Tournaments?

[coffeecat]

What are your opinion of tournaments? What does it mean if a school is active in promoting tournaments and another school is not? Do you recommend participating in tournaments?

[sojobo]

What martial art are we talking about?

sojobo

[coffeecat]

It's a TKD style. My son has only been going few months and we went to one tournament as spectators. It seemed to have a mix of styles not just TKD. Another tournament is coming up and our school is encouraging participation. I think the tournament was fun, but I also sense ( because I analyze everything) that there is a business aspect to tournaments. So I am wondering from those that have been in the martial arts scene a while - do you see the value in the tournaments?

Also, I admit I am competitive as hell. My friends Karate sons went to the first tournament with mine and went on and on about how the TKD kids suck. Their school does not participate in tournaments. It annoys me they keep putting our MA down . Life is not a Karate Kid movie.

[Wastelander]

It's a TKD style. My son has only been going few months and we went to one tournament as spectators. It seemed to have a mix of styles not just TKD. Another tournament is coming up and our school is encouraging participation. I think the tournament was fun, but I also sense ( because I analyze everything) that there is a business aspect to tournaments. So I am wondering from those that have been in the martial arts scene a while - do you see the value in the tournaments?

Also, I admit I am competitive as hell. My friends Karate sons went to the first tournament with mine and went on and on about how the TKD kids suck. Their school does not participate in tournaments. It annoys me they keep putting our MA down . Life is not a Karate Kid movie.

Try to keep your competitiveness under control--forcing your children to compete if they don't want to isn't going to do anyone any good. As far as tournaments go, they are decent promotional events for getting people to know the martial arts schools in the area, and they do make some money for the organizers if done properly. Beyond that they can be a fun and interesting event for martial artists to be involved in because you get to demonstrate what you know, see what other styles are out there and see how you stack up and what you might want to work on. If your friend's kids are making fun of TKD you should have a talk with your friend or their Sensei--TKD does have a reputation for being watered down more often than other styles, but that doesn't mean that the TKD your kids are learning is bad and regardless it doesn't give those kids the right to make fun of another art.

[coffeecat]

No, sorry. I did not mean my competitiveness makes me want my kids to compete. It makes me excited over tournaments and like that my school encourages participation.

[Wastelander]

No, sorry. I did not mean my competitiveness makes me want my kids to compete. It makes me excited over tournaments and like that my school encourages participation.

And that's fine. There is nothing wrong with schools that compete a lot, and there is nothing wrong with schools that compete very little--it all depends on what the martial artist wants out of their school.

[DWx]

There's nothing wrong with tournaments if you and your kids both enjoy and have fun participating in them. I think within training everyone should have a go at competing in at least one. Even if you don't want to do it again, tournaments can be a great learning (and sometimes humbling) experience.

Tournaments are be pushed in my TKD school because my instructor believes that is one way we keep raising our standard. By competing against and meeting people who may do things a slightly different way, we can learn from the experience and get better ourselves. If you only train within the club environment its easy to stagnate. Personally I love to compete because its a way of setting myself short term goals and is something to look forward and work towards.

[quinteros1963]

I believe in competition from time to time. What sports practices and doesn't play a game? I'd say go to 3 or 4 tournaments a year; its a great way to track progress, meet other MA's, and have fun.

[bushido_man96]

One of the reasons schools hold tournaments is to bring in some income. There's no doubt that a large tourney can bring in some big funds.

There are differing views on tournaments, as well. Some people don't like tournaments, and feel that making the Martial Arts into a sport like that cause its focus to shift, and detract from the goal of self-defense. Others view tournaments as an outlet for testing themselves against others. It just depends on how you look at them. They can be a lot of fun.

[wayneshin]

From a purely business perspective as a school owner encouraging my students to enter tournaments offers little to me or my club as a business so it seenms unlikely a club would be encouraging tournament paticipation for business reasons.

Tournament competitors (and their parents) can be very demanding or your time and often need addiional personal attention to reach that next level. They don't pay any more than anybody else and are of very limited value in promoting the school.

However I still encourage (never push) students who are interested to compete. Why. Because I like tournaments and they can be fun for the students. Also networking with other clubs can be of benefit.