A couple of weeks ago I had the good fortune -- and the good sense -- to compete in my first AAU Taekwondo tournament. So now I ask: why did I wait 66 years for something this outstanding?
Since this was my first AAU Taekwondo event, I really had no idea what to expect. After all, every tournament I've attended has had a different sponsor, and each tournament has been wonderful in its own way. But I must say that the AAU Taekwondo Middle Atlantic District Championship -- hosted by Grandmaster Louis Parlagreco -- truly raised the bar for other martial-arts tournament sponsors.
A major reason for this, as it turns out, is that the AAU has a highly detailed handbook that specifies precisely how a Taekwondo tournament will be run. The handbook covers, well, just about everything associated with a tournament -- from how to obtain official AAU sanctioning for the event to the hand signals that judges will use when managing their events. And, yes, the handbook even specifies what the certified judges will wear in order to give the event a highly professional look: white shirt and tie, black slacks, white sneakers, etc. Does this really matter? Absolutely. From the moment you step into the competition hall, you have the feeling that things are very much under control.
I found the judges to be well trained, highly consistent in their application of the rules, demanding but fair in their scoring, and completely in charge of their rings. When the judges are on top of their game, the contestants and spectators go by the rules. No bad-mouthing calls; no trash-talking; and no obnoxious second-guessing from the stands. This is how it should be, of course.
The other benefit of having certified judges running their assigned rings was that the entire tournament ran like a finely tuned Swiss watch. Events began when they were supposed to, and competitors always knew where they were supposed to
be . . . and when.
Okay, so this was an outstanding event. What does that mean for you? Well, it's time to put YOU in AAU Taekwondo. Your next opportunity will be the AAU Taekwondo New Jersey State Championships, to be held on April 20th in Spotswood, NJ. Click over to www.aautaekwondo.org to find out how to join the AAU and how to register for the upcoming NJ event. Or you can begin by looking at the tournament flyer at AAU Taekwondo NJ Championship.
If you're a Taekwondo Senior, it's time to get back in the game. And by the way: the AAU also offers tournaments in other martial arts, so don't feel left out if Taekwondo's not your style. Visit the AAU website today.
Hope to see you at a tournament soon.
Monday, April 8, 2013
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Mercer County Nationals: Two Thumbs Up
Here's a well-deserved tip of the hat to Sensei Ivan Mendez for the outstanding job he did with this year's Mercer County Nationals martial-arts tournament. The event was held on March 16th at Rider University, and this year Sensei Mendez had arranged for the use of two gyms instead of the usual one. The second gym really helped, because once again the tournament attracted hundreds of competitors as well as serious crowds in the stands.
I had the pleasurable task of spending the entire morning as a judge for one of the kids' rings -- intermediate girls ranging in age from 10-12 -- and I was extremely impressed with the level of skill they exhibited in both forms and point sparring. In addition to a high level of competitiveness, the girls showed a strong sense of camaraderie, and that's an essential ingredient of life in the martial arts. In every tournament a few people go home with medals or trophies while most don't. But everyone wins by trying his or her best, by learning new skills, by meeting new friends, and by showing respect for the discipline that lies at the heart of all martial arts.
When not judging, I had time to catch some action in the other rings -- from kids 6 and under to folks over 60 -- and found the level of competition to be exceptionally high. My only disappointment was in not seeing more seniors in the tournament. I had alerted this blog's readers to the fact that Sensei Mendez had created a senior-friendly tournament by offering both 50+ and 60+ divisions -- something you don't often find in large tournaments -- but too few seniors donned their uniforms this year. If you weren't there, you missed a golden opportunity to participate in friendly as well as spirited competition.
So now you have to wait until next year. But that gives you plenty of time to get active in the martial arts or perhaps to dust off the uniform you haven't worn in a few years. If you're 50+ and reading this blog, I hope to see you at the Mercer County Nationals in 2014. If you join me for this major event, you'll look forward to it each year.
