeled awaiting a decision. Then an announcement was made, Due to disqualification, you have received the third place trophy, yet failure to receive the first degree black. Still kneeling I put my face in the mat. Not only was I shattered from disbel...
