Training For A Kung Fu Tournament

In training for a kung fu tournament the advice of an expert is essential. This article comprises tips from John Su, six time world champion martial artist who has been featured on ESPN.

You’ve diligently studied and trained dreaming of the day you would begin to compete. How do you know if you are truly ready? What type of training program, if any, do you need to develop? If you’re seriously interested in competitive martial arts then why not tap into the expertise of someone whose success as a competitive martial artist is well known and well respected?

John Su, co-owner and instructor at the WuYi Shaolin Martial Arts Center of Coppell, Texas, is a six time world champion of the North American Sport Karate Association (NASKA). He has been featured on ESPN for his successes at the US Open, an event sanctioned by NASKA and ISKA (International Sport Karate Association) events. Mr. Su has been gracious enough to share some of the following tips that he has found valuable when preparing for kung fu tournaments.

The first rule is to “know what you’re getting into.” If you are seriously planning on competing you need to do your homework. Begin by knowing and understanding the rules. Make certain that the routine you’re going to perform with fits the specifications of the competition. A lack of knowledge can be very costly when competing. Along with knowing the rules, investigate how the divisions are broken up. This goes hand in hand with knowing your competition. Try to learn which martial arts styles will be competing. What are the strengths of your competitors? Next, begin practicing as soon as possible. Your goal is to have the routine so ingrained that it will flow automatically when tournament day arrives. Doing sectional training can help with this concept. Break your routine into parts. It’s easier to perfect forms when working on smaller sections at a time. Continuously drill and fine tune each section.

Then put the sections together so that everything flows smoothly. Your speed, power, balance, technique, timing, charisma, and presentation are just some of the things the judges will be looking at so keep drilling and fine tuning with that in mind. Try not to add any last minute changes. You’ve worked long and hard making your existing routine flow automatically. No matter how great you think this new move is, it might only serve to disrupt the automatic flow you’ve worked so hard to achieve. The end result could be a choppy, disappointing routine rather than a finely timed, well executed performance. Be careful of your body prior to competitions.

John, who is continually expanding his skills, warns “no difficult movement should be tried before a competition and risk injury.” If your body isn’t in prime condition your performance will suffer. Save your experimenting for later. Mental preparation is also essential. John’s primary advice in this area is to “Practice as if you were in the competition.” Use your imagination and visualization skills. Picture yourself performing in the actual competition. Visualize every minute detail, down to the audience reaction and the judges’ expressions.

Your goal is to make the practice performance so real in your mind, that you will be relaxed during the actual competition. If nerves do bother you as you go to compete, try letting out a really loud cleansing breath before entering the ring. Picture the air and tension leaving your body. Now relax, clear your mind, and prepare for the autopilot you’ve created to engage. Finally, get to the tournament early. You want to see the venue and get a feel for it. Ideally arrive the night before the tournament. If that’s not possible get there at least a half day before to settle in. Depending on your personality type it can be a relaxing force to meet and the other competitors. That’s up to you, only you know what makes you tick! No matter how you place in the tournament, competing gives you a chance to meet people of common interests.

As John says, “martial artists are good sportsmen” they praise and encourage each other. Look at any tournament as an opportunity to meet people that you can share with and learn from.

Author: Shelley Pence

About Author: Shelley Pence holds a Masters in Professional Development Counseling. She has researched how to prepare for special events in life by interviewing expert sources, such as John Su.