Just got back from the Taikai! My team won 2 matchs, the first allowed us to be put into the leader side of the competition fighting for first and second place. We won our second match but lost the third but only just, the first two teams was beginners like us but the third team was a little higher level, not much, but enough to block us scoring. I won two of my matchs, first match, I scored Kote and then Men, second match, I scored Men and Men and the 3rd match I draw, none of who I was facing could score on me, but they did hit me a few times. The first match was the hardest, mostly like due to nerves, I was breathing a lot and running out of steam likely due to the Kiri and always attacking, while the second match wasn't as demanding as the first, the third match I just took it easy like the second. I did what I like the most and attacked first in all three matchs, using loud Kiai as loud as I can and kept attacking Kote and Men while blocking when needed. The third match was a lot harder because he kept getting really close to me which wouldn't allow any of us to attack, through in afterthought, maybe that's what he wanted as a team tactic. Anyway, met the players afterwards and they was really great guys, very friendly! Hope to see them again. My next Taikai is on the 2ed and 3rd of April and later in May. Last thing, I and my team and my club had a lot of fun, have to say, my team members did really well themselves.