| THE AVERAGE MARTIAL ARTS DISPLAY | | | | and involve the crowd. For example, tell one side of |
| (THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT!) | | | | the audience that they have to cheer for one of the |
| By this sweeping statement made above, I do of | | | | Karateka, while the other half has to give as much |
| course mean that we need to understand what it is | | | | support as possible for the other one!) |
| NOT. | | | | - Goshin |
| It is not a lesson | | | | (self-defence, what everyone wants to see: A real |
| It is not a grading | | | | show-stopper. A small child being picked on by a group |
| It is not a technical demonstration in front of ones | | | | of much older, bigger people: All together now: "aahh"! |
| "peers" | | | | Then, the small child turns the tables: "Hooray!!") |
| It IS a show! | | | | - Ko-Budo |
| And, as such, it is required that it be interesting, | | | | (weapons, they lend a good bit of excitement, |
| informative and (most importantly) exciting and | | | | especially the good old nunchaku! Its important to give |
| entertaining. | | | | a good introduction to this particular "turn". Give a short, |
| A martial arts display is a golden opportunity for a local | | | | potted history about the particular weapon being used, |
| instructor in several ways: It affords him the | | | | and draw special attention to how dangerous this |
| opportunity to stimulate and highlight his students by | | | | weapon is, etc.) |
| giving them particular areas of responsibility, as well as | | | | - Tamaeshiwara |
| enabling her/him to demonstrate in a very concrete | | | | (breaking techniques, absolutely the BEST TYPE OF |
| manner that the club is an integral part of the | | | | "Grande Finale" there is. Again, a good, dramatic |
| community. | | | | build-up is of the utmost importance here!) |
| In short: It is an important operation in public relations, | | | | - Rei (remember to do some bows towards the |
| and so need to be handled with due care and | | | | crowds as well, all with loud "oose", they will love it, and |
| professionalism in order for the martial arts club to | | | | you should try and "milk" it for all it is worth!) |
| capitalise upon this. | | | | Try and make sure that you have a good sound |
| So, you have been approached be some official or | | | | system, and keep up a good running commentary |
| other who has asked that you perform a martial arts | | | | throughout to build and maintain the crowds energy |
| display at some local up-coming event. | | | | and enthusiasm, and also help guide them through |
| The first thing you need to do is to glean as much | | | | what is going on, and so increase their enjoyment and |
| information as you can from this person using the | | | | appreciation. |
| good old WHO, WHAT WHERE, WHEN, WHY and | | | | If you can include some other aspects to make it even |
| HOW: | | | | more exciting, such as lying on a bed of nails, and |
| WHO- Will you be performing in front of? | | | | having someone break a concrete block on your |
| (Is it just the general public? Or is it some type of | | | | chest, or bending spears with your body, then all the |
| "special interest" group such as local dignitaries or | | | | better (providing you trained in this type of thing, have |
| (horror of horrors!) other martial artists?) | | | | practiced it, and know for certain that nothing can go |
| WHAT- precisely do they expect of you and your | | | | wrong!) |
| demonstration team? | | | | A martial arts display has, of simple necessity, to be a |
| (Are they looking to encourage more people into | | | | marriage between good, solid technical demonstrations |
| sports? or raise awareness levels of the need for | | | | of martial prowess and a bit of "Razamataz" for the |
| people to learn some form of self-defence? Etc) | | | | crowd. Also, try and inject a bit of humour into the |
| WHERE- Are will the event be held? | | | | proceedings, as everyone appreciates a bit of a laugh. |
| (Will it be indoors or outdoors? Will there be mats? | | | | Now is the time for everyone to mingle with the |
| Etc) | | | | crowd, chatting to them and answering any questions |
| WHEN- Will it take place? | | | | they might have regarding your club and the martial art |
| (Will it be in the heat of summer, or the cold of winter? | | | | you practice, and (very important this) handing out |
| Will it affect your travel arrangements? | | | | some leaflets with all the information they need |
| WHY- Are you being asked? | | | | regarding when you train and even directions on how |
| (Is it because they have heard good things about your | | | | to get to your club! |
| club? Or is it just because the Mayors Daughter | | | | Also, don't take it for granted that the main event |