Congratulations to Sensei Ivan Mendez on the highly successful 18th Annual Mercer County Nationals. Let's all be on hand for the 19th Annual version next March.
I had the pleasurable task of spending the entire morning as a judge for one of the kids' rings -- intermediate girls ranging in age from 10-12 -- and I was extremely impressed with the level of skill they exhibited in both forms and point sparring. In addition to a high level of competitiveness, the girls showed a strong sense of camaraderie, and that's an essential ingredient of life in the martial arts. In every tournament a few people go home with medals or trophies while most don't. But everyone wins by trying his or her best, by learning new skills, by meeting new friends, and by showing respect for the discipline that lies at the heart of all martial arts.
When not judging, I had time to catch some action in the other rings -- from kids 6 and under to folks over 60 -- and found the level of competition to be exceptionally high. My only disappointment was in not seeing more seniors in the tournament. I had alerted this blog's readers to the fact that Sensei Mendez had created a senior-friendly tournament by offering both 50+ and 60+ divisions -- something you don't often find in large tournaments -- but too few seniors donned their uniforms this year. If you weren't there, you missed a golden opportunity to participate in friendly as well as spirited competition.
So now you have to wait until next year. But that gives you plenty of time to get active in the martial arts or perhaps to dust off the uniform you haven't worn in a few years. If you're 50+ and reading this blog, I hope to see you at the Mercer County Nationals in 2014. If you join me for this major event, you'll look forward to it each year.
Congratulations to Sensei Ivan Mendez on the highly successful 18th Annual Mercer County Nationals. Let's all be on hand for the 19th Annual version next March.
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Thoughts on tournament preparation
As I've mentioned in this blog twice before, the Mercer County Nationals will be held at Rider University on Saturday, March 16th. You can check back to previous posts for all the details.
Today's topic is related but different: how do you prepare for a martial-arts tournament when you're 55, 65, 75, or older? The answer is different for every senior, of course, depending upon your exact age, level of fitness, and martial-arts experience. Oh, and yes, the answer will vary according to what your physician says. You should not undertake any serious athletic venture until you've been checked out by the doc.
But here are some general tips that may help you, especially if you've been off the tournament circuit for some time.
1. Understand why you're competing. Tournaments are merely an extension of your formal martial-arts training, so think of them as steps toward your long-term goal of mastering your particular style. Don't think about the color of a medal or trophy. Simply do your best. If you compete, you win. This is not about capturing awards.
2. Know what you're doing. If you're competing, let's say, in forms, you really do need to know the form. This sounds awfully obvious, I realize, but you'd be surprised how many competitors simply don't know the form they're supposed to be demonstrating. Okay, a few people forget under pressure. But most of those who fail to finish just didn't practice enough. How much is enough? In order for a form to become second nature, you will have to perform it hundreds of times. If you haven't invested that sort of time, save your entry fee for the next tournament.
3. Cardio training is essential. Whether you compete in sparring, forms, or weapons, you need to have the stamina to get through an entire day. Even though your event may last only a minute or two, you'll feel the adrenaline pumping all day long as you watch other competitors in action. By the time your event gets called, you'll need all the reserve energy you can muster, because even a one-minute form will drain you if you do it seriously.
4. Taper your training. As you approach the tournament date, you need to begin resting any overworked body parts. How far in advance you shift into "maintenance mode" is up to your body, but generally you should figure on taking things a bit easier for one or two weeks prior to the tournament. The goal is to avoid over-use injuries, and you can do that by not going all-out during your practice sessions. It's important to stretch every day and continue moderate cardio training, but don't train every day at "competition level." Save that top level for the actual tournament.
5. Warm up, warm up, warm up. Don't plan on getting to the tournament and walking right into your event. Instead, get there a couple of hours early so that you get a feel for the facility, the crowd, the other competitors, and your emotions. Once you've settled in, begin a gentle workout: dynamic stretching, static stretching, light kicking, and so forth. Get your body warm, and keep it warm and loose right up until your event is called. Maybe some 20-year-olds can just jump onto the floor and fly through their routines without warming up, but you're not 20, and neither am I.
