Tournaments
 
 
AMA tournaments are controlled competitive environments that allow practitioners to display and improve
their skills in a safe environment. Although some may think it is all about "who is better", that is only a part
of their purpose in Taekwondo.  
 
In general, there are basically two types of tournaments:
 
  1. Winning a trophy at any cost, while exclaiming victory and scorning defeat.
  2. Competing with a good attitude (possibly winning a trophy) and learning under ideal conditions.
     
The second type is what we in Taekwondo try to achieve!
 
Remember that tournaments are not just about earning a
trophy. They allow our members to meet new people, make
new friends, put nerves to the test, and to display their skills.
 
By focusing on these purposes, it is very possible to be happy
if you win or lose. Most people think that the reward at a
tournament is the trophy. By eliminating this idea, we eliminate
the unnecessary devastation of leaving without a trophy.
 
In reality, competition is not just in a ring. Students of
Taekwondo, as well as all other human beings, are
competing with their self on a daily basis. We compete
with our body to lose weight. We compete with our mind to
retain knowledge.And we compete with our intellect on our
spiritual convictions.Even in the case of a match against
an opponent, we are notonly competing against that
person's skill, but also againstourselves to be the
absolute best that we can. Therefore,tournaments are a
great opportunity for increasing skills aswell as boosting
confidence. And it is possible to learn to haveself control
over ones temper, orbecome motivated to react positively

instead of negatively to the outcomes.  

 
For all these reasons and more, tournaments are a vital part of Taekwondo, and one of the most dynamic, fun aspects of our art.
 
Download the AMA Tournament Rules .
 
 
 
©2008 American Martial Arts Alliance
 
 
  ::