Blockade

helenosch · 02-20-2008, 02:28 PM

I've been training now for a month for a tournament in two weeks and until recently, it was fine. Training was hard, but I felt that I got fitter and fitter and I had much more stamina, also my asthma didn't flame up as often and I did a lot of sparring. But in recent days, I seem to hit a blockade. I'm positivly afraid of sparring. I don't know what happens, but I just freeze up and all I can think of is 'omg, still 2 minutes left'. I only block and walk back. And when I attack I'm sure I hit some elbow or knee that hurt like hell and I got to stop. (don't get me wrong, I'm not someone who stops easily, I did two further sparringrounds when sensei broke my nose...)
This scares me, as it is two weeks before the tournament and well, being afraid of fighting isn't what I call optimal for a tourny!

Has anyone got any tips for me or has been through something similar?
Help really appreciated!

**Olrac** · 02-20-2008, 02:44 PM

In my opinion, the best way to deal with your fear is to spar as much as you can.
If you start to worry about hitting an elbow, you will focus on the elbow, and I'm sure you will hit the elbow.
I know it's hard, but try to relax while you're sparring.
As you have only 2 weeks left, try to relax and focus on your stamina.
Once you enter the tatami, your fear will disappear (at least that's my experience)
good luck
osu

**hasbeen** · 02-20-2008, 03:18 PM

sounds like a case of "last minute nerves" to me, all the time you were training and not thinking about the tourney all was fine hey !?

you`ve done the fitness, nows the time for the mental training.

look at it this way, what is the worst thing that can happen--you make a fool of yourself and you get splattered.....that is the very worst thing that can happen, you obviously have guts and spirit so i`m sure that`s not worrying you !!

i don`t think you are afraid of fighting, i think you are trying too hard,yes too hard!!!

my advise would be to ease down a little bit and admire yourself for all the hard work thats got you to the position you are in now, carry on with your routines but try and lighten up a little bit, think how many people would like to be in your position...take it from me.........millions !!!

on the day be assured your opponents are going to be just as nervous as you....keep your hands up and let all the hard work come to fruition-----even if you do get beaten...so what !? in my eyes and i am sure all of the forums eyes you are already a winner for taking part...please let us all know how you get on, my part of london is cheering for you and i wish you the very best of luck !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

niceguy · 02-20-2008, 03:40 PM

helenosch you are not alone with the "blockade" feeling, I am fighting in a tourney this Saturady.All was well with my training until last week Friday when a shodan told me that we were going to do a tourney type sparring match and I got caught with a solid kagi tsuki that dropped me.Since then I cannot relax, on Sunday I froze up and got tagged a few times during sparring(jodan ushiro and mawashi geris that left me with a spinning head

),my confidence has definitely taken a huge blow. For now am keeping up with fitness training till thursday and trying to block stuff out of my head.... but its so hard. Fingers crossed helenosch we will be fine, good luck!

**hasbeen** · 02-20-2008, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by niceguy

helenosch you are not alone with the "blockade" feeling, I am fighting in a tourney this Saturady.All was well with my training until last week Friday when a shodan told me that we were going to do a tourney type sparring match and I got caught with a solid kagi tsuki that dropped me.Since then I cannot relax, on Sunday I froze up and got tagged a few times during sparring(jodan ushiro and mawashi geris that left me with a spinning head

),my confidence has definitely taken a huge blow. For now am keeping up with fitness training till thursday and trying to block stuff out of my head.... but its so hard. Fingers crossed helenosch we will be fine, good luck!

get down the pub thursday night and relax, or if you don`t drink whatever makes you relax.......and good luck to you as well niceguy, please let us know how you get on !!

Bloke · 02-20-2008, 04:10 PM

We work so hard on the physical approach and often forget the mental. Try to relax as much as possible and use vsiualisation techniques. Imagine being successful. Imagine not having fear.

Okay thats a really watered down version (watered down is appearing way too much in these forums at the moment) but you get the gist of what im saying. It does work.

Jambone · 02-20-2008, 05:52 PM

I have experienced the same feeling. Normally I don't get nervous before a fight but in November I was taking photo's at a small tournament when my Sensie asked me if I would be a replacement for an injured fighter. I wasn't planning on fighting and had not been fight training but I jumped at the chance. I ended up fighting a tough match in the senior mens heavy weight division (sometimes referred to as old fat guy division), I was very nervous and stiff for most of the fight and lost by split decision. No big deal, I have lost fights before but for the next couple of months I was so nervous I could hardly spar. I am OK now but I lost some confidence that day and it has taken a lot of hard training to get back. I have a lot of respect for anyone who faces an opponent on the mat. Win or lose it take a lot of heart.

Osu

mpeters · 02-21-2008, 12:25 AM

Niceguy

I'm very suprised by that sparring session 1 week out from your tournament. In our dojo we would never have a heavy sparring session that close to tournament. Didn't the shodan think about injuries, let alone metally affecting you.

Helenosch. Fear is there all the time, well I think anyway. But it is what you do with it that counts. As has been already posted, relaxing & visualizing all help. If I'm feed up with these though, I do something totally different that doesn't focus on the tournament. I often take time with my kids, and do fun things just to get my mind off
it. Then when it is here you can then focus fresh.