6. Cool down properly. The proper way to cool down after a workout or a tournament event is to stretch. Remember, a tournament is really just another training session, and you should end every training session with stretching. The best time to stretch is ALWAYS after your body is well warmed up.
7. Search for the next tournament. If you approach your first tournament as an enjoyable learning experience, you'll find that you'll want to compete again. Try to get in at least three or four tournaments each year so that you always have an intermediate training goal. If you approach each tournament as part of your long-term goal of mastering a martial art, you'll add immeasurably to your level of knowledge and self-confidence.
Hope to see you at the Mercer County Nationals on March 16th.
Today's topic is related but different: how do you prepare for a martial-arts tournament when you're 55, 65, 75, or older? The answer is different for every senior, of course, depending upon your exact age, level of fitness, and martial-arts experience. Oh, and yes, the answer will vary according to what your physician says. You should not undertake any serious athletic venture until you've been checked out by the doc.
But here are some general tips that may help you, especially if you've been off the tournament circuit for some time.
1. Understand why you're competing. Tournaments are merely an extension of your formal martial-arts training, so think of them as steps toward your long-term goal of mastering your particular style. Don't think about the color of a medal or trophy. Simply do your best. If you compete, you win. This is not about capturing awards.
2. Know what you're doing. If you're competing, let's say, in forms, you really do need to know the form. This sounds awfully obvious, I realize, but you'd be surprised how many competitors simply don't know the form they're supposed to be demonstrating. Okay, a few people forget under pressure. But most of those who fail to finish just didn't practice enough. How much is enough? In order for a form to become second nature, you will have to perform it hundreds of times. If you haven't invested that sort of time, save your entry fee for the next tournament.
3. Cardio training is essential. Whether you compete in sparring, forms, or weapons, you need to have the stamina to get through an entire day. Even though your event may last only a minute or two, you'll feel the adrenaline pumping all day long as you watch other competitors in action. By the time your event gets called, you'll need all the reserve energy you can muster, because even a one-minute form will drain you if you do it seriously.
4. Taper your training. As you approach the tournament date, you need to begin resting any overworked body parts. How far in advance you shift into "maintenance mode" is up to your body, but generally you should figure on taking things a bit easier for one or two weeks prior to the tournament. The goal is to avoid over-use injuries, and you can do that by not going all-out during your practice sessions. It's important to stretch every day and continue moderate cardio training, but don't train every day at "competition level." Save that top level for the actual tournament.
5. Warm up, warm up, warm up. Don't plan on getting to the tournament and walking right into your event. Instead, get there a couple of hours early so that you get a feel for the facility, the crowd, the other competitors, and your emotions. Once you've settled in, begin a gentle workout: dynamic stretching, static stretching, light kicking, and so forth. Get your body warm, and keep it warm and loose right up until your event is called. Maybe some 20-year-olds can just jump onto the floor and fly through their routines without warming up, but you're not 20, and neither am I.
6. Cool down properly. The proper way to cool down after a workout or a tournament event is to stretch. Remember, a tournament is really just another training session, and you should end every training session with stretching. The best time to stretch is ALWAYS after your body is well warmed up.
7. Search for the next tournament. If you approach your first tournament as an enjoyable learning experience, you'll find that you'll want to compete again. Try to get in at least three or four tournaments each year so that you always have an intermediate training goal. If you approach each tournament as part of your long-term goal of mastering a martial art, you'll add immeasurably to your level of knowledge and self-confidence.
Hope to see you at the Mercer County Nationals on March 16th.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Mercer County Nationals: A Senior-Friendly Event
If you're a senior in the martial arts, plan now to be at Rider University in Lawrenceville, N.J., on March 16th for the 18th Annual Mercer County National Karate Championship. Under the leadership of Master Ivan Mendez, this year's tournament promises to be an even bigger success than last year's first-rate event.
