While you are not required to attend every tournament, attendance and participation is an important part of Tae Kwon Do training. Through the observance of others and healthy competition, students can better themselves in ways that are not possible to achieve in the gym alone. It is the application of theory and the practice of techniques in sparring competition that help students better understand the material studied in the gym. Tournament participation and experience are invaluable to the student's Tae Kwon Do training. At tournaments, the competitors are always grouped in small sections of students of comparable rank and physical size. This practice makes the competition fair and possible for anyone to be a winner. The tournament director does his/her very best to let each competitor have the best possible competition, not the easiest. In each division, each child should have a good chance to win. There will always be a biggest kid and a smallest kid in each division, but with similar training and comparable ranks, even the smallest in the division can come out the winner. Competition is beneficial at all ranks. Tournaments are held all over the upper mid-west with a number of family tournaments held closer to home. These family tournaments involve all schools in the Lee's Tae Kwon Do program and are held to orientate and familiarize students with tournament experience. This increases their confidence and sparks their excitement for the healthy competition of Tae Kwon Do.

There are many positive reasons for students to compete:

1. Tournaments serve as a healthy forum for competition and a challenge for which students can prepare and strive to become better
2. It helps them learn ways of matching skills to an opponent of the same level from schools in an arena of fair and safe play
3. It encourages good sportsmanship
4. It introduces students to those of the same rank from other schools and friendships are bound to develop with these people as they compete with one another throughout their training at various tournaments
5. In pattern competition they are required to present themselves verbally, then physically and confidently perform in front of the judges, their peers, seniors, Black Belts, friends, family and spectators - this builds confidence!

Tournaments, family and otherwise, are always conducted in a safe manner. Though Tae Kwon Do is a contact sport, every effort is made to ensure that the competition is light and fun, while maintaining the integrity and seriousness of the sport. Lee's Tae Kwon Do sponsors a family tournament in October each year and the big spring tournament in April which draws competitors from all over the state as well as North Dakota, South Dakotas Wisconsin, and Northwest Iowa. For your safety, you should only compete in tournaments that have been approved by your instructor. This will ensure that any tournament in which you compete is of the safest and highest quality possible. Consider this the same standards by which you would never compete in a sporting event without your coach or his/her approval.

Tournament Pattern Presentation

It is beneficial for students to practice their pattern presentation before a tournament. This is something that parents can run through with children. In pattern competition, the competitors are lined up outside of the competition ring, directly across from the judges. Someone will call a name. That student will say, "Yes, sir (or ma'am)" as they stand up and bow to the judges to acknowledge that their name has been called. The competitor turns around to neaten the uniform and check that the belt is tight, and then turns to face the judges and bows again. The competitor turns and walks in front of the other competitors to stand before the judges and bows again while still outside of the ring. Only now does a competitor enter the competition ring and approach the judges. Upon reaching a respectful speaking distance from the judge panel, the student bows and gets into jun bi. Now they are ready to present. (A good example) "Judges, my name is John Doe from Ultimate Kicks Tae Kwon Do in Watertown. The pattern I would like to present is Pal-Gwe Il Chang. Judges." The student bows. At this point, the head judge will instruct the student to back up. The student responds, "Yes, Sir (or ma'am)" The judge will say, "Jun Bi … Begin" The student goes through their pattern and holds the last movement until the judge tells them "Gher-man." The judge will ask the student to turn around while the judges score from 5.0 to 9.9. Points are shown on the fingers. Two scores are generally given; the first round of point being the whole number and the second round being the decimal. The judge will tell the student to turn around and have a seat. Students should remember to reply with, "Yes, sir (or ma'am)" and to remember to bow when approaching or leaving the judges or the ring. The more a student practices this presentation, the more comfortable they will be in competition. This is a great way for parents to help their children prepare.