Tournaments, Competitions and Demonstrations
To all, While I do not compete or hold demos, I do attend them as a spectator. I would very much like to hear from those that are competing or demonstrating. Allow me to start: I went to the West Coast Can Am Martial Arts Tournament today. I usually go with my wife for a couple of hours once a year. They have 12 rings set up and enough competitors and judges to make it interesting. Last year I watched the Women’s Kata, and the MMA ring. So this year I watched the Kung fu forms and the little kids sparring. I also got to watch the Men’s weapons Kata and weapons sparring. There was one guy who was Kajukenbo performing a Japanese Bo Kata (he won). The runner up used a long and short set of Kris. The weapons sparring was fun to watch and they went at it hammer and tongs. They were padded up really well and the short batons were also padded. And these guys knew it and fought accordingly. There were several disarms and one guy got tossed out of the ring! But there were no injuries outside of a couple of boo boo’s with the kids. Although, one of the older competitors became exhausted during his time in the ring.. This was after he fought three consecutive weapons matches. The thing that impressed me the most was the courtesy and respect that was evident there. Regards, MrE2Me2

Quite a contrast to what happens on the internet don't you agree? I'm curious why you don't compete in tourneys or do public demonstrations Mr E?

Hello Current Student, You posted, “Quite a contrast to what happens on the internet don't you agree?” With respect, no: There are many places in the cyber world where rude and offensive behavior is okay. But they seem to be fewer and farther between than a couple of years ago. This forum is a perfect example of this (imo). We started off raw and rough and it was a bit of a ride at first. Yet we have come a long way from there. What I do find very changed is the tournament circuit today, compared with 20 years ago. Then, the circuit was a, wide open and wild, kinda place. Ringers and intimidation were not uncommon. It tended toward a “whatever-it-takes-to-win-and-gimme-that-trophy” attitude (imo). What I saw on Saturday was very different indeed. You asked, “I'm curious why you don't compete in tourneys or do public demonstrations Mr E?” Actually, I have done both, a long time ago. And I could say that age has caught up with me (and I have before). But that isn’t the only reason why I don’t participate. It isn’t even the major reason. About tournaments: In order to be willing to use my skill, I have to be motivated (indeed, justified). There are some whom I’ve trained under, trained with and taught to, who could compete. They were die hard fighters who’d fight at the drop of a hat. They’d even drop their own, to start it (as that old saying goes). But, for whatever reason, I won’t. This lesson was brought home to me at my last tournament. Up until then, my tournament experience was poor, at best. I found it so very difficult to engage my opponents effectively. The last time I competed, I smacked the guy hard enough to knock him down. He had ignored my controlled backfist and kicked me in the gut. So the next time we set up and he charged, I met him with a straight left jab. I was moving forward with my attack and so was he. He was late and I wasn’t. But in my mind it had gone form a tournament sparring match to a fight. My health was suddenly an issue. I didn’t care much for that, so I quit competing. You might say I stopped him but I stopped me too. As for demos: There are many really flashy guys out there who look good. They enjoy the adulation of the crowd and all that. If I had a serious reason to demonstrate my skill, I’d show it. But again, I usually do not, so I leave it to the more motivated, Perhaps a couple of vids might illustrate my point more clearly. Here is Jason and myself during an unrehearsed bit in class. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y__bJkF9Jas Notice the speed, timing, etc, of the front kick. I dare him and he still doesn’t stop it. Here, I am again with Jason only he is on a more even footing with me. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBuGXbZ0pBY I want him to know his strengths in the second. In both, I am teaching where I feel justified in demonstrating my prowess. For me, that is what it is about, justification. Regards, MrE2Me2 .

Hey Mystery, I posted about my recent tournament experience in the style you train now section under full contact tourney. I didn't see this thread untill now so I put it there. Thanks Swollenknuck

Hello SwollenKnuc, I responded to this thread here. http://templekungforum.14.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=168 Regards, MrE2Me2

To all, I attended The Tiger Balm International Tournament yesterday. I was pleased to see that it was well attended. While I was there, everyone was courteous and enthusiastic. I saw weapons sparring, modified Pankration, forms, weapons forms and more. It was an interesting time and I really enjoyed myself. One thing did stand out, probably because I was seeing it live. The M.M.A. events looked remarkably similar to the semi-contact matches of 25 years ago. The competitors were just as banged up yet limped away at the end of the match. About the only real difference was the addition of grappling maneuvers. (This would also include ground game techniques). Regards, MrE2Me2 Without prejudice E&OE