Letter from Michael Kinney to the Editor of “The Karate Voice”
Dear Editor,
After reading the comments of the young tournament competitors in the last issue of the Karate Voice, I feel compelled to write and offer them some of my insights based on more than 30 years of competition, coaching and judging in karate tournaments around the world.
There were very few young people in Karate in the early 60′s. I was tall and lanky for my age and after thousands of matches in my life, I honestly can say that I understand the hostility towards bad judging and poor, unqualified referees.
In 1964, tournaments only had adult divisions. As a 13 year old, I could only participate in divisions where I was the small lower belt– at first. Every competitor I faced was bigger and stronger. Not smarter! I adapted to the challenge. People began to support me on the sidelines and after a few years of seriously paying my dues, I won often, but even if I lost, I was more concerned with my performance in the ring– not the judge’s.
However, if I had the attitude displayed by the kids and their comments to the Karate Voice, I would never have succeeded in the competitive exercise of tournament competition. Furthermore, my career in the Martial Arts probably would have ended.
I blame the coaches of the kids for the negative attitude displayed, not the judges.
I learned early how to lose. As a young competitor, over a hundred participants in my divisions often made winning very difficult. The main reason that I persevered and was successful, was my positive attitude about competition and the judging inequities that were unavoidable.
Even at the highest level in athletic events, in all other sports, poor judging decisions remain the sore point due to human error. Referees and officials certainly don’t come to tournaments to work without compensation, usually spending valuable free time to be abused by competitors, parents and coaches who don’t understand the basic concept of competition. I have never talked to an official that came to a tournament to be unfair and do a bad job. Poor judging is an age-old tradition in sports. Remember the last Olympic boxing events in Korea?
The commercialization of the Martial Arts has caused a lack of understanding of the real reasons for participation in these ancient arts. The coaches and instructors of tournament Karate today needs to foster a more positive attitude in participants .
A well-trained coach should immediately correct a poor attitude to protect the investment in the competitor’s training. Coaches should be certain to only take students to events that have some type of certification program for judges. Too many tournaments just grab “anybody” available to enter the ring in judgment of paying competitors. If a Black Belt doesn’t know or understand the judging process, they shouldn’t be in the ring. Too many promoters sacrifice a competitor with poor judge choices. Even if the event goes on all night, inexperienced Black Belts shouldn’t be in the center position. The best athletes “serve their time” and “play the game.”
To excel, you have to “just do it.” You do not let the judging, injuries, disorganization or anything make you quit. You come back the next time and try again.
I have trained national champions who fought and did forms for years without winning, but they had the attitude that allows a competitor to bounce back into the ring, year after year. That is what finally made them win and made them so good in the Martial Arts. It has nothing to do with judging. After a certain amount of experience, poor judging is just a minor irritant. Most good competitors win despite the judges.
Kids, remember that when you go into the ring, you are merely adding a notch of experience on your belt. Win or lose, fair or unfair, good or bad judging. The best competitors today are on top because of their superior attitude. It keeps them coming to tournaments despite the odds.
“Sticking with it” is the skill that makes a winner. The harder you take a loss, the easier it is to walk away from the challenge.
Often, it’s the parents that add to the recipe for failing. Often, a parent’s momentary disappointment becomes more important than the long-term and true commitment that the young athlete must endure. In most sports, parents have no influence in the act of judgment. Parents are not permitted on the athletic event floor. Participation as a spectator, even for years, doesn’t qualify anyone to be judgmental of the officials controlling the ring. Most delays in the ring occur when an outsider, unaware of the rules, causes everyone to sit and wait. Those not aware of the circumstances for the delay blame the judges.
By far, the worst interpretation of scoring comes from the competitor who can’t see the called point, the coaches on the side-lines who only see the moves from their charges, and the parents, who have no idea of the degree of difficulty, or even the most basic rules in the act of judging.
There is no mandate saying, “Karate tournaments are fair.” Needless to say, that unfairness mirrors real life. Good competitors will not enter the world outside of Karate as quitters. Nor will they have illusions as to what is fair and what is not fair in real life. They will enter job interviews and other challenges with courage and persistence. ‘ They will not need to pass the blame to justify unfairness.
It is the responsibility of the instructor and coach to reinforce the proper attitude in tournament Karate. It is up to the promoter to provide qualified judges, so that competitors get a fair opportunity. Teach that no one who enters a tournament is a loser. You win by just putting on the gloves and by being there to take the challenge and pay the dues. This perseverance will pay off for a lifetime. By just making the effort to be in the ring, you are a warrior, who might lose unfairly, but you are miles ahead of those who quit because of a poorly trained attitude.
You have to learn to be a good loser before you can be a good winner.
Sincerely,
Michael Kinney
