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Title [Martial Arts Globe] How the Martial Arts Community Adjusts to the Pandemic: Virtual Tournaments and Online Training
* Photo provided by author. How the Martial Arts Community Adjusts to the Pandemic: Virtual Tournaments and Online Training By Gene Ching
The global pandemic had a profound effect on everything including the martial arts. Quarantines shut down countless small businesses resulting in a devastating impact upon martial arts schools. What’s more, all manner of in-person events were cancelled, including tournaments. The
Emergence of Virtual Tournaments Eager to support their communities, many event
promoters pivoted to producing virtual tournaments. These ranged across the
many diverse styles that populate world martial arts such as Capoeira (Chunichi
Shimbun, 2021), Taekwondo (Richter, 2020; 2021 Silicon Valley Virtual Open),
Kung Fu (1st International Online Kung Fu Championships), Wushu (New
England International Chinese Martial Arts Championships), Tai Chi (2020
Tiger Claw Elite KungFuMagazine.com Online Championship), as well as cross-discipline
opens (The Ultimate Warriors Cup - Virtual Tournament; 2021 Online World
Martial Arts Masterships and WMC Convention 2021). Virtual tournaments require competitors to submit
videos demonstrating forms such as kata (Japanese), poomsae (Korean),
and taolu (Chinese). Usually, these videos had to be a continuous single
shot so as not to exaggerate the competitors’ skills with judicious video
editing. Unlike with a live tournament, competitors could submit their best
video take, allowing for untold ‘do-overs’ but that courtesy was extended to
everyone, so the playing field remained level. A few virtual tournaments offered other unique
contests that were more problematic, such as breaking (Richter, 2020; 2021
Silicon Valley Virtual Open). In-person tournaments have standardized boards,
but in a video, a competitor could use a weakened board, making fairness
dubious. Sparring wasn’t possible in an online platform. The close quarter
interaction of sparring is the opposite of social distancing. Nevertheless, virtual tournaments have many
advantages. There are no costs for renting a venue, and some promoters parlayed
into providing higher quality awards. More significantly, online tournaments do
not incur prohibitive travel and housing for competitors. Anyone could play
from anywhere because the web is worldwide. The 2021 Online World Martial Arts
Masterships propounded the pandemic era slogan “No visas, No passports, No
borders, No COVID-19’ and boasted the participation of 3,300 people from 100
countries in 10 martial arts categories including Olympic events such as Judo
and Taekwondo, as well as some rare styles like Kurash (Lee, 2021; Nguyen, 2021).
A
Successful Global Virtual Tournament: World Shaolin Kung Fu Online Contest Notable was the World Shaolin Kung Fu Online Contest, promoted
by the Shaolin Temple of China, the symbolic cradle of martial arts (World
Shaolin Kung Fu Online Contest Rules and Information 2022). Held in honor of
Lunar New Year, the ceremony was webcast on five continents: Asia/Oceania,
China, Europe/Africa, North America, South America. Shaolin that 5368
competitors from 94 countries registered to participate (Press Statement by
Shaolin Temple, 2022). The temple also stated that leaders from all over the
world including UNESCO ambassador and New York Mayor extended congratulatory
messages to the organizers. Even Jackie Chan endorsed the event (K-STAR
Training Academy, 2022). The World Shaolin Kung Fu Online Contest also had some
novel events such as ‘Shaolin Kung Fu “one move”’ where competitors only
demonstrated a single move whilst speaking out the name of the move and
“hitting, breaking and knocking down the target.” Another innovative category was
‘Family events’ where 2 to 5 generations of blood-related family members competed
as a unit. Prior to the pandemic, Shaolin Temple hosted the
Zhengzhou International Shaolin Wushu Festivals every other year (Ching, 2010).
These were massive, one of the largest martial arts gatherings in the world,
combining mass demonstrations, exhibitions, cultural exchanges, and an enormous
international competition. While there is no comparison between the gargantuan in-person
experience of a Shaolin Festival, Shaolin’s Online Contest presents its own
unique outreach program to the Shaolin community. With such international
reach, it has the potential to be perpetuated beyond the pandemic as its own
stand-alone event. Martial Arts Training Continues
from a Distance Beyond the cessation of in-person tournaments and
gatherings, many schools were forced to close during the pandemic worldwide.
Most martial arts school are independent ventures with no support from the
government or large corporations. Without the regular tuition from their
students, many school owners could not afford their mounting bills and had to
move on. Like with tournaments, some instructors migrated online to perpetuate
their teachings to their student body. For example, Sifu Kurtis Fujita had to close his Tiger
Crane Kung Fu, established in the summer of 2010 (Fujita, 2021). Concerned for
his students’ health, he closed his studio before the government mandates were
issued. However, despite applying government loans, the pandemic went for too
long for him to continue to make rent. Fujita closed his beloved studio, placing
all his equipment in storage. Fortunately, Fujita had already established a YouTube
channel (Tiger Crane Kung Fu, 2008) and quickly pivoted to producing online
lessons. At first, he shared content for free to support his students so they
might continue their practice while sheltered in place. His lessons progressed
to private videos live streamed on Zoom where he now cultivates a new online studio.
Martial
Arts in the New Normal Era When some of the quarantine restrictions were lifted,
martial arts schools that survived were able to continue classes outdoors.
Social distancing and masking presented some awkwardness to training because it
significantly impedes any sparring. However, with some creativity and reframing
of lessons, practitioners found ways to adjust (Forest, 2020). Some nations now allow mass gatherings again, so a few
in-person tournaments are being held again. Many schools have reopened too.
However, for many, the pandemic rages on, so its ultimate impact upon the
martial arts has yet to be seen. After all, the cornerstone of
martial arts tenets is overcoming obstacles. Although the pandemic presents tremendous
challenges, martial artists found creative ways to circumvent problematic
issues and persist with their practice and prevail. REFERENCES
※ Views in this writing are the author's own. |