KSW Tournament in San Francisco on 3/19

[taiji fajin]

How did it go?

[PrideampPoise]

All in all, it went very well, thanks.

I didn't place in techniques or forms. My techniques weren't crisp enough. I also lack the height and flexibility to do the high kicks that I think looked better in Maek Cha Ki. Can't do anything about the height portion, but I do continue to work on the flexibility, which is slowly coming along.

In forms, I honestly thought I did well enough to place, but one of the three judges didn't agree, as he gave me the lowest score out of any of the competitors and I missed a tie for 4th by 1/10 of a point.

The only glaring difference I could see between me and all of the others in my group is that I performed the form faster than they did. I spoke with SBN about this a few days later, asking if I should slow my pace down, but he said no. He said my form is very good, and that I shouldn't let one judge dictate any changes in my style.

So, as it always is, the solution is to work harder.

Sparring was interesting. Due to the divisions being broken up by gender (unlike forms and techniques) and also due to some of the forms/techniques competitors not participating in sparring, there were only three competitors in my division.

My first, and as it turns out only, sparring opponent had about a foot height advantage, and I wasn't able to overcome it. I actually jumped out on him early, but he figured out how to keep me at a distance and I then couldn't get inside on him to score points before I got "tagged". I lost by 1 or 2 points.

He then sparred the third in our group, and defeated him. I thought I would then spar that gentlemen for 2nd place, but that wasn't how it worked. Since I was eliminated first, I was awarded third.

I was also the falling partner for one of our brown belts in techniques, and he placed third, so I was happy about that.

All in all, it was a good learning experience, and it was definitely fun to watch the other competitions and see the Masters' demonstrations.

And our school placed 2nd in the overall standings, so that was nice as well.

Here's the link to the results as posted at the KSW website. Just the BB's and team results are posted.

http://www.kuksoolwon.com/results_2005_SF.htm

[aefibird]

Glad you had a good day and learned new things.

In the "techniques" section, do you perform a stated technique (with or without a partner?) and then whoever performed their chosed technique best gets the first place? Or do you have to perform a selection of techniques each round?

[PrideampPoise]

For techniques, we select three from a given set or sets. The sets that we can choose from are determined by our belt level.

We perform the techniques with a partner. The only requirement for the partner is that they must be of the same belt level or lower.

The sets that I could choose from are Maek Chi Ki and Maek Cha Ki, which involve blocking/catching a punch, and then following with a specific strike or kick to a specific pressure point, delivered at a specific angle.

We perform our three chosen techniques, and then are given scores by three judges, who are all BB's. The scores are added together to determine placing. If there's a tie, each is asked to peform their techniques again, then the judges choose between the two.

[ZR440]

Sung Jin's team came in 4th? I'll bet they'll be training a little harder this week.

[krzychicano]

So did anyone actually go and how did they do and how was the turn out?

[taiji fajin]

So did anyone actually go and how did they do and how was the turn out?

. . . . Pride&Poise went, he talks about it in this thread. That's what the whole thread is about.

Don't worry about the rankings, P&P, especially teh "sparring." I dislike that form, its all about who has the longest arms, not who could actually win the fight. Anyway, different judges would have given different scores, and what matters is that you had fun, got to hang out with fellow martial artists, and got to see (and hopefully learn from) other people practice.

[krzychicano]

So did anyone actually go and how did they do and how was the turn out?

[PrideampPoise]

Looks like I was the only one from these boards, krzychicano.

On the turnout, good question. The SF State gym isn't all that large for a college gym, but it was full in the morning, when the kids were competing.

If I had to guess at total numbers of competitors, I'd guess anywhere from 300-500, kids and adults included. Sorry for such a wide range, but it was hard to tell for sure.

...what matters is that you had fun, got to hang out with fellow martial artists, and got to see (and hopefully learn from) other people practice.

Thanks, that's what I'm taking from it. (and of course, I always need more practice...)

Sung Jin's team came in 4th? I'll bet they'll be training a little harder this week.

Probably, but its hard to judge how each school's competitors really did, as opposed to how many competitors they had. Some of the divisions, had few competitors, so if you could bring anyone, your school would earn points. That's not to take anything away from anyone, its just that I don't know how large Master Suh's school is, and how many competitors he actually brought to the tournament. They could have done very well, just not had a big number of competitors.

With everybody wearing identical uniforms, its hard to tell!

Funny you mention him, as I found out after the tournament that Master Suh is my instructor's teacher.

[krzychicano]

Thnx for answering my questions Pride&Poise. That is a pretty big turnout and I am glad you had fun and learned alot.