Going to an open tournament

**The_Tao** · Posted On: 1/31/2008 6:39pm

I wasn't sure where this belongs so I dumped it here (a thousant apologies if I'm wrong). Me and my kung fu school are going to go to an open karate tornament to spar, any ideas of what to expect/ any outlawed techniques?

**The_Tao** · Posted On: 1/31/2008 7:09pm

why is this in reviews? I asked a question

**Frank White** · Posted On: 1/31/2008 7:11pm

Where?

**The_Tao** · Posted On: 1/31/2008 7:15pm

I thought I put it in Strikistan, I was asking what to expect as in the rules and if there's anything I should know

**Frank White** · Posted On: 1/31/2008 8:17pm

No, where is the tournament.

**Tom Kagan** · Posted On: 1/31/2008 8:18pm

Originally Posted by The_Tao

why is this in reviews? I asked a question

A moderator missed.

**senseipookie** · Posted On: 1/31/2008 8:26pm

Oh, my - where do we start?

First of all, forget any thoughts your people have about actually "fighting". Point sparring is half playing tag, half acting. Expect lots of very fast people with good reach and flexibility scoring points by throwing "strikes" that would get little more than a snicker before you knocked them out in a real situation. And to "defend" against being scored on, they will stand so far sideways that you have to really control yourself not to take out their kidneys or spine - since those are illegal targets. But their legal targets (chest, stomach, ribs) will be out of your reach.

And you'll see lots of people in satin gis with the American Flag or dragons and cobras all over them slapping each other on the back telling each other what badasses they are. And even though they are from different schools and technically competing with each other, they all belong to a little clique that sees each other at every open tournament in the area, and all know who has won half the matches before they even start. And the referees know this too. You can't outright accuse them of being unfair (most of the time anyway), but you know damn well they are going to be looking for that famous lead side ridgehand or spinning back roundhouse kick that their guy always scores with. So even if your guys come in with a good hit, a tie will always go to the favorite.

OK, I need to sit down and take my meds now - that twitch is starting to come back again.

**The_Tao** · Posted On: 1/31/2008 8:39pm

So, no sweeps ,throws, kicks to the head or punches to the head?

**Goju - Joe** · Posted On: 1/31/2008 8:46pm

Originally Posted by The_Tao

So, no sweeps ,throws, kicks to the head or punches to the head?

If you can't find MMA I would suggest looking for sport Ju jitsu

**senseipookie** · Posted On: 1/31/2008 8:54pm

A lot of those things depend on the individual tournament. Some allow head shots, some only allow kicks to the head, others don't allow any. And some allow striking towards the head, but you have to pull it 6 inches away from contact. 90% guaranteed no throws, but most allow a sweep if it is immediately followed up with a strike.

Oh, and make sure they don't use "excessive contact"

Does the promoter have a website? Lots of times they'll post the rules online, or send them with registration forms if you ask for them.