| I liked the guys and gals I trained to compete occasionally so they would know what it was like to do martial arts under stress. I like catching up with old friends, seeing the younger people have fun, and be with a bunch of people who share similiar interest. I don't compete myself any longer. I find it kinda pointless right now. I told students I trained, "Go out there and show them what you do. If you fight, protect yourself and learn. I don't care if you win or lose as long as you do your best and learn something from the experience." I think too often tournaments turn into something ugly, with egoes out of control and politics running rampant. If a student experiences tournaments like these then it will be difficult to get them to go to more, and I can't say I blame them. |