Am I tough enough?

Lucy · 11-30-2006, 11:11 PM

Am I tough enough?

I’m having a dilemma at the moment about whether or not to compete in knock down again. Fitness wise not a problem! I love the training for tournaments too! My issue is my emotions during a fight. I’ve fought in 3 novice events now and its time to move up to open level. Technically I’m good enough but I seriously need to toughen up mentally! By the way I am female 26 yrs old.

Whenever I step out onto the mat I completely convince myself I shouldn’t be here, I can’t think of any combinations and rely completely on my coach, its awful and during the entire fight I just can’t wait for it to be over! I keep telling myself to give up although I’ve never lost a fight so I’m obviously capable and every one is excited about me fighting again.

I have trouble getting into that ‘zone’ I’ve been there once before and it was fantastic my opponent had no chance! My last event was for me my worst I felt I could have done so much better I was so annoyed with myself. Is it just a case needing more experience, overcoming my nerves or am I just not cut out for it?

Azimuth · 11-30-2006, 11:23 PM

Dear Lucy ,
If you really want to fight , just go for it . It's just a bit of stage fright
you have there i think . You felt good winning your previous fights , well hold on to that feeling. The more fights you will have on your account the more certain you will start to feel about yourself. Don't be afraid just go there and enjoy

Osu

Lucy · 11-30-2006, 11:35 PM

Osu Azimuth

Thankyou for your advice. I should have more faith in myself! Im always very critical of my performances. I think maybe because ive gone through the novice stages now its the big step up that worries me but my next tournament will be our regional tournament so i will only be fighting girls from my country/BKK no mad russians! Do you think it would be good to train with my national team? I have this opportunity and maybe this will give me good experience.

Azimuth · 11-30-2006, 11:42 PM

Don't hesitate with an opportunity like that
If they allow you to train with them do it and learn from them.
Believe in yourself and the rest will follow
Osu

buckette · 12-01-2006, 10:04 AM

Hi Lucy,
I find myself in a similar situation. I have competed in a few tournaments and have felt that "fire" before. Most recently i competed in Japan, and although i trained hard for it, i never felt the fire. I trained and trained and got my fitness up, and when i stepped onto the mat for my fight, i just went through the motions. I never really fired up, and i lost. I know i could have done much better on the mat, but i just wasn't in the "zone".

I also wonder whether i'm cut out for fighting, but people that i train with are always encouraging me. I haven't been training THAT long...3 years and I'm also 26. Next year i've decided to keep training, try to get better, and try to get the fire back. From speaking to people around the dojo, it seems pretty common to feel mixed emotions about fighting, but in the end they seem to keep coming back.

I don't really have advice for you, but just letting you know there are others in the same boat (even on the other side of the world!).

ps. Take the chance to train with the national team...it really helps to have the camaraderie of training within/as part of a team!

Good luck!

Lucy · 12-01-2006, 12:31 PM

Buckette

Thankyou for your response its good to know im not the only one!

I will fight again although i always say never again! I guess i will overcome the emotions someday. I will train hard and concentrate on thinking about combinations when i fight its a battle of wills. Good luck to you too in your future fights!

Billy no mates · 12-01-2006, 02:46 PM

It sounds like your putting a lot of pressure on yourself to perform on the mat the same way you do in the dojo,what you do on the day will almost inevitably diminish from what you do in the dojo perhaps you need to lower you expectations slightly and it might stop the vicious circle of the pressure making you bind up and increasing the pressure and making you bind up....
I saw your final at palace and although it didnt feel like it to you it was probably the best thing for you such a hard fight will stand you in good stead if you do decide to step up as will attending squad training .

kyofighter · 12-01-2006, 03:14 PM

Lucy...I've been competing for over 10 years now and I still feel like that. The only difference now is that I know what competition does to you , how much better and stronger you become after each time you fight . I just had a competition one month ago , and now that I had time to rest it I feel great. There is a huge gap beetween karateka who compete and who doesn't ... I know , it should not be like that, but that's the truth... Those who compete will progress faster and become stronger then those who not. When you will have 10-15 years of competition you will have a good reputation as a kyokushin fighter and you can give good advice and teach others.
Osu

