What you call it depends upon the martial art that you study: poomsae, kata, form, or any of several other names. But since most tournaments simply list it as "forms," that's what I'll do for this present discussion. A form is a meticulously choreographed set of martial-arts techniques -- punches, kicks, blocks, stances, and such -- and represents serious combat against a number of imagined opponents. In my view, the form is also the solid foundation upon which senior martial artists must build their training programs.
Since I'll be turning 67 this summer, I can no longer handle the kinds of training sessions that introduced me to Taekwondo more than 40 years ago. Yes, a few things have changed -- cardio fitness, endurance, strength, flexibility, and speed among them. And since I want to continue my training for many years to come, I would be foolish to disregard the obvious physical changes that come with age. So I continually modify my training program to respect those changes while pushing as hard as I can.
The one element of training that doesn't change, though, is my emphasis on forms. Each form that you learn from white belt through the various black-belt ranks is a masterful lesson in how to apply proper techniques in a combat setting. Look at it this way: each time you execute a form properly it's like having a master instructor guiding you through key techniques and combinations. That's because each form you learn was created by master instructors of a given style in order to standardize training throughout the world. So the Sipjin [5th Dan] form that I practice in Kukkiwon Taekwondo should look the same as the Sipjin form being practiced by someone in Korea, Chile, or Australia.
Essentially forms represent a comprehensive curriculum for each martial art. Once you have learned a variety of techniques from your master, you learn how to execute them properly in forms. You begin with simple forms that rely on basic techniques, and you slowly move on to more complex forms that require a far greater understanding of how advanced techniques can be used in combination against multiple opponents. Along the way, forms deliver two important lessons:
-- Discipline: a form isn't worth doing if it's lazy, sloppy, or casual. You must master each movement and deliver each technique as though your life depends on it. After all, the techniques of the form could very well become a matter of life and death in actual combat.
-- The power of meditation: in order to execute a form seriously, you must close your mind to the clutter of noises, actions, and intrusive thoughts that surround your inner self. In my view, practicing forms is an elegant form of meditation that empowers you to forget about "stuff" and to focus on the present moment.
Since I'm on the topic, I should tell you what a form IS NOT. It is not an item on a checklist to get you from white belt to black belt in, let's say, two years. Yes, some schools crank out black belts at an alarming rate, and many of those black belts haven't reached adolescence yet. But a serious martial-arts school doesn't rely on a checklist in order to advance students from one rank to the next. Instead, it relies on the student's willingness to push himself or herself to the limit and upon his or her ability to master the necessary techniques. Knowing all the forms required to reach 1st Dan doesn't mean a student is ready to wear a black belt. But mastering forms is an important step toward a lifetime of success in the martial arts.
Do you know of senior-friendly schools in your area? If so, let me know about them, and I'll be happy to mention them in this blog. In the meantime, enjoy practicing those forms.
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
A change I would love to see
Each tournament I attend is different in some ways from all the others, and generally I'm well satisfied with the way Taekwondo tournaments are run. With rare exception, the tournament sponsors have invested a tremendous amount of time and energy in the venture, much of it devoted to selecting qualified and unbiased judges. The "unbiased" part is extremely important, by the way. Every now and then you run across a tournament in which the judges seem to know all the top local competitors and also seem to have certain events judged even before the competition begins. This, I'm glad to report, is the exception, not the rule.
But one judging norm that I would love to see changed is the fairly common practice of judging two forms competitors at the same time. For the uninitiated, this means having two competitors stepping onto the mat at the same time and executing their respective forms -- often different forms -- while being scored by three, four, or five judges.
Okay, first let's understand why this makes practical sense. Some tournaments may have 500 or more competitors, and if you had to judge 500 forms, all lasting roughly one minute, you would need over eight hours to get the job done. Obviously you cut that time in half by judging two competitors at the same time.
The problem, however, is that no judge is capable of watching two competitors at the same time. A judge can shift his or her attention from one athlete to the other periodically and get a general impression of how sharp each competitor looks, but he or she cannot possibly watch the full start-to-finish forms of two competitors at the same time. It can't be done. And by shifting attention back and forth between the two competitors, judges are apt to miss either the best techniques or worst mistakes -- or possibly both -- delivered by the two athletes.
So we seem to have a dilemma. If you judge all competitors individually, you end up with a tournament that never ends. But if you judge two forms at the same time, there's a good chance that the officials will miss something important. In addition, there's also a reasonable chance that the two competitors will collide in the middle of the mat, especially if they're executing two different, complex black-belt forms.
