Humility. Honesty. Good sportsmanship. Those words are used frequently at martial arts tournaments across America. But, what is really being taught at sport martial art tournaments in America? Are we teaching them good sportsmanship or “winning is everything”; honesty or deception; humility or ego?

A while ago, I judged at a local tournament. After the match was over one fighter punched the other and after much deliberation the judges decided to disqualify both competitors. The promoter stepped in, talked to both competitors. He then overrode the judge’s call allowing both competitors to continue. In doing this, the promoter broke the competition rules as well as condoned the bad sportsmanship.

This is not about that isolated incident. It is not about any single organization or promoter or competitor. This is about “us”, the American Martial Arts Public, from Seattle to Florida, Boston to El Paso. It is about what most martial art tournaments are really teaching our children and lower belt adults about martial arts. Humility. The concept of a white uniform is forgotten. White represents the “purity” we seek through the discipline of our art. Now we have jumpsuits with padded shoulders, naval jackets, bell bottoms, patches that proclaim “200 trophy winner”, emblems that say “Superstar”, “No.1” and “I’M BAD”.

Those are not examples of humility. Sure, I know about self-expression and fashion. I like them. But they are meaningless in comparison to raising egomaniacs for children instead of confident, friendly young adults.

Honesty. I have seen promoters who make promises and do not deliver; judges who stand behind a competitor and still call a point; competitors who ham it up when struck’, parents who keep score and intentionally alter scores for their children and judges who do not watch forms but sit there and “just raise a score card”.

Overall we are teaching our children that winning is the “end all” and achieving it in any fashion is all that matters.

Good sportsmanship. I have seen competitors and instructors who complain and “rag” judges; competitors who run after they get a two point lead. I have seen competitors who do a form in empty hand kata, put kama’s in their hands and do the same form for weapons, add a piece of music and do the form again for musical. I really like the competitors that complain about every call, even when they are several points ahead. And lets not forget the all famous “press your hand on your face” to make a “red” mark to “draw a foul” against the opponent.

Our children have this wonderful talent, ability, skill and vitality, but American tournament martial arts are just not returning any of these things to our children. The martial arts public could change the system. But not if we just sit back and watch. We need to do something now, do something positive for EVERYONE, not just the promoters.

Humility. Honesty. Good sportsmanship. I don’t have the answers. But I think if we really want to improve this sport for our children, we must practice humility, honesty and good sportsmanship in every aspect of our lives and actively campaign to make sure it carries over to the tournaments our children attend. When you see something you know is wrong, do something tell the arbitrator or the center judge. Don’t just stand there and say “oh well that’s the way it is”.

Originally printed in Texas Kicks Magazine, Volume 1, Issue 2, Sep/Oct 1994

Covert Blackledge
7th Dan, Taekwon Do, Chung Do Kwan
Dallas, Texas