Tournaments

Tips

First Tournament?

Congratulations on your decision to enter your first tournament! While every tournament is different, here are some things that you can expect:

• Most tournaments are held in community centers, high school gymnasiums or convention centers. You will find that they are usually are easy to find with supplied directions and signs. But don't take chances it is always better to arrive a little early then late.
• If you are competing, you can usually skip the queue at the door. Competitors have will have already paid the entry fee. There will be a small fee for spectators.
• Competitors will have a stub from there entry form. Keep this form with you, you will need it to compete.
• Once you are in the arena, (don't forget to bow on your way in and out!) Find a spot to store your gear and find a place to sit. Chances are that someone else from your school will be in the stands. Supporting each other is half the fun.
• The next step is to determine what "Ring" you are in and when you will compete. At several locations around the floor of the tournament there will be long lists of competitors. This list will include your name, your "round" and your "ring" most regional tournaments have 4 "rounds" and 15 "rings" National tournaments last several days and have several rounds and over 30 "rings". Take a pen and paper and write down your Round and Ring numbers. Having one person per school to do this for all school participants is a great idea as this will reduce congestion at the "listing board"
• The lists are organized by alphabetically name and by "Rings". Rounds and Rings are organized by Age, Rank and Gender. Take a second to see if you recognize anyone else in your ring.
• Typically (but not always) Tiny Tigers will be in the first round, Karate for Kid participants will be in the next round, Teens will he next. And XMA and Adult students will be in the last round. Usually the first two rounds occur before lunch and the last two rounds happen after lunch. But careful with that. Missing your "Round" will ruin your whole day.
• If everyone in your family is competing, you should plan on spending the whole day at the tournament.

During the tournament?

The tournament is about to begin! Here is what will happen:

• The Lineup.
  At the start time of the tournament the tournament organizers will call everyone to attention and they will begin the line up. The line up will being with 4th Degree Black Belts and will work back to 1st Degree Black Belts and then through the colour belts "red/black" to white. Pay attention and listen for your belt rank/colour to be called, be on the floor at the back. When your belt is called to line up, answer up with a big "YES SIR/MA'AM"and line up in the line nearest you unless directed by a Black Belt.
  
  
• Tiny Tiger Parade.
  Once everyone is lined up, the Tiny Tigers will enter the tournament hall in a Tiny Tiger Parade.  Typically they will line up in a space left on the middle of the floor. A great chance for pictures!
  
  
• Introductions of the Officials and Masters and National Anthems.
  After the Tiny Tiger Parade the Tournament Sponsors and attending Masters will be introduced one at a time. They will take a position at the front of the room by the flags.  Everyone stands, and we sing the applicable national anthems.  Following the anthems some of the Masters may make a short speech or presentation recognizing a special event, person or offering words of encouragement.
  
  
• Oaths and Bow in.
  There will be three oaths followed by a bow-in. The first oath will be for competitors, the second is for judges and the third is for parents. All are to remind us to have a fun fair and safe tournament. Once the bow in is complete the Tournament Organizer will ask for permission from the ranking Master to start the tournament, once granted, the rounds will begin.

Points?

Yes you can earn points at a tournament. These points can accumulate and if you are successful at tournaments you can earn enough points to be declared a "State" or "Canada" Champ. "Champ" titles are awarded annually to the best students in each of "Form", "Sparing", "Weapons", "XMA Form" and "XMA Weapons" The top ten of the State and Canada Champs will be invited to the World Championships held each June in Little Rock Arkansas.

It is important to remember that you must be registered in the leadership program to collect points.

Through hard work and dedication, our school has been quite successful at tournaments and we have our fair share of "Canada Champs".

Cheering?

Cheering is an important part of tournaments and it is fun to encourage your kids, spouse or other students from your school. But while cheering is encouraged, coaching from the side of a ring is against the rules of ATA/WTTU tournaments. Sometimes the difference is not always clear. Here are some examples that should help:

• Good cheering examples: GO Johnny GO or Come on Johnny
• Unacceptable example: Faster Johnny! or Block Johnny BLOCK

Sometimes the difference is a very fine line, if you have questions about this ask your instructor.

Safety?

WTTU/ATA Tournaments are the most dynamic and fun aspect of Songahm Taekwondo.  They are conducted in a controlled environment with an atmosphere of mutual respect and safety. WTTU/ATA members participate for the thrill of the competition rather than the desire to win a trophy at any cost.  Competitors often see old friends at tournaments as well as make new ones.  Tournaments also allow students from the hosting school to show off their skills by putting on a demonstration To assure safety and fairness at all tournaments, a set of rules has been established by the WTTU ATA.  These rules are available here.

Win A Trophy?

The underlying theme of every WTTU/ATA Tournament is that "to compete is to win".   And as such, every competitor 12 years old and younger will received a trophy for every tournament that they participate in. Teen and Adult participants will receive trophies (and leadership points) for a first, second or third place finish. Trophies are awarded just prior to each ring's bow out and are awarded via a paper "ticket" this ticket is then traded in at the trophy table.  At most tournaments there will be available an engraving service that will personalize your trophy for a small fee.

Avoiding Problems

Tournaments are huge undertakings involving hundreds, sometimes thousands of participants.  Do not be shy in offering assistance to any tournament official.  Also don't be shy to ask for help if you notice a problem or if something isn't right.

One of the hardest thing for judges and score keepers to keep straight is the sparing portion of the competition.  During this event all competitors will be wearing head and body shields and everyone looks pretty much alike.

Here is a tip that will help out your Score Keeper and Center Judge.
 If you win a sparing match and advance to the next round, take a second, at the end of your match, walk over to the Centre Judge, politely get their attention,  bow, and say "Sir/Ma'am, my name is ----, I won my round and I am advancing, bow again and say, THANK YOU SIR. This makes management of the sparing ladder easy and avoids errors.