Well, there you have my brief analysis of the problem. Now it's fair to ask what, if anything, I would do to fix it. Answer: in the interest of time, I would continue the practice of judging two forms competitors when they are under the rank of black belt; for black belts, however, I would allow each competitor to receive the full attention of all judges throughout the complete form. Since all black-belt competitors should be executing their forms exceptionally well, it's critical that judges see everything that's right or wrong with each athlete's
performance. At this level of competition, small differences will make the difference between gold and silver, and judges simply can't see all the small differences if they're being asked to watch two forms at the same time.
All of this, of course, is just one man's opinion. If you would like to weigh in on the subject, please send an email. I'll gladly publish your comments no matter which side of the argument you take.
But one judging norm that I would love to see changed is the fairly common practice of judging two forms competitors at the same time. For the uninitiated, this means having two competitors stepping onto the mat at the same time and executing their respective forms -- often different forms -- while being scored by three, four, or five judges.
Okay, first let's understand why this makes practical sense. Some tournaments may have 500 or more competitors, and if you had to judge 500 forms, all lasting roughly one minute, you would need over eight hours to get the job done. Obviously you cut that time in half by judging two competitors at the same time.
The problem, however, is that no judge is capable of watching two competitors at the same time. A judge can shift his or her attention from one athlete to the other periodically and get a general impression of how sharp each competitor looks, but he or she cannot possibly watch the full start-to-finish forms of two competitors at the same time. It can't be done. And by shifting attention back and forth between the two competitors, judges are apt to miss either the best techniques or worst mistakes -- or possibly both -- delivered by the two athletes.
So we seem to have a dilemma. If you judge all competitors individually, you end up with a tournament that never ends. But if you judge two forms at the same time, there's a good chance that the officials will miss something important. In addition, there's also a reasonable chance that the two competitors will collide in the middle of the mat, especially if they're executing two different, complex black-belt forms.
Well, there you have my brief analysis of the problem. Now it's fair to ask what, if anything, I would do to fix it. Answer: in the interest of time, I would continue the practice of judging two forms competitors when they are under the rank of black belt; for black belts, however, I would allow each competitor to receive the full attention of all judges throughout the complete form. Since all black-belt competitors should be executing their forms exceptionally well, it's critical that judges see everything that's right or wrong with each athlete's
performance. At this level of competition, small differences will make the difference between gold and silver, and judges simply can't see all the small differences if they're being asked to watch two forms at the same time.
All of this, of course, is just one man's opinion. If you would like to weigh in on the subject, please send an email. I'll gladly publish your comments no matter which side of the argument you take.
Monday, April 22, 2013
Conquering back pain
In my family it has become known simply as "the book." My wife and two adult children have read it. I have recommended it to countless friends. And I generally read it myself at least two or three times each year. "The book" is Healing Back Pain by Dr. John Sarno, a highly regarded physician who has dedicated himself to identifying the link between physical symptoms and the innermost workings of our subconscious minds.
Let me begin with a true story. About 14 years ago I was suffering from crippling pain after my back "went out" one morning. I could barely walk, and the pain ranged from intense to unbearable. This wasn't the first time I had suffered severe back pain, but this was by far the worst episode. A colleague at work suggested that I read something that had changed his life, and he gave me his copy of Dr. Sarno's Healing Back Pain. That day I had to fly to Florida for a business convention, and I read the book from cover to cover while on the plane. It's a slender book and an easy read -- but it worked a small miracle in my life.
I hobbled onto the plane in the morning, and that afternoon in Florida I walked off as though I had never had back pain at all. If this sounds impossible to you, I understand, because it doesn't sound possible to me either. But it's true, because I lived the experience.
Here's my very short summary of Dr. Sarno's explanation for what causes most incidents of lower-back pain: our subconscious minds deliberately produce physical symptoms in order to keep us from examining specific elements of anxiety or anger in our lives. It's the brain's way of saying, "Don't go there." And by throwing some pain at us, the subconscious mind gets us focusing on something that completely draws us away from the underlying psychological issue that needs addressing.
This is a layman's very brief overview of a book that is written in plain English and may work a miracle in your life if you're suffering from lower-back pain, shoulder pain, heart palpitations, and a host of other problems related to the phenomenon that Dr. Sarno describes in his book.
