How to perform a tournament kata in front of judges.

[KarateKen]

I'd just add that if you do NUNCHAKU, and I have at tournaments, I suggest not hitting yourself in the groin.

Often, if the weapon intentionally touches the ground, you tell the judges so they know not to deduct points from you. I once saw a competitor tell the judges that if he hits himself (in the head, groin, etc.) that this was intentional. It got a good laugh. Of course, he didn't mess up and did just fine.

I suppose if I had said my name was Steve-O I would have gotten extra points for doing it, then a TV contract. Oh well.

[bushido_man96]

I agree with your criteria. The excessive yelling and kihaps/kiais are especially annoying. It shouldn't be a scream, it should come from the gut and be forceful and short.

[KarateKen]

I agree with your criteria. The excessive yelling and kihaps/kiais are especially annoying. It shouldn't be a scream, it should come from the gut and be forceful and short.

LOL, as much as I hate to admit it......well not really, I guess I just felt it looked better to start that way.....when I was new to the arts I would kihap at the top of my lungs. Loudest in the class. It was a combination of pent-up anger and wanting to look tough. At the time I was impressed with myself. I was a lot younger and a little bit more immature.

I do recall preparing for my first tournament and one of the black belts in class told me that "yelling loud can score you points in the forms or weapons because judges think it shows confidence." Or something like that. So, it was encouraged, at least in that example.

[bushido_man96]

I don't think there is anything wrong with a loud kiai; I think it should be loud. Just not long and drawn out, and it shouldn't come from the throat.

[Drew]

I agree with your criteria. The excessive yelling and kihaps/kiais are especially annoying. It shouldn't be a scream, it should come from the gut and be forceful and short.

Well, if they were yelling for help, that'd be pretty good. But yeah the screaming can be a little distracting.

[Nidan Melbourne]

I attend tournaments where they use the WKF Rules Set - so Red/Blue Flag System. 

To me a good kata; you see the following: 

• Correct Start/Finish Procedure 
• Loud YET Confident Announcement of Kata (Not Screaming that it becomes unintelligible)  
  • I.e. Announcing say Unsu; Loudly and Clearly that all in the area knows that you said Unsu (Not "I'M SCREAMING AT YOU FIFIDJIFDOGSUODGUHGOSIDFF")
• Performing the Correct Kata 
  • Can't go butchering it 
• Strength and Softness when appropriate
  • Maybe that's why I love doing Suparinpei at tournaments? 

Now I have never done Weapons (Other than Balintawak Arnis) at my dojo let alone at a Tournament. 

If I was to judge a weapons form; 

• Drop it - you're done/form finished 
• Lose Control - Lose points 
• Proper Start/Finish 
• Demonstrate proper carrying 
  • Ie Katana in its Sheath on the correct side and practitioner wearing a Hakama

[Zaine]

46 minutes ago, Nidan Melbourne said:

• Loud YET Confident Announcement of Kata (Not Screaming that it becomes unintelligible)  
  • I.e. Announcing say Unsu; Loudly and Clearly that all in the area knows that you said Unsu (Not "I'M SCREAMING AT YOU FIFIDJIFDOGSUODGUHGOSIDFF")

Something that I enjoy doing is watching videos of kata performances and trying to guess what kata they do based on the unintelligible yelling that they do at the beginning. My record for getting it correct is very poor. A fun side game comes out of this where you just say what you heard them say. I've heard some pretty funny things come from the yelling (I swear I heard one competitor say "chicken soup").

[Nidan Melbourne]

20 hours ago, Zaine said:

Something that I enjoy doing is watching videos of kata performances and trying to guess what kata they do based on the unintelligible yelling that they do at the beginning. My record for getting it correct is very poor. A fun side game comes out of this where you just say what you heard them say. I've heard some pretty funny things come from the yelling (I swear I heard one competitor say "chicken soup").

Hahaha same here with the guessing. 

of the last 4 tournaments I watched in person; I'm sitting at about 75% correct and that's without cheating and looking at the board that sits in front of the Judges Table. 

 

[sensei8]

Quote

How to perform a tournament kata in front of judges?

With pinpoint concentration from bowing in to bowing out without any exception. Judge's eyes are on the competitor just as soon as the competitor comes onto view. Every assumed fault is noted at all times by the judges for cause, whether the judges are right or wrong, and if the judges are wrong, that might not ever matter in the eyes of the arbitrator on duty. Pinpoint concentration, that's what is needed at all times. For all of the up and down, every little twitch, and every presumed notion...the judges must see YOU and YOU alone. If not, one's quickly forgotten.

[Nidan Melbourne]

On 6/20/2024 at 3:33 AM, bushido_man96 said:

I don't think there is anything wrong with a loud kiai; I think it should be loud. Just not long and drawn out, and it shouldn't come from the throat.

 

Oh god I dislike the Throaty Kiai's very much so. 

And the number of times I've seen people bust up their vocal cords because of that is just ridiculous.