Last year's tournament attracted 550 competitors and more than 700 spectators. To help accommodate the growing interest in this family-oriented program, the 2013 Mercer County Nationals will operate in two Rider University gyms rather than just one. Athletes will once again be able to compete in weapons, forms, point sparring, and continuous sparring, in each case according to age and rank.
The tournament is open to martial artists regardless of style, so for spectators this is a golden opportunity to see top competitors representing a wide range of martial-arts disciplines. Media coverage for the event will be provided by Action Martial Arts Magazine.
One of the most important features of this year's tournament is best represented by the words of the director, Master Mendez: "We are seeking female & male competitors over 50 & 60 years old to participate in the event's activities. This year we would love to commemorate SENIORS for their efforts and contributions to the martial arts." If that doesn't sound senior-friendly enough for you, then you should read the sentences again.
Many tournaments -- too many, I would say -- have a top age group of 35 or 40, and that doesn't send a warm-and-fuzzy message to those of us who are pushing 70. So I give Master Mendez two thumbs up for actively promoting the role of seniors in the martial arts and doing what he can to attract older competitors.
The rest is up to us now. If you're 50 or older and still active in a martial art, please join me at the 2013 Mercer County Nationals. It's not about whether you come home with a medal. It's about staying in the game, doing your best, and making some new friends.
See you at Rider University on March 16th. For more information about the 2013 Mercer County National Karate Championship, please visit http://www.karatetournaments.com/event_pages/mercer.htm
Last year's tournament attracted 550 competitors and more than 700 spectators. To help accommodate the growing interest in this family-oriented program, the 2013 Mercer County Nationals will operate in two Rider University gyms rather than just one. Athletes will once again be able to compete in weapons, forms, point sparring, and continuous sparring, in each case according to age and rank.
The tournament is open to martial artists regardless of style, so for spectators this is a golden opportunity to see top competitors representing a wide range of martial-arts disciplines. Media coverage for the event will be provided by Action Martial Arts Magazine.
One of the most important features of this year's tournament is best represented by the words of the director, Master Mendez: "We are seeking female & male competitors over 50 & 60 years old to participate in the event's activities. This year we would love to commemorate SENIORS for their efforts and contributions to the martial arts." If that doesn't sound senior-friendly enough for you, then you should read the sentences again.
Many tournaments -- too many, I would say -- have a top age group of 35 or 40, and that doesn't send a warm-and-fuzzy message to those of us who are pushing 70. So I give Master Mendez two thumbs up for actively promoting the role of seniors in the martial arts and doing what he can to attract older competitors.
The rest is up to us now. If you're 50 or older and still active in a martial art, please join me at the 2013 Mercer County Nationals. It's not about whether you come home with a medal. It's about staying in the game, doing your best, and making some new friends.
See you at Rider University on March 16th. For more information about the 2013 Mercer County National Karate Championship, please visit http://www.karatetournaments.com/event_pages/mercer.htm
Thursday, February 7, 2013
You just ran out of excuses
If you live in Central New Jersey and have been complaining that you can't find martial-arts programs for seniors, you'll have to find a new excuse for not training. There are now two ways for you to access senior-friendly programs if you live in or around West Windsor.
Free workshops for senior centers. Yours truly is now offering free "senior self-defense workshops" -- either one or two 45-minute sessions -- at official community senior centers in Central New Jersey. The sessions can cover unarmed self-defense only or incorporate self-defense techniques using a standard cane. These programs cover a set of basic techniques that seniors can use in the event of an attack. Participants should be cleared by their physicians to take part in this low- to moderate-intensity program, and all participants MUST sign a liability waiver. If you're interested in this no-cost basic workshop, please speak with your local senior center director so that he or she can place me on the schedule. A contact form is available at www.seniortkd.com.
