Importance of Competition in Karate Training.

To spar or to Compete, has been one of the major topics in karate schools, magazines, and among the parents and practitioners alike. It is at times a cause of much anxiety amongst parents and students.

Competition is only one facet of our multi-faceted art, and arguably its youngest. Sparring too, in its current form is a newer facet of martial arts training. These two elements carry a substantial part in today’s training of the arts. Martial arts competition are the test of the athletic skills that can be developed by a martial artist, and carry only a partial potency of the martial arts techniques – control, safety and limited techniques, being the subduing factors.

Therefore, skills developed for competition, only partially contribute to actual self-defense skills, for which martial arts were originally designed for. In inspiring us to athletism, competitions provide certain benefits, which would not be easily learned at class time. Amongst these experiences are, camaraderie amongst athletes and teammates, the exhilaration of the actual competition against another athlete, the ability to perform in public, short term goal-setting, and finally experiencing Karate at a larger level, then the dojo alone.

All of these do much to enhance esteem and confidence, in one’s self. Competitions are at times unfair, and subjective. However, it largely depends on which competitions you go to. Academy of Karate strives to participate only in those competition, where a standard method of judging is used, and the judges are properly licensed.

The major goal of any competition is for us to find our own strengths and weaknesses, and enhance and reduce them accordingly. Overcome our anxieties and apprehensions, and to develop in to a better overall martial artist. Therefore, first and foremost, competition is an internal struggle. Second it is a test of skill, speed, timing, and above all spirit against strangers. There is a difference in preparing for competition, versus practicing in class.