Lucy · 12-01-2006, 09:38 PM

Billy no mates

I didnt think of it in the respect that i had such a hard fight as being beneficial but it makes perfect sense! Its just such an emotional pressure i felt like i was always on the defense and i just couldnt get that break. I guess its good to have someone chase you like that for 8 minutes...well i think my fight was the longest of the day lol! I have alot of respect for a fighter who can sustain such an onslaught she didnt give an inch! I really admire that! Ican only learn from it ay

Lucy · 12-01-2006, 09:55 PM

kyofighter

The feeling a few weeks afterwards is good i agree. I feel ive achieved alot this year since taking up the knockdown aspect again ive fought in two tournys this year and i understand what you mean by saying it will make you stronger and progress quicker. Thinking now with that in mind 2005 was so different from 2006! I feel better now than i ever did. So i shall hold onto the thought of all the benefits you can gain from competing. You soon forget the emotions and the bruises heal...Its being able to say i did it that means the most!

kyofighter · 12-01-2006, 11:34 PM

that's exactly what I meant...
Osu

Billy no mates · 12-02-2006, 08:32 AM

Lucy

Easy lessons are soon forgotten,its the hard ones that stay with you,walkover victorys at novice level would only be giving you a false perspective and perhaps set you up for a fall when you did step up a level .
In my opinion that fight compared quite favourably with a lot of the action at national level,you are not as bad anymore than 'they' are as good as you perhaps imagine when your being down on yourself .

Lucy · 12-02-2006, 04:29 PM

Billy no mates

Yes ive learnt some hard lessons from my novice fights this year thats for sure! Neither of my finals were in anyway easy! At least ive learnt that physically i can get through it. So instead of telling myself i should'nt be doing it i should tell myself i can do it, i can get through it. I need to think more positively mentally and i guess the rest will follow.

Im not expecting anything from fighting open next year i will use my first tournament as a learning experience...testing the water if you like. There will not be any expectation or pressure on me to do well so i'll be more positive hopefully. I can cope with long fights. Just concentrate more on what the hell im doing n keeping my guard up i think! lol

Billy no mates · 12-02-2006, 08:26 PM

Lucy

Youve really answered the question you posed at the start of the thread if you can appreciate the inate good hard fights against obdurate opponents do you,that mentality will stand you in good stead .

Lucy · 12-02-2006, 09:41 PM

Yes i think i have answered that now, but personally how do you guys overcome that mixed emotion feeling yourselves? How and whats helps you concentrate on the fight any tips on how and what i should concentrate on or what works for you?

Billy no mates · 12-02-2006, 09:58 PM

By mixed emotion do you mean self doubt and self recrimination?if so ive never really overcome them only compartmentalised them for a while,i used to distract myself by going of and reading somewhere rather than sitting about by the mat and worrying myself sick or glazing over and becoming lethargic .

Lucy · 12-02-2006, 11:45 PM

I dont worry about a fight until the hajime! I think ive got over that hurdle ok. I manage to distract myself and keep busy. So i guess maybe its only human nature to go through the emotions while fighting? I mean any mentally stable person would question themselves while fighting why are they putting themselves through this, its not natural to enjoy getting battered! I guess fighting doesnt become enjoyable until you can feel your winning?

Billy no mates · 12-03-2006, 04:09 PM

I dont about that have enjoyed fights ive lost when i know i have done my best but been completely underwhelmed when i have won a fight when the person fighting me has been to scared or injured to really fight,what i enjoy about fighting is the chance it offers us to excel however we define it and that doesnt necessarily mean winning .

K1cker^ · 12-03-2006, 07:53 PM

Hey Lucy!

You certantly ain't the only one with that problem. I got the same feeling to when im entering the ring/mat.. and I can only agree with you; its a horrible feeling. I'm glad you sended this post because some usefull facts and advices came out of it. (:
- As Azimuth said, don't hesitate with joining the national team.. I joined the nationteam in spring'06 and i've learned a lot since; It was very good experience to fight in the world cup and so on... How ever i was so nervous the day before the world cup, so i tormented myself with a knife ..
But i hope it will go away as i grow ;'/

Lucy · 12-03-2006, 08:39 PM

Wow you fought in the world cup! Well done you! I guess nerves are increased 10 fold with a competition like that! To fight abroad would put the fear of god in me lol! I wanted to ask that question for a while so i guess now in my next fight i gotta remember my opponent is probably feeling just the way i am!

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