So why am I writing about Healing Back Pain today? Ah, good question. Well, this past Friday morning my back "went out" while I was training at the gym. And the timing could not have been worse, since I was set to compete in a tournament the following day. I'm sure that many of my readers understand how it feels to have all those months of preparation go down the drain the day before a tournament because of some dumb injury.
But this story has a happy ending, thanks to Dr. Sarno. I went home and read "the book." One of the points that Dr. Sarno makes is that IF your back is structurally sound -- and doctors have found that mine certainly is -- then the pain is caused not by injury but by the actions of your subconscious mind. And the best -- actually the ONLY -- was to overcome the pain is to accept that it's a fraud. Rather than tiptoe around the pain, take it for what it is: a phony roadblock that your brain has set in your path. Long story made short: after reading Dr. Sarno's book yet again, I was able to compete the next day, high kicks and all.
Fifteen years ago this would not have been possible. Back then I would have seen a doctor, who would have prescribed pain killers, physical therapy, and rest. The doctor might also have said, "Oh, and stay away from that activity, because your back can't take it." Thanks to Dr. Sarno, I now know that the enemy is psychological, not physical, and that there's no reason to baby my back.
I'm 66, and perhaps one of these days I'll have an actual physical ailment that prevents me from practicing the Taekwondo that I love so much. But I'm not there yet, and chances are you aren't either. If you're sitting on the sidelines because of back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, or any other "problem" that's making life less fun than it should be, please do yourself a great favor. Buy a paperback copy of Healing Back Pain. Here's hoping the book works a miracle in your life . . . as it has in mine.
All the best to you.
Let me begin with a true story. About 14 years ago I was suffering from crippling pain after my back "went out" one morning. I could barely walk, and the pain ranged from intense to unbearable. This wasn't the first time I had suffered severe back pain, but this was by far the worst episode. A colleague at work suggested that I read something that had changed his life, and he gave me his copy of Dr. Sarno's Healing Back Pain. That day I had to fly to Florida for a business convention, and I read the book from cover to cover while on the plane. It's a slender book and an easy read -- but it worked a small miracle in my life.
I hobbled onto the plane in the morning, and that afternoon in Florida I walked off as though I had never had back pain at all. If this sounds impossible to you, I understand, because it doesn't sound possible to me either. But it's true, because I lived the experience.
Here's my very short summary of Dr. Sarno's explanation for what causes most incidents of lower-back pain: our subconscious minds deliberately produce physical symptoms in order to keep us from examining specific elements of anxiety or anger in our lives. It's the brain's way of saying, "Don't go there." And by throwing some pain at us, the subconscious mind gets us focusing on something that completely draws us away from the underlying psychological issue that needs addressing.
This is a layman's very brief overview of a book that is written in plain English and may work a miracle in your life if you're suffering from lower-back pain, shoulder pain, heart palpitations, and a host of other problems related to the phenomenon that Dr. Sarno describes in his book.
So why am I writing about Healing Back Pain today? Ah, good question. Well, this past Friday morning my back "went out" while I was training at the gym. And the timing could not have been worse, since I was set to compete in a tournament the following day. I'm sure that many of my readers understand how it feels to have all those months of preparation go down the drain the day before a tournament because of some dumb injury.
But this story has a happy ending, thanks to Dr. Sarno. I went home and read "the book." One of the points that Dr. Sarno makes is that IF your back is structurally sound -- and doctors have found that mine certainly is -- then the pain is caused not by injury but by the actions of your subconscious mind. And the best -- actually the ONLY -- was to overcome the pain is to accept that it's a fraud. Rather than tiptoe around the pain, take it for what it is: a phony roadblock that your brain has set in your path. Long story made short: after reading Dr. Sarno's book yet again, I was able to compete the next day, high kicks and all.
Fifteen years ago this would not have been possible. Back then I would have seen a doctor, who would have prescribed pain killers, physical therapy, and rest. The doctor might also have said, "Oh, and stay away from that activity, because your back can't take it." Thanks to Dr. Sarno, I now know that the enemy is psychological, not physical, and that there's no reason to baby my back.
I'm 66, and perhaps one of these days I'll have an actual physical ailment that prevents me from practicing the Taekwondo that I love so much. But I'm not there yet, and chances are you aren't either. If you're sitting on the sidelines because of back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, or any other "problem" that's making life less fun than it should be, please do yourself a great favor. Buy a paperback copy of Healing Back Pain. Here's hoping the book works a miracle in your life . . . as it has in mine.
All the best to you.
Monday, April 8, 2013
Put the YOU in AAU Taekwondo
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.
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.
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
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