Why We Compete?

With our 16th Annual School Tournament approaching, the subject of competition invariably comes up. There will be students who will say they are not competitive. Competition is part of life. Without it there is no growth. A student may say they are not competitive, but it may really mean that do not feel the need to prove themselves in the martial arts and they may be very competitive in other areas of their lives, or it may be an excuse to not deal with the stress of the competition.

When we make ourselves accountable by competing against others or performing in front of others, we give ourselves the opportunity to infuse mind body, spirit, and emotions into our technique like never before

Healthy competition is the natural way to insure we improve ourselves. As long as you are in the world, you must compete, and if you must compete, you must win. I believe in the importance of competition within ourselves and to challenge our selves against other’s achievements. In this way, we put pressure on ourselves to change and it encourages us to bring out our best qualities and to compound those advantages into superiority.

The Dojang includes healthy competition as do all sports, but it encompasses a greater system for self-improvement than any other sport. Martial arts have a unique opportunity to train mind, body, spirit, and emotions in harmony through a unique system. This system empowers people for life!

Moo Shim Sho Vel