Mouthpieces and Cups...

The title to this article seems more interesting than the purpose behind it but I just had to share some thoughts from over the years of being a martial arts competitor, teacher and official at events. When I was a young boy studying the martial arts we were required to wear a cup, groin protection, at all times during classes. This was not open to discussion, not up to us nor anyone else...it was required because the groin was definitely a target for training. We also wore far less gear back then than we do today but we were always required to have a mouthpiece in to spar and even grapple.

Now this may seem like common sense to many but believe it or not I have had to disqualify quite a few kids who either didn't have groin protection or a mouthpiece...or both in the past couple of years. While this may seem trivial to some, to me it is anything but. When I was a youngster I was kicked in the groin so hard that it actually caused some damage. This damage was through a cup that I just threw in my gi without a supporter because...yup...you guessed it I had failed to bring one. Up until that day I often failed to put my groin protection on when sparring but from that day forward, and after the immense pain, embarrassment and three month recovery process I have never forgotten my cup nor allow anyone to compete without it. The same goes for the mouthpiece as well.

When a student competes in a martial arts event they have to pay attention to the rules because the best judges will know them inside and out. Before I begin any kumite division I always ask if they have a cup (boys) and mouthpiece. I want to see the mouthpiece. It never ceases to amaze me that there is always about 10% of the competitors that don't have the proper equipment. So I give them five minutes at max to go get the required items and return the ring. Sadly there are times that they don't come back but I hear about it later because the parent always throws a fit.

OK...so first let me explain something about that parent issue. My JOB as a judge is to insure the safety of ALL competitors, not just one but all of them. I require all to have the proper gear to compete based on the rules set forth at the event. If your child doesn't have the proper gear then you, as well as the child, have failed to be prepared for the event...not me, not the promoter nor any other judge that day. It is your responsibility to make sure your children have the correct items required to compete, not the judges. I can understand junior not wanting to wear a cup because I teach Karate to kids everyday. Most kids don't like them because they are not comfortable. In my dojo I have a saying..."If you fail to wear the cup then you are responsible for what will, and does, happen to you". 

Parents, Sensei (teachers) and students please make sure you understand and know the required rules for tournaments, bring the proper gear and be prepared. This is a message not just to my own students but to ALL students who compete at events. When you don't have the equipment you hold up the division making the day go longer (which none of us want). It causes problems and when a judge gets on you or disqualifies you for not having the required gear be responsible enough to understand it was YOUR FAULT to begin with...not anyone else's. This is part of being a martial artist and all of us should learn this lesson in our dojos each day. We are responsible for every single action / decision we make...no one else is and we, as martial artists, must take the responsibility to fix the problem...not shove the blame of issue off on another.

It is tough to be this way as a judge and I can promise you that none of us at ANY martial arts event wants to disqualify anyone because they failed to be prepared but we would all rather do that to protect your safety than watch you end up injured (in terms of the groin the injury can, and often is permanent). So next time I get on a student at a tournament for not having a cup or mouthpiece take the issue out on your own self instead of me. I am a volunteer who has given up a day that I would rather be out, enjoying the weekend with others and such things...so please remember that. I don't get paid to judge and often times I travel at my own expense to be there which costs way more than your entry fee. Thanks and remember in martial arts we teach responsibility...that includes taking the blame for our own faults as well.