| Combat
sports and martial arts competitions:
|
| Personally
I don't fancy the competition side of martial
arts too much. But that doesn't mean that
I feel it is bad, or that it can't
be the primary goal for other people.
One great thing about martial arts
is that there are so many positive sides
to it, and combat sports is one of them.
|
| Let's
look at it this way: There are not many ways
in which you can test techniques associated
with martial arts (without hurting someone,
or being hurt
that is). The budo sports is one such
avenue to exchange techniques and test you
skills.
|
| As
long as we keep our heads straight and don't
confuse sparring or competition with self-defense
or real-life fighting then it can not do
any harm what-so-ever to compete.
|
| What
are the possible advantages to combat sports:
|
|
|
Great
way to stay focused:
|
|
|
As
a fighter or competitor
in combat sports you need
to
be focused and goal orientated
to succeed to some extend.
Sure you can just tag along
and have fun, but in order
to have success you must
be really focused!
|
|
|
|
Can
boost and maintain your motivation:
|
|
|
Each
and everyone of us experience
periods where the motivation
drops, sometimes to the
extent that we quit all
together. In such "low"
periods training for competition
can be a very good vehicle.
Because you have a set goal
determined by the competitions
ahead, you tend to keep
on training even though
your heart may not
be 100% there at the
moment.
And guess what
happens when you keep on
training...? Yep, the motivation
will return sooner or later.
Magic, isn't it :)
|
|
|
|
Great
way to stay in shape:
|
|
|
Let's
be fair - not all martial
arts are the ultimate pshysical
workout for strenght, speed,
endurance etc. Sure, some
regular martial arts are
that too, but not all by
far. In some classes the
students don't even break
out a sweat.
Most martial
arts competitions and combative
sports on the other hand require
that you are in shape, mentally
as well as physically.
Sure,
if you wish to finish last,
or worse still, be used
as a human target,
you may enter fit as
a couch potatoe. Not to
be recommended if you wish
to succeed :-)
So yes,
a fighter need to be fit:
Stamina, speed, timing,
agility, coordination, technique,
strategy, tactics, mental
focus, will to win... The
list goes on and on.
|
|
|
|
Can
be positive for your self-esteem:
|
|
|
Used
wisely (and I do stress
wisely) martial arts competitions
can be a great way to increase
the self-esteem. This goes
for adults as well as kids.
Entering
a competiton is like breaking
a barrier. If the person
entering the ring (or stepping
on to the mat) is taken
well care of by a coach
then it can be a great way
to boost the self-esteem.
Whether you win
or lose, you have "put
your money where most other
people have their mouth".
You actually conquered your
doubts and even fears, and
by George you did it!
|
|
|
|
Great
spectator sports:
|
|
|
Normally,
combat sports are great
to look at. I stress normally.
There are those events
that are a mess for everyone
involved - leaving the spectators
(and sometimes the participants
too) puzzled as to
what is going on.
A great
budo sport event is filled
with action and anticipation,
sometimes even great drama
too!
So indeed, competitions
can be a really great way
to "sell" the
arts to people on a larger
scale.
And let us not
forget that there many times are
demonstrations done by "regular"
martial arts at most of
these events too.
|
|
| The
various combat sports (martial sports):
|
| There
is a wide selection of martial arts that
you can choose from is you wish to compete.
All ot these combative arts and -sports
will be covered in greater detail when each
separate art is described. Below you will
find the arts that, to my knowledge,
are combative sports as well as arts. If
I have forgotten any of the combative sports,
then please give me a notice here! Some
of the arts mentioned below have many various
forms, like Kung Fu.
|
| First
out are the big three: Judo, Karate and
Taekwondo. Judo and Taekwondo being Olympic
sports as well. Chinese Wushu will be a
part of the Olympic program from 2006 (the
Olympic Games to be held in Beijing, China).
|
| Other
tradirional martial arts that include
competitions in some form are: Kung-Fu,
Jujutsu, Aikido, Kempo, Muay Thai (Thai-boxing),
Arnis (modern Arnis), Kendo and Nanbudo.
|
| Then
you have the modern martial arts and Western
arts like Grappling, MMA (Mixed Martial
Arts), Shootfighting, Kick-boxing, Sambo,
Wrestling and Boxing. Boxing and Wrestling
are not normally associated with the martial
arts; kind of strange if you ask me,
these are great arts and sports!
|
| Finally
you have a truly traditional sport like
the Japanes national sport:
Sumo.
|
| Any
eventual disadvantages to combative sports
will be discussed elsewhere. My advice to
you is to seek out the arts mentioned here
for yourself. There is something here for
everyone!
|