| happens to be one of your students?) | | | | organisers have contacted the local press. You should |
| HOW- Long do they want the display to last? | | | | contact them as well. If they cant send a member of |
| (Is it to be a short, sharp type of show, or a more | | | | staff to cover the event, then they will normally ask |
| lengthy, drawn-out kind of affair?) | | | | you to do your own write -up on it and send in any |
| All of this information is absolutely vital in identifying the | | | | photos that might have been taken, which they will |
| time, resources, materials and personnel you will need | | | | then edit and include in their publication some time in the |
| to do a good job. Once you have all the facts you | | | | future. The martial arts press might also be interested, |
| need, the next step will be to relay this information to | | | | so give them a try as well. |
| your instructors/students at the next training session | | | | To make any display a success, you will need to plan |
| so that everyone is made well aware of what is going | | | | and prepare it. This means setting extra time aside for |
| on. | | | | plenty of rehearsals. These will serve to both improve |
| Sometimes, it will be possible for everyone in the club | | | | the overall technical performance and help the team to |
| to perform in the display, at others, you might be | | | | establish and maintain a good, positive group dynamic. |
| required to be a little more selective and choose a | | | | Remember to have under-studies for each of the |
| special team from amongst your students. This can | | | | "main acts" because, as we are all well aware |
| cause several problems for the average martial arts | | | | "whatever can go wrong, will go wrong!" and |
| instructor: | | | | whatever happens the show MUST go on. |
| It can disrupt the normal state of affairs in the dojo, | | | | Also, be sure to make use of anyone who is not |
| having a detrimental affect upon the teaching and | | | | directly involved with the display as "Logistical Support". |
| learning environment and, as well as causing students | | | | They can help out with setting up, transport, getting |
| to feel nervous and anxious about the performance | | | | food and drinks for the display team, etc. If you happen |
| they must give. In addition, if you do have to choose a | | | | to have a junior section in your club, then you will |
| display team from your members, then it can place a | | | | usually find that some of the parents will be more than |
| great strain upon the more usual type of group | | | | happy to lend a helping hand. All of this assistance is |
| dynamic, so you will need to consider each of these | | | | invaluable, as you will find that it will free you up to |
| aspects before committing yourself and your club to | | | | concentrate upon making sure the actual display goes |
| such an endeavour. | | | | according to plan, rather than having to worry about |
| BASIC OUTLINE FOR A KARATE DISPLAY: | | | | putting down mats or buying and transporting tiles and |
| (adapt to your own particular martial art(s) Judo, | | | | planks of wood for the breaking techniques etc. |
| Kung-Fu, Aikido,etc) | | | | That said, everything is still, ultimately, your own |
| So, in your club you have all of the usual elements | | | | responsibility. So you should carry out at least one |
| found in a karate dojo. | | | | check upon absolutely everything in order to put your |
| - Rei | | | | own mind at ease. |
| (The formal bow, made after a fast, dynamic entry!) | | | | CONCLUSION |
| - Junan Taisen | | | | As already stated, a martial arts display can be a |
| (warm up exercises. NOT very interesting for | | | | golden opportunity for the local martial artists to not |
| spectators, but necessary. Try and do the majority of | | | | only "strut their stuff" gain good publicity and even |
| your warm up prior to entering the display area) | | | | some new members, but also to show that they are |
| - Kihon Waza | | | | an integral part of the community at large. It is an |
| (basic techniques, can get the attention of the crowd if | | | | exercise in public relations that can have a huge |
| done well, with plenty of KiAi!) | | | | influence upon the way our friends, neighbours and |
| - Kata | | | | colleagues perceive the martial arts. That is a huge |
| (classical forms, choose one of the shorter, more | | | | responsibility, and is one that demands we take this |
| visually exciting kata though!) | | | | type of opportunity seriously and do as good and |
| - Kumite | | | | professional job as we can. |
| (sparring, a real crowd pleaser this: Remember to try | | | | |