I used to be a tournament fighting fool. In the 80's we would drive and fight in 3-4 tournaments a weekend. Seriously , The oldies here will remember that Im sure.
Ive trained at Mr. Bob Whites school, Mr. Dick Willets school under Mr. Todd McEhenney,People such as Terry Crook, John "Big T" Turnage, The bird "Chicken Gabriel", Ray Leal , Steve Rice , Chris Romero, Jim McClure, Ken Firestone, Jim Muse, Bruce Leamer and others (go back and check some old mags from that period and you'll know what Im talking about.
But now I look back on it differently. I used to fight in just about every type of tourneys from JKA to EP Internationals. I would travel and have fought in every major tournament from Mexico into Vancouver B.C. What have I learned????
Competitors
The open tournaments players are not so much fighting based on style ie Kempo, TKD ect. They are based more on training specifically for tournaments. It doesnt matter what school or style your from as you would go to the best fighting school around and train with the other tournament players. Then at the schools the competition there is fearcely competitive. Fights breaking out during practice point matches, egos flaring unbelieveable.
Now its all about sponsor ship and sponsored teams, its hard for a individual competitor to compete.
Open tourneys the players from sponsored teams have a great advantage. they will get most of the opints called because they are very well known by the judges and the sponsors kick alot of money to promoters ect.
TKD tourney I found the Korean judges to be biased in their point calling. If your not TKD you cant buya point. I actually walked out of ring from being a side judge once because the center judge (korean and the only one who can call points in a TKD tourney) refused to acknowledge my point calling.
JKA pretty much the same way except substitue kick for reverse punch
The rules have changed to where they call 3 point head shots (kicks to head) 2 poiints kicks above the waist they say groin kicks are allowed but they dont called them. Punches and strikes 1 point. but they all different and the rules are applied based on the judges experiance.
My boy wants to go to one this week end. Mr. Dave Brock (well known EPAK Kempo instructor and tourney player( B/B HOF and 5 time International champ) has told me my son should clean up his division.
Mr.Brocks school is where Jack Felton #1 under 18 B/B tourney fighter in the country trains ( Hes sponsored also) and Mr.Brock has another youngin who is #3 in Green belt on the circuit 8 y.o.
So Mr.Brock should know my boys ability. But do I want to get him caught up in that mess.????
He wants to go but I dont know Im still thinking about it.
(Im my boys instructor and we train alone in my back yard but occasionally go to Daves (Mr. Brock) school for him to get some sparring practice). So Im must be doing ok. But he is a great athlete and Im proud of him. Ive taught him the warrior spirit from day one. At first he didnt really trust the old man but after 2 jr. cholos(spanish slang for gang bangers) were messing with him and he took one out and the other one ran away, not only do they notmess with him but He trust the old man..:>)
