An important aspect of karate is that of competition and game. By means of tournaments
you can compare your skills, and see a tangible result of the effort you have put into
your training. The tournaments are non-contact (light contact to body) fights between
participants of different clubs and styles. The atmosphere is a friendly one, with the
emphasis on the quality of the techniques, good sportmanship, and the correct display of
the spirit of the art.
Though competition is restrained by rule for the safety of competitors, it is the nearest
avenue to the experience of combat reality.
Tournaments involve different activities, such as kata's (forms / patterns), kumite (sparring),
and weapons kata (using sai, bo, etc). Our club has had recent successes at both the state
level and at national level, and is usually represented in the major tournaments.
Though encouraged, people training at our club are by no means obligated to participate in tournaments. It is
a personal choice, depending on what your reason is for practising karate, and on what you
enjoy. Our club has traditionally had a strong presence at tournaments, including the national
and state championships.
|
 |
| Mind focus & intensity of action demonstrated in a Kata competition |
|
