Saturday I attended my first virtual tournament at Oom Yung Doe.
Tournaments in Oom Yung Doe are conducted in the manner of traditional martial arts tournaments prior to Westernization.
These tournaments are not sparring competitions. They are a series of demonstrations of various martial arts forms taught by the school.
Participants are judged on how well they have improved in their technique and form.
Everyone is cheering on the other participants. Good will is in the air, and the energy is very positive.
The demonstrations are amazing to watch. Participants are of all ages, races, and gender, and respect is not even a question. I am in my early 60's, and have watched demonstrations by students easily ten years senior to me and that left me envious of their ability to move in ways that I can't yet.
I know everyone there has worked diligently to achive these forms, and I feel privileged to be in their company.
The atmosphere is a microcosm of what I would wish and hope for greater society to become.
I demonstrated a short form of Tai Chi called Tai Guk Chung. (Update 11-14-2025: I looked it up in the study guide.)
We should get our results and access to videos of the demonstrations around November 22nd. I'm looking forward to it.
With respect,
Dan Stafford,
Bamboo Grasshopper.
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