TOURNAMENT COMPETITION
A Collective Commentary By The Karate Five Association Senseis
Early in the year, practitioners of competitive activities mark their calendars for the
special events they plan to participate and compete in. They train and practice to get
themselves in the best shape possible.
Such a scenario is true for our Isshin-Ryu karate kas. The individuals workout and
prepare themselves for the competition. At tournament events they give their best
effort to perform their katas and their kumite. They do that in hopes of receiving a
trophy, for the honor of placing among the elite, and for the satisfaction that all their
training pays off. How they place depends on the scores and calls made by the
presiding judges.
Judging is very perceptive in kata competition. Judges normally follow every move
by the competitor. Many factors influence the awarded scores. In kumite, scoring is
more expressive by contact between competitors. In both cases judges are expected
to be unbiased and to be consistent in their scoring. Judges should not be influenced
by whom the competitors are, nor the dojos they are from! We are sorry to say, in a
few cases that has been observed to be the case. Some judges do show some levels
of favoritism towards some competitors. Particularly those from their own dojos…or
from the dojos of their “friends”. This is not a wide spread practice. It does however exist!
When in doubt as to what score should be awarded, judges can ask themselves
“How would Master Shimabuku have judged this kata? ” Or, in our lineage,
“How would Mr. Long have scored it?”
During our Isshin-Ryu years we build a brotherhood/sisterhood relationship among the
different karate kas. In addition, many friendships are formed. These friendships last
a lifetime. Something else has emerged…the perception that we are the Isshin-Ryu
“family”.
Many of us (first generation under Mr. Long) worked out and instructed at many dojos.
That included Mr. Longs dojos. Some of these individuals (that were influenced by us)
started their own dojos and their own lineage. It is our opinion that, somehow, there is
a little of us in most of the people we see at the tournaments.
With that in mind, why would we want to favor one competitor over another? Are some
“judges” intimidated by others? I hope not. If they are, then we have a major problem to
deal with! Judges that show favoritism know who they are. They need to know that
others have noted their behavior. Tournament grounds are neutral. Favoritism practices
should not be tolerated.
Just imagine the hurt that the competitors go through when they observe judges awarding
high scores to below average katas; awarding low scores to average or better than average
katas; seeing a judge watching activities in another ring during competition; awarding a
kumite point for imaginary technique; or totally missing perfectly delivered scores.
Last but not least, ask your self, when judging and refereeing can you LOOK WITHIN to…
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