Practicing Malavé Do doesn’t have to be about striving for titles or even being interested in competitive karate. Competing against yourself and striving for perfection based on your own conditions is more than enough. Malavé Do is designed for karate as an art form and not specifically for competition. Competition forms and rules may change over time, but the art of fighting according to the principles of karate remains.

At the same time, the competitive element in karate is very developing and gives the practitioner a chance to get some perspective on how far they have come and the opportunity to identify their strengths and weaknesses, so that you can continue to improve.

It does not have to be the big championships but smaller club championships and local cups are just as good. It is not always the level and seriousness of the competition you enter that is the point, but rather that it is an opportunity to gather yourself, have something to train for and aim for, and to learn to focus and lift yourself when it comes to a little extra. Then how it goes is less important - the main thing is that you do your best, learn something and have fun.

The basic principle of competitive kumite is to be the first to make a decisive attack, executed with full control and timing. The technique should also have power and good form.

Click on the links below to learn more about competition rules and principles.