Sportmanship of a martial arts tournament

VIDEO: MUST SEE to get the outcome of this awesome Muay Thai tournament!

Tournaments are challenging, intense and incredibly demanding on the mind, body and spirit and it is important that training incorporates all three elements to give a fighting chance in each sparring session. Remaining centred, focussed and feeling fit and healthy will enable the student to participate fully relying on technique and not brute force to overcome the opponent.

How does the below phrase and image relate to fighting?

“Like a full circle, the mind must be empty, yet complete.”

The Japanese term often used in Karate which is loosely translated as “empty mind” is mushin. This term does not strictly imply “no thought”, but rather no attachment to any one thought, emotion or strategy. To obtain this state of mind, mushin, you must let go your fears, doubts, ego, and any preconceived thoughts of action (strategy), or the mind will not react openly.

After hearing the many complications and disconcerting opinions of martial arts competitors who view themselves the victim of a scandal, many, or even most, begin to play back all of the excuses. We ask ourselves the critical questions to determine our own interest in measuring ourselves. We do this not in the way to understand the benefits, but more like reasoning for not getting involved.

Though the focus has been turned away just a bit it is still all about the practitioner. Participating in a martial arts competition will take every thing you have learned up to the point where you now stand. Your self control, patience, endurance, camaraderie, sportsmanship, discipline, integrity and so much more is all laid out on the line. Let’s see how you conduct yourselves.