It's a good point that patterns will not get bums on seats, and one that's important for an event like the Olympics. But maybe the sparring and destruction elements will. Breaking is always a crowd pleaser, and a creative multiple break competition could really get people in. Once they are there they will watch the patterns and maybe grow to appreciate to technical expertise involved. As with anything that is less than mainstream you need the hook to get people interested, in this case sparring and destruction. Then you can expose them gradually to the less immediately exciting and gratifying parts of the arts. How many martial artists started out on their first day saying "oooh, I can't wait to do the repetitive sequence of movements..."? But how many of us are now completely obsessed with improving, discussing and interpreting our patterns? I'm with LiamTKD on the multi-discipline TKD event. Maybe you could build SD into it too - random muggings of all competitors, with hidden cameras in the alley
I went to a comp in March and after the first day of at night they had a superfight where all the winners of that day fought against eachother. Anyway the crowd were mostly non MA'ers and everything was explained to them over the mic. They had pattern demos and they went down really well!! They did Toi Gye and Kwang Gae I believe, the audience loved it
Which is fine - but it was an MA tournament/competition. Are people that go to the Olympics to watch basketball or track & field going to want to sit through patterns?
I think you would start to see those "extreme" forms and pattern type exhibitions. Traditional forms wouldn't put butts in the seats and now a days its all about making money in the olympics for the organizers.
Dear god no. Patterns belong in the olympics about as much as rhythmic gymnastics, ping pong, figure skating, horse riding, and other crud which makes the games a freaking joke. And then dont forget that grading in patterns is entirely subjective which leads to judges picking the winner. Remember the figure skating judging scandals. Breaking might be good because it shows power and can be measured objectively. Sparring could be good if we took off the lame hogu, shin guards, arm guards, and put on some gloves. Can patterns be a good thing? Sure, I think they have their purpose. But pattern competition is as absurd as it is boring to watch.
You know what happens when something gets really popular? It turns to crap. Besides that, the Olympics are a business when you get right down to it. They pick sports that they think will draw a crowd and I don't think you can convince them that patterns will. Besides that, there's the fact that for every sport that you include, you have to cut another. Only so many sports seem to be allowed. What are you going to cut? Certainly not the horse riding, rhythmic gymnastics, ping pong or that other stuff which for whatever reason is popular. Oh, and horse riding, at least the jumping part, not exactly subjective. Dressage, well, yeah, I have never been all that enthused about riding about in rings with nothing to jump over.
yes it would end up being similar to gymnastics etc. except that I would much rather watch the gymnastics than taekwondo forms....
Pah! gotta disagree with you there! maybe WTF style sparring and ITF could also be included... a few more events would make better all-round artists.
I'm in TKD and I'm not sure I'd even like to watch forms competition. Most people watching wouldn't have a clue as to what they were looking at and the meaning of the form anyway.
I dont see why it would have to be TKD particularly, its not like breaking or forms are unique to TKD and weapons arent really in there at all.
if patterns get included in the Olympics, I would watch. there are so many details to pay attention to, and the details are the once that would decide who would win gold and other medals, or no medal at all.
SS, I didn't mean for it to just be TKD. But in any form, the meanings of the movements can be very subtle and I think it would be soo difficult to judge. The judges would have to know TKD, Karate, and who knows what else type of form. I'm not saying its an awful idea, just that the judging would be really selective.
Hmmm do you mean basic things like flying side kicks, twisting kicks ,split kicks etc? or are these basic techniques to you? Personally i'd like to see patterns included and breaking too. The idea of doing all of them is a good one because it would show who was the best all round TKDist.
Do you want to see the best all-rounder? I would rather see a top notch pattern and a top notch sparrer. If they are the same person, then great, if they aren't, then you get to see 2 tkdists that are goood at their specialisation.
Personally i think it would be better to have it judged over-all.... that way the best martial artist wins, rather than the best sparrer, breaker etc.
I tried to post before and got sidetracked, so here I go again.. 1. For Ikken's concern. In Olympic Figure Skating, specifically Ice Dance, all 40 some-odd pairs have to perform the same two rountines as prelims. People still pay $$$ to see it. 2. General observation. I see no reason to preclude them from the Olympics. It would make for a more well-rounded competition, IMHO, and also move it away from the "sport MA" on a certain level. If forms and breaking are included, TKD will at least maybe move away from "that kicking MA". 3. Very easy to score. If it's compulsory forms, that's simple, who did the trad form the best. If it's open, use a system similar to gymnastics or figure skating... each technique is given a point value, and the judges can deduct based on execution of said technique. Add up the point value, establish a base score and execute. It's not that difficult.