Ongoing martial arts classes. Men and women who are 55 and older can enroll in a senior-friendly program offered by my friend and colleague, Master Steven Phillips (pictured at right), owner and head instructor of the West Windsor Taekwondo Academy. A 5th-degree black belt who has more than 90 championships to his credit -- including world championship belts for kickboxing -- Master Phillips will provide classes for seniors who are either just beginning their martial arts training or for experienced martial artists who want to train with other seniors. Students of all ranks and styles are welcome to participate in this "fitness and self-defense" program. For information about enrollment and the nature of the training, please contact Master Phillips. You'll find his phone number at www.seniortkd.com. Pictured below is a portion of Master Phillips' West Windsor studio.
As I've said in this blog many times before, it's not too late to "unretire" or to begin martial arts training for the first time. For a fuller discussion of why I believe seniors belong in the martial arts, simply visit "Taekwondo for Seniors" at www.seniortkd.com.
Hope to see you before long.
Free workshops for senior centers. Yours truly is now offering free "senior self-defense workshops" -- either one or two 45-minute sessions -- at official community senior centers in Central New Jersey. The sessions can cover unarmed self-defense only or incorporate self-defense techniques using a standard cane. These programs cover a set of basic techniques that seniors can use in the event of an attack. Participants should be cleared by their physicians to take part in this low- to moderate-intensity program, and all participants MUST sign a liability waiver. If you're interested in this no-cost basic workshop, please speak with your local senior center director so that he or she can place me on the schedule. A contact form is available at www.seniortkd.com.
Ongoing martial arts classes. Men and women who are 55 and older can enroll in a senior-friendly program offered by my friend and colleague, Master Steven Phillips (pictured at right), owner and head instructor of the West Windsor Taekwondo Academy. A 5th-degree black belt who has more than 90 championships to his credit -- including world championship belts for kickboxing -- Master Phillips will provide classes for seniors who are either just beginning their martial arts training or for experienced martial artists who want to train with other seniors. Students of all ranks and styles are welcome to participate in this "fitness and self-defense" program. For information about enrollment and the nature of the training, please contact Master Phillips. You'll find his phone number at www.seniortkd.com. Pictured below is a portion of Master Phillips' West Windsor studio.
West Windsor Taekwondo Academy
Hope to see you before long.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Where to buy your martial-arts equipment
Reader alert: this is NOT a paid advertisement. It's just some neighborly advice based upon my own experience in shopping for martial-arts gear.
If you live in New Jersey or anywhere near Philadelphia, the place you want to visit is Academy of Karate Martial Arts Supplies in Haddon Heights, NJ. Live in Montana? Then check out the store online. If it exists, they have it. And if they don't have it in stock, they'll get it for you.
Because I hate shopping for anything, it's not my nature to brag about great stores that I've found. But the Academy of Karate rates all five stars that I give it for quality, prices, and service. And get this: I normally drive there [40 minutes each way] rather than order online just because I like the place.
Uniforms? Yes, an exceptional variety. Weapons? You bet. Kicking dummies? Any kind you want. Books? A first-rate selection. And most of the time when you visit the store you'll bump into fellow martial artists -- often school owners -- who are buying equipment for themselves or their students. So you often get to strike up a conversation with someone you aren't going to meet in the dairy aisle of your local food store.
When I need something but can't visit the store, I just call. Friendly service that brings the martial-arts equipment to my front door. What's not to love?
I don't accept advertising for this blog. My only goal is to help keep senior martial artists training and competing. So here's today's simple tip: put Academy of Karate Martial Arts Supplies on your team. Check out the store online right now to see what you're missing.
www.martialartssupermarket.com.
If you live in New Jersey or anywhere near Philadelphia, the place you want to visit is Academy of Karate Martial Arts Supplies in Haddon Heights, NJ. Live in Montana? Then check out the store online. If it exists, they have it. And if they don't have it in stock, they'll get it for you.
