Why Should My Child Compete in Martial Arts Tournaments?

Adult Martial ArtsKids Martial ArtsMartial ArtsParentingTaekwondoTeen Martial ArtsTournamentsYouth Sports

Mar 30

Tournament competition is about more than just winning trophies. It is an essential element of martial arts training.

If you haven’t competed in a tournament yet, you don’t know what you’re missing!

The benefits of tournament competition are so great, that if you asked us “What does it take to become a great martial artist?”

We would respond with “a good teacher, practice, and TOURNAMENT COMPETITION.”

THIS WEEK WE WILL LOOK AT WHY TOURNAMENTS ARE SUCH A VITAL PART OF A MARTIAL ARTIST’S TRAINING:

Reason #1:

TOURNAMENTS LET YOU TEST YOUR SKILLS

You spend hours in class and at home developing your skills, drilling your forms, learning effective sparring strategies, working on your strength and flexibility… isn’t it time to put that training to the test?

Tournaments offer a safe and positive environment for you to showcase your abilities and learn about what you need to improve. You will get feedback from the judges, as well as other competitors, on what you did well and what you should work on.

Reason #2:

TOURNAMENTS HELP YOU OVERCOME YOUR FEARS

One of the benefits of martial arts training is the ability to stay calm and clear headed in stressful situations. So how can a tournament help you to stay calm instead of panicking?

Just ask anyone who has competed. When you step into the ring your adrenaline starts to flow. Your pulse quickens, you feel butterflies in your stomach, and your legs will feel heavy. This is a result of the “fight or flight” response, and in a tournament, you will literally be conditioning your body and mind on how to handle these stresses. With each competition, you’ll become stronger and more confident.

Tournaments force you OUT of your comfort zone, and while that doesn’t always sound pleasant, it is necessary for true growth.

Reason #3:

COMPETITION HELPS YOU STAY MOTIVATED

Like everything else in our life, our level of motivation never stays constant. We see this the most in children who are still learning about self-discipline, one day they are extremely motivated future black belts, the next day they want to quit altogether.

Tournaments can help keep students motivated by providing them with “mini goals” throughout their training. Once you commit to competing in a tournament, you start to train harder. And then when you do compete, you feel a tremendous amount of pride in what you have accomplished.

Reason #4:

YOU GET TO WATCH AND LEARN FROM OTHERS

When you train in your academy, you usually end up sparring with the same people, over and over again. You eventually get used to the way they spar and can start to anticipate them. Going to tournaments allows you to compete against new people that can challenge you.

Reason #5:

YOU WILL BECOME CLOSER TO YOUR FELLOW STUDENTS

Tournaments offer a unique bonding experience for students. As you train together for a common goal, and then compete with and cheer for each other, you will become closer.

You will also have the chance to meet with and create friendships with students from other academies. Nothing brings people together like a shared experience.