I’m constantly hearing the argument that karate tournaments are not good for you. When you enter a stressful situation we invoke an adrenaline response known as the fight or flight state of mind. When you are in this state of mind you get tunnel vision and you sometimes freeze up. Brain activity practically ceases. If you are a frequent visitor to this state of mind then you will feel more comfortable under stress. i.e. Stage fright!
One reason that karate techniques are practiced in a fashion that seems larger than necessary is that when you are under stress you tend to shorten up your techniques. Karate Black Belts will end up forgetting what to do and have to settle with their friends telling the other guy that they where lucky cause he’s a black belt. A similar response would be someone taking there hands off the wheel throwing there hands up in the air during a car accident. Another like response is I’ve heard of hunters actually pumping all of their shells out their gun and without even pulling the trigger.
A regular karate tournament competitor has to deal with stress on a regular basis and learns how to handle it much better as a result. Polls show that the number 1 fear is public speaking and competing in front of people helps to conquer this fear and the fear of fighting at the same time.
Opponents of Karate competition say that tournaments are nothing but a game of tag, but if you do your homework in the area of Self defense the lessons learned in the ring of speed, agility and strategy are also priceless.
Written by Perry Culver 6th dan Shotokan Karate
Culver Karate Club
Connellsville, Pa 15425
Ph: 724-626-5425
