Preparing for Competitions

[nodachi]

Random question:

I am curious what you do to prepare for a competition? Not the physical/warming up aspects, but the mental.

For example, the typical "soccer/football/insert whatever random sport here" player might listen to some particular music to get pumped up or review plays before the game or whatever.

What do you do to prepare?

[alexpollijr]

I watch videos. A lot. Trying to look for details I haven't noticed before.

[Will]

I usually watch a cool movie the night before to pump me up. Usually it's a jet li or some other intense martial arts movie. Before the tournament i start listen to some fast paced songs to pump me up. I know one of my friends said he listens to LL Cool J's "Mama Said Knock You Out" to get him in the mood.

[inner_cent]

For me.... Some how, the more I train before competition, the worse I do.... normally, I do light training only, then after that, really trying to focus my mind in the shiai at the moment and try to survive.
To me, it actually work

[Hyaku]

I eat a lot of raw meat and try to get to bed early.

Hyaku

[Charlie]

I try to relax, too. Then, right before I play, a lot of deep breathing.

A friend of mine said that her dojo in Japan (high school) always attended a tea ceremony before tournament. Interesting, non? She said the object was to cultivate patience.

[nodachi]

All these different responses are all very interesting. Keep it coming...

hmmmm... tea or raw meat... I can't decide...

[KhawMengLee]

I take it like I prepare for a rugby match. Watch videos, train slowly (like you do with a horse, slowly train and build up the peak so that when the takai comes you are at your best).

On the day, have a good breakfast(not to large and lots of carbohydrates), go for a walk to warm up, eg. 1 mile will be good. Then ATTAAAAAAACCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!.


MENG

[kendokamax]

eat katsudon

[kendokamax]

ya that and.....

I don't do much before a tournament, normaly i try to care the less possible about it and think about other things, but with experience it gets so much easier to have the good mind set. (in my 2 years of kendo I went to 10 tournaments..)

For me the importance is on the day itself, before every shiai I take a big respiration and i'm always very nervous..also I always try to believe I can win every fight. My desire to win (to get every ippon possible) must always be there otherwise I will have trouble to have focus and do well.

anyway ..
I think Tournaments are sooo important to make your kendo improve, because most of the time we dont do kendo with much stress when we go to practice regulary. And also..to have the chance to see/fight different kendoka from different places is I find super important!! You see things that can make your kendo improve on a very small amount of time.


happy kendo!

[John W]

Fudoshin!
That helps me keep things in perspective before a fight.

Another technique I tried with limited success is trying to accumulate all my desires, wants and other feelings into an imaginery white hot ball inside of me and let that ball explode when the shiai starts. It builds up bigger and bigger beofre my fight begins then as I bow to my opponent I picture the ball huge and very close to boiling point then as the shinpan says "Hajime!" BANG I explode into a calm mind with heaps and heaps of zanshin! Well- it worked sometimes but most of the time I can't control it!! Otherwise, I stay calm, collected and focused and try not to let myself get too startled by what is about to happen.

I knew a guy who once got absolutley drunk the night before, went into the shiai the next day and took out some very powerful players with the worlds worse hangover!! (He did not win though). Whatever works for you! Go for it!:p

[munenmuso]

I sing inside my head my favorite songs to forget all the tensions.Particularly with jazz songs because I love to sing them but I have to remember the lyrics and because of this it preoccupies my head and I forget for a moment the tension that a shiai can bring to me.

[Kendoboy]

Warm up!!!!!!! If you let yourself cool down between fights, you won't be focussed, and your movements will be slow and stiff.

[KATSUJIN]

i watch some videos the night before to figure out the person's form...if possible....do a certain amt of suburi...not too fast or slow....just enough to control and regulate breath rate....and then rest and.........go to sleep...ignoring the fact that competition is the next day...because i was taught something that i think is good for everybody...tournament and training is the same........so y worry???

[KATSUJIN]

anyway..guys...just wish me good luck..i am having a tournament this week...it does not seem too good...because i am participating in the seniors category and senseis will be participating in that category.......

[KhawMengLee]

good luck!...I wanna fight too :(