Are tournaments required for rank advancement?
We have a tournaments every February and August in Austin, TX, with visits from the Grandmaster and senior masters. There is a tournament every September in Lexington, KY with seminars then and at other times during the year. The events are a lot of fun and always followed by a huge demonstration/performance. All are encouraged to participate of course or at least to come in the evening with family to watch the exciting demonstration. But you are not required to participate. We view tournaments as a fun way to test your skills and get more motivated to practice.
