Hi, everyone. I'm back with this account and I actually wanted to ask you all something I have been thinking for a long time. I think that I am not the only one feeling this way or have felt this way. First off, let me share my background.
I started with boxing, trained in a gym by a former competitive boxer during his time. After that, I tried learning Wushu Sanda and Muay Thai for awhile. Then I switched learning Shotokan Karate for 2 years, 1 year Goju Ryu. Been jumping from good gym to gym to learn. Been doing some sparring and pressure testing as well with all these arts so fighting is no problem. However, this is where the problem I wanna consult with you guys.
I love fighting, I really do. Doing forms is great, but the fact is, I just want the fighting more. However, I always feel this nervousness when I face an opponent. It's that nervousness where you just dont want to spar this guy or like, it's sparring but you don't feel that way. You are reluctant, you don't want to spar, but deep inside you love fighting. I only experienced once in my life time of combat sports and martial arts where I enjoyed the ounce of fighting and never wanted to let go of it. That, I can't seem to replicate again.
I always thought I was just making some excuses, but whenever I try not to, I feel that nervousness again.
Have you ever felt this and how do you remove this feeling? How do you just, think of the fight, not worry about anything and remove that reluctance of fighting?
Nervousness before a match. Has anyone Not felt it? If so, I would worry more about that person because something is not quite right.
Yes, semantics could be at play, and some people may say they are not 'nervous' under certain circumstances (experienced person vs. new person for example). But, I don't really believe them.
But if we narrow the context and say we are talking about the 'average' sparring competition where people are segregated by age, rank, & weight, nervousness is your ally. It is definitely something that should change with time and experiences. There is a concoction of confidence, knowledge/experience, and nerves that is the best recipe for competition and/or encounters.
There a a number of things you can do to help focus the nerves before a match. Meditate on sparring drills and techniques, breathing exercises, music, visualization will all help. And some people need to learn to calm down a little, some need help getting revved up (hand raised - in my latter years).
When I coach a newer competitor who needs help calming down, the main things I help them focus on is their training, their breathing, the competition rules emphasizing it is a controlled environment, and to have Fun. It is a little different for everyone based on age, ability, and (realistic) goals. The latter quotient, having fun, is usually the kicker that helps people relax and focus in a realistic sense that stymies much of the irrational fears.
There is NO replacement for sparring in different environments and rule sets to help garner experience and het over the fear 'hump'. But repeated class sparring, especially with upper belts and going to tournaments under your schools specific rules definitely help.
Just like training it is all about repetition, repetition, repetition.
