Competition is Part of Our DNA at Alexander’s
Our martial arts school grew from a program that emphasized participating in tournaments. The UAH karate program and the team at UAH had many nationally rated competitors in the 1990’s. Berry Grizzard, Mr. Alexander’s instructor was a top rated NASKA Super Heavyweight and winner of World Rated Events like the US Open. Mr. Alexander went on to be the #1 rated MIddleweight in North America by the North American Sport Karate Association (NASKA). Our program has produced at least a dozen NASKA National #1 rated players.
Don’t take it the wrong way – not everyone did tournaments
That may sound a little like our school was just a “fight club” or the “Cobra Kai” in the “Karate Kid,” but that could not be further from the truth. We enjoyed the competition and the comraderie of training and traveling to compete, but less than half of the school did touraments and only about 10-15% were avid competitors, and because those competitors brough home lessons from the competitior circuit, everyone benefitted.
Also, not every event was run like a world-class competition. Sometimes they ran long and sometimes the judging left a little to be desired, but we learned from that too.
Benefits of competition
Beyond the physical blocks, strikes, and kicks practiced in the dojo, martial arts training is ultimately about character development. While daily classes build a strong foundation, karate tournaments serve as a powerful catalyst for personal growth. Competing in a tournament takes students out of their comfort zones and accelerates life lessons that are difficult to replicate in a standard classroom setting.
The singularity of the tournament (it’s a one-day thing) and the typical single-elimination structure of the sparring divisions tend to focus the students’ attention completely. Students learn to quickly adapt to an evolving challenges because every match is a new opponent (and as you progress through the brackets presumably a better opponent). When you combine that with variables like the ability of judges to see the techniques score (or not score) in a dynamic physical space, it’s a lot to process.
Most new competitors are completely occupied in controlling themselves. With experience, they begin to learn to influence other things like their opponent (through positioning and strategy) and the angles you present to the judges. The focus expands from controlling oneself to influencing the environment to support your success. Then, when the matches are over it’s back to controlling yourself.
Mastering the Art of Winning and Losing
The most profound benefit of tournament competition is that it provides a safe, structured environment to experience high-stakes success and failure.
- Learning to Lose with Dignity: In a tournament, many students will face defeat. Losing a match teaches martial artists that failure is not a reflection of their worth, but a map for future improvement. It builds resilience, helps students manage disappointment, and teaches them to respect their opponent’s skill.
- Learning to Win with Humility: Standing on the podium is a thrilling experience, but karate etiquette demands humility. Winning teaches students to appreciate their hard work while remaining gracious and respectful to those they defeated. It reinforces the idea that true martial artists remain modest, regardless of their achievements.
Accelerating Personal Development
Tournaments test a student’s mental fortitude just as much as their physical skill. Stepping onto the competition mat requires overcoming stage fright, managing adrenaline, and maintaining intense focus under pressure. This builds a profound sense of self-confidence that carries over into school, career, and everyday life.
Furthermore, preparing for a tournament gives students a tangible, short-term goal. This deadline naturally increases their focus during regular classes, pushing them to refine their techniques, improve their conditioning, and understand the deeper nuances of their forms (kata) or sparring (kumite).
Ultimately, trophies may gather dust, but the emotional intelligence, resilience, and confidence gained from stepping onto the tournament floor stay with a student for a lifetime.
Benefits of an “In-House” Event
One way to help make sure early competitions are building experiences is to either do in-house (hosted by your school) or invitational events (hosted by a school you know) as a way to break the ice. Knowing the rules ahead of time, knowing people involved and the mindset behind the event can help everyone know what to expect. There will still be opportunities for winners and losers and for managing expectation, but it’s a good way to get started. Then, you can compete on a State, Regional, National, or World Circuit.
A Powerful Partnership
Martial arts provides children and adults with a unique toolkit for navigating the world with control and confidence. By training their bodies to move with precision and their minds to focus with intent, karateka (karate students) learn the invaluable skill of accuracy. This synergy between the physical and mental disciplines creates a powerful positive feedback loop. It helps students not only land a perfect kick, but also neatly stack the dishes, accurately solve an equation, and confidently tackle challenges in the office.
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51 Nance Rd.
Madison, AL
256-837-8624
