Tournaments - 05/15/08 01:47 PM
Have you ever experienced "tournament politics"? For example, when one of the judges has a student of theirs (or friend) competing in their ring? First of all, I don't believe someone should be allowed to judge someone from their own martial arts school in a tournament setting.
Case in point: I was at a tournament observing and due to lack of attendance, there was only 3 competitors in one particular ring/division - all equal age & same gender. One was a higher ranking competitor (normally similar ranks compete together, but on occasion, divisions are combined). The other 2 competitors were of equal rank.
The first peer competed and blanked out in the middle of their form. He came to attention, bowed, and the center judge told him to take up where he blanked out. The second peer did his form prior and did it without error. But the competitor who blanked out ended up coming in second place! I saw that he knew the judges and was joking with them prior to the competition and is from the same school/area.
Why didn't the competitor who blanked out, come in third? Do you suspect politics were involved? Without hesitation, I would guess "yes" but I'm curious to hear other's thoughts on something like this.
Case in point: I was at a tournament observing and due to lack of attendance, there was only 3 competitors in one particular ring/division - all equal age & same gender. One was a higher ranking competitor (normally similar ranks compete together, but on occasion, divisions are combined). The other 2 competitors were of equal rank.
The first peer competed and blanked out in the middle of their form. He came to attention, bowed, and the center judge told him to take up where he blanked out. The second peer did his form prior and did it without error. But the competitor who blanked out ended up coming in second place! I saw that he knew the judges and was joking with them prior to the competition and is from the same school/area.
Why didn't the competitor who blanked out, come in third? Do you suspect politics were involved? Without hesitation, I would guess "yes" but I'm curious to hear other's thoughts on something like this.