"你们是学生，来这里学（武术）。" You are students, you've come here to study (martial arts).
-Zhang Shifu
Weekend with Shifu
A few weekends ago, Zhang Shifu invited two students and I to go on a "martial exchange". Similar to a cultural exchange, but for martial arts. We would end up visiting a Tai Chi School, Daoist Temple, as well as a boxing gym ran by an old friend of Shifu's.
During the car ride, Shifu and I would talk about various things. One of the most interesting things we talked about was tournaments. When I came to Er Zu Temple, I mentioned that I'd like to compete when I get home. During my time training with Shifu; he given me tips and advice on how to do my forms better for competition. This car ride conversation was different. As we ended up talking about the purpose of tournaments.
East vs West
While sitting in the car watching the Chinese countryside go by. I asked about what was the purpose of tournaments in China. I explained that in the west; tournaments were viewed as a means of getting a medal, scholarships, or (in the case of Sanda) boosting your fight record.
Zhang Shifu nodded, eyes still glued to the road ahead. He said that in China, tournaments do have the same weight to them. People want to place. To earn that medal. To get that experience. Especially bigger Kung Fu schools that rely on tournaments as a means of funding or getting their name out there.
Tournaments also have other purposes. Zhang Shifu explained that they were told to think of the tournament as another rep in practice. Don't add pressure to yourself by thinking about the audience or winning. Just display your skill. When you're not performing; watch others to see what they do better than you. This way, you can communicate and exchange training methods to better each other.
He even laughed when he mentioned that sometimes people will be in a tournament bracket all by themselves. This is done to "show off" the form that is being done because it is unique, old, or traditional. Others can watch this unique bracket and try to learn it from the person. Doing this keeps "rarer" forms from dying off.
Conclusion
Continuing down some winding mountain roads, Zhang Shifu concluded that; although tournaments do have the purpose of getting gold, money, and more reputation/fame for some schools/athletes. The majority of people in China use tournaments as a means of exchanging ideas, forms, and training methods to benefit each other.
Green trees blurred past my window as I thought about this. It made sense. With the vast number of Kung Fu/Wushu athletes in China, not everyone is going to get a chance to win that medal. Viewing tournaments as a means of seeing other styles and exchanging ideas is a neat way of looking at things.
With that conversation finished, Zhang Shifu had me hand waters to the other students in the back of the car. My mind thinking about how to approach tournaments in the future.
📿Johnny
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