[JudoGimli]

So I had a question on my mind. For the first time, I actually did well in a tournament. I've been to four so far (16 months of Judo) and this past one I was able to get 1st place. That's not the question. :-)

My question is: What is your mental state during shiai?

Normally, I'm a serious thinker. During randori and my prior competitions, I'm thinking the whole time about what throw I'm trying to do, the correct way to move around, telling myself to relax, etc. However, this last time, all I did was stretch a bit prior to my first match, then kneeled down and just did some breathing. I didn't exactly close my eyes, but just unfocused them and did some deep breathing. During each match aside from my first thought of what grip I wanted, I really didn't think of anything. It just happened. In fact, I never even got my preferred grip and had I thought about it, I wouldn't have gone for my favorite throw because the conditions (in my mind) weren't ideal. The amazing thing was...I was able to get clean Ippons both times. It's a strange sensation because it was almost like a dream in that after it was over the details faded quickly.

I think perhaps the conditions were right for me this time. Nobody other than my sensei showed up; I was the only one from my school competing. It was not the smallest tournament I've been to, but it wasn't too big either. It wasn't too many people, but with two mats going, I wasn't strictly on the spot. I also was seriously dreading it the morning of, and the night before. I didn't do well the last time and it had been 6 months in between. I didn't want to go honestly, as I was afraid of performing poorly again. I was surprised that I was able to relax.

Oddly, what I am most proud of is not that I won, but that I was able to do my throws instinctively and I was able to resist the contagiousness of my opponents frenetic energy. I stayed relaxed and it just happened. In retrospect, it was quite magical.

So, to make a short story long, what are others' mental states just prior to matches and during them?

This post has been edited by JudoGimli: 13 March 2010 - 05:08 AM

[DavidB]

I have been studying Judo for just under 2 years so still a novice. I have been to about 8-10 tournaments and have a 17-21 record. Each time I have won I have not been over thinking and my body just did what it felt was natural. In fact in many of the instances I had to ask my friends from my club actually what I did to do the throw. I would say the majority of the losses I was over thinking, very hesitant, and way too passive. That is not to say the people who beat me were not better then me because clearly they were and were able to take advantage of my passivity and mistakes. So when I go to tournaments I attempts to stay aggressive, continue to attack, and let my body take over. Of course it's easier in theory.

Dave

[Mamoru]

I found this article to be particularly intersting in regards to pre-competition jitters and how to address them.

http://combatsportps...ng-jitters.html