Because I hate shopping for anything, it's not my nature to brag about great stores that I've found. But the Academy of Karate rates all five stars that I give it for quality, prices, and service. And get this: I normally drive there [40 minutes each way] rather than order online just because I like the place.
Uniforms? Yes, an exceptional variety. Weapons? You bet. Kicking dummies? Any kind you want. Books? A first-rate selection. And most of the time when you visit the store you'll bump into fellow martial artists -- often school owners -- who are buying equipment for themselves or their students. So you often get to strike up a conversation with someone you aren't going to meet in the dairy aisle of your local food store.
When I need something but can't visit the store, I just call. Friendly service that brings the martial-arts equipment to my front door. What's not to love?
I don't accept advertising for this blog. My only goal is to help keep senior martial artists training and competing. So here's today's simple tip: put Academy of Karate Martial Arts Supplies on your team. Check out the store online right now to see what you're missing.
www.martialartssupermarket.com.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Mercer County Nationals, 2013
The new year has begun, and hundreds of us who live in New Jersey will kick off the tournament season on March 16th at Rider University. That's when Master Ivan Mendez will host the 18th Annual Mercer County National Karate Championships.
I had the pleasure of competing in the 2012 version of this tournament, and I can tell you that it was well run, fairly officiated, and loaded with talented athletes ranging in age from under 6 to over 60. The event offers competition in sparring, forms, and weapons, and each category is broken into a huge range of age groups and is further refined by the competitors' ranks.
Although most of the age groups cover the younger set -- it sometimes seems that every kid in America is currently studying a martial art -- I think it's important to know that Master Mendez makes sure there's room for old guys like me in his tournament. So you'll also find "Senior" and "Executive" divisions. "Executive" sounds much nicer than "really old," doesn't it? Either way, I'll be there on March 16th.
If you're 60 or older, please plan to compete! Through this blog I have been trying to locate as many 60+ black belts as possible and urging them to participate in well-run tournaments. So here's your chance. Remember, it's not about whether you win a trophy. It's about showing that older martial artists don't have to be put out to pasture. In the March 16th tournament you won't have to compete against some who's 21. You'll be able to show your stuff against martial artists whose ages are close to yours.
If you haven't competed in a tournament recently, you'll find the Rider University gym to be an outstanding venue, conveniently located just off
I-95 in Lawrenceville, NJ. For more information about the tournament, visit http://www.karatetournaments.com/event_pages/mercer.pdf, where you'll find details on the competition itself as well as driving directions and registration materials.
If you're a senior in the martial arts, now's the time to get back in the game. Hope to see you on March 16th.
I had the pleasure of competing in the 2012 version of this tournament, and I can tell you that it was well run, fairly officiated, and loaded with talented athletes ranging in age from under 6 to over 60. The event offers competition in sparring, forms, and weapons, and each category is broken into a huge range of age groups and is further refined by the competitors' ranks.
Although most of the age groups cover the younger set -- it sometimes seems that every kid in America is currently studying a martial art -- I think it's important to know that Master Mendez makes sure there's room for old guys like me in his tournament. So you'll also find "Senior" and "Executive" divisions. "Executive" sounds much nicer than "really old," doesn't it? Either way, I'll be there on March 16th.
If you're 60 or older, please plan to compete! Through this blog I have been trying to locate as many 60+ black belts as possible and urging them to participate in well-run tournaments. So here's your chance. Remember, it's not about whether you win a trophy. It's about showing that older martial artists don't have to be put out to pasture. In the March 16th tournament you won't have to compete against some who's 21. You'll be able to show your stuff against martial artists whose ages are close to yours.
If you haven't competed in a tournament recently, you'll find the Rider University gym to be an outstanding venue, conveniently located just off
I-95 in Lawrenceville, NJ. For more information about the tournament, visit http://www.karatetournaments.com/event_pages/mercer.pdf, where you'll find details on the competition itself as well as driving directions and registration materials.
If you're a senior in the martial arts, now's the time to get back in the game. Hope to see you on March 16th.
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