Fantastic event!
Strickland’s Martial Arts celebrated one of its biggest turnouts ever in the Lewisville Karate Tournament last September!
Almost 500 excited and motivated competitors from seven states found their way to the Lewisville Convention Center, to compete for gold, silver and bronze medals. Karate students from as far away as New Jersey flew in to prove their skills. Nearly a 100 of them form our school alone!
The excitement started months prior however, as students began to train with the intentions of bringing their best martial arts skills to the two fun filled tournament days. Competition was held in 12 full size rings filled with judges, fierce competition and great excitement.
A great board breaking station was there for students eager to compete for medals in the thrilling board breaking challenge!
Each ring hosted a participant performing artistic forms, free sparring, flag sparring, combos, weapons, team sparring and padded stick fighting. Competitors thrilled judged and spectator alike with their skill, attitude, effort, and confidence!
The forms competition was a sight to behold. Every student, with laser sharp focus performed their best with intentions of being louder, stronger, and more polished than the next. Stricklands Martial Arts stood out, by showing other schools that instilling confidence is key to being a great martial artist.
The flag sparring was a fantastic event to even the playing field. Emphasizing reaction time and quickness, students went toe to toe trying to pull the flags out of each others belts before time ran out. Parents watched on the edge of their seats, and shouted in joy when their child succeeded in ripping a flag out of their opponent's belt.
Sparring, as always, was the most anticipated and intense event of the day. With safety and respect in the back of their minds, each student was challenged to use everything they’ve learned in matches for medals. Witnessing students from the same and competing schools go up against each other sent a surge of rivalry throughout the room that can only be described as motivating. In a point break style, the competitors sparred until a point was scored. The student with the most points when time ran out, progressed to the next round.
With parents and students of all ranks wondering why competing can be so important, just remember how exciting it can be to learn from others. In addition to bonding with fellow martial artists, you have the opportunity to spar with different individuals from a rival school. Doing this, and the other events, allows students to showcase their skills and learn what they need to work on. This type of environment is both safe and exhilarating and can only be learned in a competitive atmosphere.
The camaraderie at these events is nothing short of amazing. Everyone giving each other high fives and cheering each other on, regardless of the school they are from it truly an experience. As a program that values discipline, we equally find value in competition. Goal setting and competition go hand in hand. You can set goals, you can make a plan to reach them, but competition helps to add a deadline. Deadlines help to keep checks on our goals.
The art of winning and losing gracefully, can only be learned through competition. It is in our nature to win, but to be a winner, you must plan to win! Only through preparation can you expect to win!
A winner is someone who recognizes his or her given talents, and works his or her tail off to develop them into skills. Skills accomplish goals. The DFW National tournament schedule in March is open to all belt levels including Tiny Tigers! There is an amazing Demo Team competition held on Friday night with as many as 8 teams participating. This is a must participate event. Schools bond, friendships are forged, and students are cheered on for their effort. Don’t sit the bench! Don’t go to watch, go to participate! See you there!
At the upcoming DFW National Tournaments we plan to crush our goals!
