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I have never been in one I have seen quite a few and helped with one. To me tournaments are a way to show how good your technique is show off a little I don't like how most people sparr at tournaments at least the ones I have seen I don't like the point sparring stuff. To me if you are sparring for reality based training you should not be broken up it should go on for as long as both people can fight. You should have fights where you are trying to submit your opponent and fights where only striking is used and also mix it up. Tournaments help some build self confidence and it can also help build experience tournaments also allow your school to gain recognition so it can help get new student in the school.

Well there are tournaments that have continuous sparring. It is still points based but they don't stop you for every point, it's just timed and who ever gets the most points wins. Also if you looking for something more realistic they have full contact continuous sparring at some tournaments but thats mostly only for black belts that have the control not to completely kill each other. If your looking for sumbmission fighting go to a jujitsu tournament but really, sumbmission is too dangerous to do at tournaments because people get way too competeitive and end up snapping peoples arms or blacking people out.

Tournaments are fun yet stressfull lol. I practice contemporary wushu and wushu tournaments are basicly judged upon the aesthetics of certain forms. You are mainly docked off by your mistakes, but if you can pull of nandu moves "difficulty moves" points are added to your score.

I believe that tournaments is a great experience for anybody. It tests what you can do, meet new people, and reflect upon how you can better yourself. biggrin

Ive been in a couple of tournaments. I think its good use of technique and skill because you always have to be ready for what your apponent will do next and be perpared for the unexpected.

I remember my 1st tournament I did, I really didnt want to do but my instructor kept pushing me so I did and 2nd round, got knocked out when this guy hit on the pressure point between your neck and jaw *cant for the lifeof me remember what its called* So got dragged off the mat, never wanted to do it again but I think Ive been in 5 or 6 actual tournaments since then lolz We have one every year for the Aikia organization. But I like tournaments. You get to meet alot of new people and I thinking watching them is the best part, try to pick up on something new. Theres been alot of demos and tournaments in my dojang this month for some reason. I was in a tounament last week and Ive got one tomorrow as well. Yours in Illinois darkangel?

Injuries. Yeah Ive twisted a few things. A couple black eyes and then that one time I got knocked out. But I get more injuries in the dojang and I think during demos too. God Ive broken god knows what god know how many times just sparring with in my class lolz. I think the worst TKD in anything injury I ever had was I had a concussion that caused internal bleeding in my head and broke my nose... long story lolz.

In about six months or so I'll be getting my green sash, I want to go into continual sparring, Hopefuly I'll get the 1st place!

Ive only been to a couple tournaments hosted by other schools. I remember I had busted my foot before one so I didnt compete but theres this guy I became good friends with through my dojang and when he up at the tournament his nose was just gushing blood and only when he got knocked out did the school call a penalty on its student. But I am a member of the Aikia so thats where I do most of my tournaments otherwise I do county or state tournaments, I dont really trust other schools.