Ok, so I have NO idea how to start, find or take part in a martial arts tournament so that I can become Grand Master. I can spar with folks, and I looked in the lessons for anythign about it. I also read all the threads, and from what I can tell, I should be able to challenge some sims to a tournament spar.

The thing is, how can I tell which sims to challenge? Just go around clicking on ever sim I see?? Is there a place with rankings? A place to sign up for a tournament? I'm really confused on this.

Go to China, go to Martial Arts Academy. When there, use your phone (inventory) to Call Sim. An option to get a "next ranked" sparring partner will come up. Your Sim will go to practice on dummy while he/she waits for the next ranked opponent to show up. There will be other Sims arriving or practicing there so remember the name of the opponent (you will see it). Click on them to get the option to spar. You will either win the match or lose. You won't be able to spar again for awhile so you can only complete one match at a time. I think you need to do five sparring matches, perhaps more...can't remember but it takes quite a commitment.

Actually, you don't have to be at the Academy. I never do; I just call them at base camp. And, uh, you can spar immediately after again so long as you are not fatigued. When you click the invited Sim, it'll say something like "Challenge to Ranked Sparring Match"

Also, it's like 20-some fights, I think, to reach Grand Master.

Thanks, guys! Funny thing...I got on the phone, noted the name of the sim, went to their house, and while I was talking to a housemate, they came home. (Probably following me?) I challenged for ranked sparring match, and was defeated 2-0. I spoke to the housemate while the other sim prepared & ate food, then challenged her again, and *won* 2-0.

The odd thing...that was the ONLY match I needed to do! Granted I am skill level 10 in martial arts & also in athletics...maybe that helps?

I have a fully automated Grandmastery-getting macro in Supreme Commander: Just set it to that, and your sim will automatically summon, wait for, and then pummel opponents, without the annoyance of you having to wait for them to show up, only to have them sneak off when they finally get there while you weren't looking.

If you start from the beginning, it's 20 (granted your Sim wins every match). Of course, with lower-skilled Sims, it'd take far more than 20, so skilling them up to level 10 beforehand helps immensely.

Well, in case anyone googled it, the correct answer is: strictly 20 wins in win/lose counter at Martial Arts skill journal, lose counts do not matter.