Adam James 

The Power of Gathering

By Adam James

Getting together with others will build strength. Training with fellow martial arts will test your abilities, sharpen your reactions and deepen your understanding.

To improve as a martial artist, we must regularly practice with dedication, passion, and purpose. However, we must also seek opportunities to get together with other martial artists in all the different venues possible.

Tournaments and matches are always excellent. Competition will push athletes to a higher level of performance. There are many local tournaments to participate in and also it’s great to travel to major tournaments both to compete but also to observe.

Some of the biggest tournaments include the US Open ISKA World Martial Arts Championships, the AKA Warrior Cup, Compete International Karate Championships, the Battle of Atlanta and the Long Beach International Karate Championships (the historic martial arts tournament that was founded by Ed Parker, where Bruce Lee was first discovered). 

Boxing, kickboxing, and MMA arranged matches are also amazing but they must be handled with professionalism and proper medical care. It’s important to match the athletes with similar skill set, size and ability for fairness and safety.

Seminars and martial art conferences are also great for gathering with others. Learning from well established and recognized martial arts instructors enhances skills and knowledge.

Also, it’s important to meet with fellow martial artists and develop new friendships. To just sit down, have a cup of tea and talk with other martial artists - learning, growing, sharing all happens when we get together with others. 

Professor Gary Lee, the founder of the Sport Karate Museum has organized many celebrity roasts for some of the most famous martial artists in history including Bob Wall of Enter the Dragon and World Black Belt. 

The celebrity roasts are particularly fun to attend because everyone tells jokes at their expense. During the Bob Wall Roast, Sid Campbell dressed up as O’Hara, the famous character Bob played in Enter the Dragon, and Eric Lee pretended to be Bruce Lee. Sid and Eric performed a very funny comedy skit that had everyone laughing. 

No doubt about it, getting together with fellow martial artists will challenge you and reward you in so many ways.

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