Am I tough enough?

[Lucy]

Thanks! A very worthwhile read and again useful! Knockdown fighting has been by far the hardest aspect of my karate life. Kihon and kata i feel very at home with now, but as kyokfighter said way back in this thread. Those who compete also progress faster/better in their basics, which i have definately found to be true!I will persevere with the kumite... I won't be happy until i know i have done my best Guess thats the spirit

[seienchin]

Originally Posted by Lucy

Osu Seienchin,

Good idea!

Well i would answer her by saying,

You are obviously eager to compete again or otherwise you would have 'hung up your gloves' after the first fight! You are at a battle with yourself more so than your prospective opponents! This is obviously an experience mentally that in your life you havent been challenged with before. The mental feelings of knockdown have come and hit you like a bus! Although it is scary, you are posing this question because you want to overcome this hurdle of self doubt.

Not knowing what to do and 'freezing up' so to say is because you are inexperienced and you feel it. Combinations only flow freely once they have become a reflex and listening to your coach is the best thing you can do until you learn to be comfortable within a fight. Learn some combinations you know work for you and PRACTICE them over and over in the dojo sparring. Hard, repetitive training is the only way it will become natural.

Make sure you are fit. This will give you an extra boost of confidence whilst on the mat if you feel your opponent is weakening and you still have plenty left in the tank. You know in yourself deep down you can do it and if everyone wants you to fight again then there is definately a fighter in you! You felt annoyed with yourself because you havent found your potential yet and realised your capabilities. This will all come over time.

Talk about your feelings. Ask other fighters, especially experienced/successful fighters, how they feel when they fight and how they deal with it mentally. You'll come to realise this is very common to be nervous and have doubts.

Well Lucy - I think you said it all...months ago. I am aware that some other things that can undermine confidence have happened in your life, and it is true, that we are not machines -we are living, breathing passionate and vulnerable beings...but maybe it is time to get out the Lucky Ducky again?

[richard haines]

osu! hi lucy you can cut it i seen you fight in holland in oyama cup last year techincally you are good and your fitness looked pretty good your combinations will come when you fight with more experience more pad work will help and more fightin in your dojo helps try and fight all the best fighters in your dojo and dont for get lucy fightin in 3 novice tournaments then fightin in open and regional tournament its a big step up fightin people with 5 or 10 years knock down experience its a big jump as for nerves if you can get over yours tell me how you do it i`ve always got nerves be for i fight

[Lucy]

Osu seienchin, your right i need to restore the faith again!Osu Richard, thankyou for you comments. I enjoyed my last fight in Holland and that was the best ive ever felt mentally in my 3rd fight. Im just searching for that mindset again and getting a bit disheartened i guess. Get back into it and stop worrying i should tell myself.

[DKKC]

Welcome to the club Lucy - I think more than 95% of my first round fights were against a champion of some kind. I am very unlucky with my draws but somehow I got used to it. You will have to find out what gives you strenght mentally before a fight, for me, it's thinking that I will either win or take them down with me!! A bit extreme, granted, but it seems to do the trick.

[amokbel]

OSU Lucy,

I won't pretend that I'm an expert in sport/fighter psychology, but it seems that you have a small mental block... or maybe it's the fear of the unknown. You don't know how good your opponent is and your mind plays tricks on you and you start doubting yourself.

I remember saying to myself that my opponent is as concerned as I am and that gives me a confidence boost. Also, TRUST YOUR TRAINING and if you can, tape your fights and watch them often. Not to criticize, but to perfect and also, to see it with an objective eye on how good/bad that particular fight was for you.

In my first tournaments, I used to listen to music that pumped me up and I did ok. But the last tournament I did, I took a completely different approach. First, I surrounded myself with my support fans (my coach, friends and girlfriend), then, I spent a lot of time walking around, talking to people, etc. For me, in my mind, the first place was mine and the fights were a mere technicality I had to go through to get the trophee. That's it.

Work on your mindset and your own limiting beliefs about your abilities. All else equal, the one with the strongest mindset will win. Remember that.

OSU and good luck

Al

[Nix]

Thread-necromancy!

Original post was 2½ years ago, and as I understand, Lucy has performed very well since. So. Mission acomplished?

Osu!

[Lucy]

Thanks Al

Osu Nix, thankyou for your comment. I still have up and down emotions about fighting, but hey doesn't everyone?! I didn't realise it was that long since i started this!

British in 2 weeks.... to be honest i can't wait! Im really looking forward to it, really excited! I know what i have to do now i think and i feel pretty chilled out before i fight so nerves and negativity don't really bother me now. Theres so much more to worry about

[Gheorgei]

hi Lucy, youre good enough alright, i think you need to be more agressive, i mean whats the worst that can happen? be ruthless mate, you can take em all, if you get beat you get beat, no big deal! maybe youve got weighed down with you own success? Be strong