Osu

niceguy · 02-21-2008, 01:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mpeters

Niceguy

I'm very suprised by that sparring session 1 week out from your tournament. In our dojo we would never have a heavy sparring session that close to tournament. Didn't the shodan think about injuries, let alone metally affecting you.

The shodan in question has taken me under his wing because he is mad about kyo as I am

, he is training me "The Polish way" (hard old school)

, and I love it! The thing is I have never been in full contact match before and I did not know what to expect, hence the heavy sparring -to give me a taste of things to come

. The lesson I received (I think)is that once I step on the mat my opponent will show no mercy- I'll Keep me hands up and do my best.

mpeters · 02-21-2008, 02:49 AM

Osu niceguy

I love Koykushin too, and the hard training it brings. I have nothing against hard sparring, but a week out is a bit too close I feel. What if he/she had injured you badly? You would have no chance in recovering from that injury to compete in the tournament. Maybe 3 - 4 weeks ago would have been better.

Anyway I congratulate you on entering this tournament, and I wish the best. You will be nervous but once the fight gets going the adrenalin will kick in and you'll love it.

helenosch · 02-21-2008, 09:46 AM

thank you for all the replies

Quote:

Originally Posted by hasbeen

sounds like a case of "last minute nerves" to me, all the time you were training and not thinking about the tourney all was fine hey !?

you nailed it... I tried not thinking about the tournament, deliberatly and now that I actually have to think about it

For me it's the problem of not being able to compare myself or even juding myself, so when I watch youtube videos I get jitters and think: how can they do that? I could NEVER do that.... So I do have a really low self-esteem when it comes down to fighting, though it never has stopped me on going onto the mat... worst thing that can happen is I get beaten up, what's new about that?

Oh well, I really hope it all works out when I'm on the matt; for further sparring is out of the question since the tourny is too close, so I guess I follow Bloke's advice (thanks again by the way, I haven't thought of that somehow) for visualization. Gives me something to do in boring math-classes

Shamo · 02-24-2008, 06:19 PM

Nerves are horrible, I almost feel ashamed about my fear of getting KOed, I associate it with getting humiliated. I have a tournament coming up in 2 weeks, my first full contact Knockdown tournament as well as my second tournament in my brief experience as a Kyokushin Karateka. I have no problem sparring in my dojo, but the pressure of the people watching turns me off, but even dough I'm a 7th Kyu and I'll be fight shodans and niidans, I think I'll be OK. I wish you all good luck in your respective tournaments.

sonofkanga · 02-24-2008, 08:28 PM

TAKE A DAY OF.
For one whole day don`t do any training. It should not affect your fitness level,but will do wounders for you mentally.one day for complete relaxation.

Aunty Ichigeki · 02-25-2008, 06:33 AM

Osu. It sounds like you have high expectations for yourself if you're looking at the guys on youtube. Focusing on how you 'should' look or what you 'should' be able to achieve will make you very nervous. It's called performance anxiety and I worry how often even very low grades put heaps of pressure on themselves to be a hero and win at tournament. Sports psychologists recommend that you think about small parts of your game rather than thinking about winning. Concentrate on the small stuff... after all it's the small stuff that wins the fight. Set a small achievable goal for the fight, especially if you're now worried about just getting through it! Your goal might be that you're going to block as much as you can in the first minute until you can relax. Just blocking is a lot easier than blocking and attacking so you may find it easier to breath well (important for relaxing) and clear any nervous energy. Once you're comfortable you can start your offensive game. Erm... it might be an idea to have someone calling the time in case you get too relaxed and forget to fight! (

) Presumably this won't be your only tournament, it's just a small step so be happy if you can relax and notice things about your opponent, get your moving going and work a couple of techniques you like. Chipping away at tourny skills over time will make you a better fighter in the long run so be kind to yourself & take the pressure off. Best of luck!

**hasbeen** · 02-27-2008, 05:27 PM

so, how did you get on ?? i hope you are not that badly hurt you can`t post...

Bloke · 02-28-2008, 08:15 AM

Hasbeen I think the tournament is next week.

**hasbeen** · 02-28-2008, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bloke

Hasbeen I think the tournament is next week.

thanks bloke.

niceguy · 02-28-2008, 09:44 AM

Dont worry to much helenosch, it will come and go just like that.I had my first last Saturday and once you step up on the mat just think about doing your best and you will surprise yourself, I know I did

.
Good luck to you helenosch!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by hasbeen

so, how did you get on ?? i hope you are not that badly hurt you can`t post...

Just a sore chest, a few sore ribs and swollen fingers but I'll live

Came 2nd by the way

.

**hasbeen** · 02-28-2008, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by niceguy

Dont worry to much helenosch, it will come and go just like that.I had my first last Saturday and once you step up on the mat just think about doing your best and you will surprise yourself, I know I did

.
Good luck to you helenosch!!

Just a sore chest, a few sore ribs and swollen fingers but I'll live

Came 2nd by the way

.

WELL DONE NICEGUY

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