Competition as Part of Training

One thing I have noticed over the last few years attending Kyokushin tournaments is how small many fighting divisions have become, particularly in knockdown competition. It has caused me to reflect on the value of experience and the role competition played in my own development as a martial artist.

When I began training, competition was simply part of Kyokushin. Not everyone became a champion, but almost everyone competed. In fact, my teacher would not promote a student to 4th kyu until they had competed in at least one open tournament. No, he did not require it to be knockdown, but you did have to compete.

Winning was not required, although everyone certainly wanted to do well. The requirement was never about collecting trophies. My teacher believed there were lessons that could only be learned through experience, and competition provided one of the best opportunities for students to gain that experience.

Recently I asked one of my students, Claudio, why he thought so few people step into the knockdown ring these days. His answer was immediate. “I think people are afraid.”  It was a young man’s answer, but one I suspect there is more truth to than many people would like to admit.

I laughed when he said it because I immediately recognized the point he was making. At the same time, I don’t believe fear is the only reason. Some practitioners are older. Some are dealing with injuries or medical conditions. Others have family or professional responsibilities that make competition impractical. Nevertheless, Claudio’s answer stayed with me because it highlighted something my teacher understood many years ago: most people naturally avoid situations where success is uncertain and failure is possible.

More Than Winning and Losing

That is not unique to martial arts. It is simply human nature. My teacher understood that, which is one reason he believed competition was an important part of a student’s development. Looking back, I believe he was right. My own experience as a competitor, instructor, and coach has shown me that competition offers benefits that are difficult to learn any other way.

Every instructor wants talented students to reach their potential. Champions do not emerge by accident. Some students demonstrate exceptional potential. Competition provides an opportunity to discover just how far that potential can take them.

At the same time, the value of competition extends far beyond identifying future champions. Most students will never become tournament champions, yet many still benefit tremendously from the experience. Competition has a way of exposing weaknesses, revealing strengths, and showing students what they need to work on. It provides honest feedback that is difficult to obtain through regular training alone.

Over the years I have seen students lose their first tournament and return to the dojo more motivated than ever. Instead of becoming discouraged, they gained a clearer understanding of what needed improvement. They trained harder, sharpened their skills, and became better martial artists because of the experience. In many cases, the lesson was not found in winning or losing, but in discovering where they stood and what they needed to do next.

The Value of Experience

That does not mean every karateka should spend years on the tournament circuit. What it does mean is that competition has a way of showing students where they really stand. An instructor can point out weaknesses and suggest areas for improvement, but there are times when students need to experience those things for themselves. A tournament often provides that opportunity.

Mas Oyama expressed a similar idea in the Tenth Motto: “The true essence of the Martial Way can only be realized through experience. Knowing this, learn never to fear its demands.”

Looking back, I think my teacher understood this principle well. Competition was never simply about winning or losing. It was about providing students with experiences that could not be fully explained to them. It was about placing them in situations where they would learn something about their training, their abilities, and themselves.

That is why I continue to believe there is tremendous value in every student competing at least once. Not because every student will become a champion, and not because competition is the only path to growth, but because some lessons can only be understood through experience.

Osu.

Connect with us:
Follow Kyokushin Karate Blog on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
Be sure to visit Kyokushinkai Karate, our Facebook group — the largest Kyokushin community online.

Learn more about Bill Stewart and Texas Kyokushin Karate, where we continue the Kyokushin tradition in Texas.