I generally don't like tournaments. They are not conducive to good self defence skills. Judging is usually appalling and especially in point sparring they are geared toward the young and quick.
Having said that, I entered my clubs "national tournament" yesterday. I entered 5 categories, veterans kumite and kata,
team kumite and the open kata and kumite.
I hadn't trained for it, in fact my back has been playing up over the past month or so and have hardly trained at all.
So I was more than chuffed to get a 2nd, 1st, 2nd and 2nd respectively.
Didn't want to bore my family again so I thought I'd tell everyone here instead.

chuffed?

"chuffed"
Well I guess that one hasn't got wings then.
It means happy with a little bit of surprised thrown in.

I should have also mentioned that three of my students won first place in thier own age and rank categories.
Once again, chuffed.

Yeah yeah,.....its all a load of baloney untill you win right?

Mcsensei, I do have to say that tournametns have their place, mostly as an outlet to have fun with the MA you spend so much time studying.

I'm not surprised at all that you did as well as you did. You are fairly accurate about the judging though.

No, no, no! Not baloney.
Tournament training is an essential part of SD training.
People who do well in them are among the toughest people around.
Would I ever say anything else?

so...you have to do tournaments in order to satisfy some organisational membership quota per year?
I missed the part where you mention that you enjoy participating in them so I'm assuming you have to keep membership in order to pay dojo rent and stay open.

If thats the case, just do them and forget about it.
now, what to do with all of the trophies...what we talkin, hard plastic right? it's fairly easy to make your own cast mold today with RTV rubber but baking clay is even easier and cheaper.
1. take the doorstop that you use to prop the dojo entrance open (this is your 'master')
2. press the doorstop firmly into the baking clay. bake the clay at 350F/175C for about 30min.
3. break the trophy into managable parts and place in a deep iron pan. melt slowly, don't allow it to bubble.
4. pour melted plastic in the mold and let it congeal for a few hours.
5. lightly tap out the mold and Voila! dojo doorstop #1 of 20.

hope that helps.

Ah grasshopper, your insight serves you well, but you still have much to learn.
3 of them are hard plastic but one is real metal!!

I couldn't do that to them though, my son likes them.
He now thinks I can beat up anyone in the country over 35.
What kind of father would I be to dash a little boys illusions?