Through our long history of working with Young Americans Self Defense here in Minnesota, we have established a running allowance for our younger students to participate in the biannual Young Americans Tournaments. There is a new coming up on December 6th, 2025. Our students have historically gone and done very well and we encourage them to go every chance they can. It is a lot of fun and the kids always say they have a good time. During the month of November, we will be going over tournament etiquette and techniques for the students, but anyone is welcome, especially if you plan on joining other tournaments at some point in your practice.
Going to a tournament, while it is fun and exciting, is usually seen as a competition against other martial artists. While on the surface that is true, if you look deeper, a tournament is more of a competition to test your confidence in your abilities. Think about it. In class, you may sometimes spar or practice your techniques with peer students, but at a tournament, you may not know who you are going up against. Compare this to real world self-defense situations. In class, you may be able to easily perform a technique if someone grabs you, but what if you are in the middle of a busy area, many eyes on you and you have no idea who this other person is that just grabbed you. A tournament gives you the opportunity to train your mind and body to be ready for the kind of stress you will undergo during a self-defense encounter. Consider this while thinking about reasons to go. Plus, unlike the real world, you will also get a participation trophy and awards for winning. Win-win.
Head Instructor Shawn Morris