Dealing with nerves on competition days

mazzybear · Brown Belt

On Sunday I attended a Kata competition and was almost paralysed with nerves, I was quite surprised by this as my last (also my first as a competitor) competition and the biggest home competition on our association calender I suffered only minor nerves and went on to win. This time round they were so horrendous I actually had the shakes and felt pretty drained due to them. I managed to come 2nd (which I'm still over the moon with) but feel my nerves led me to make silly mistakes I don't normally make.
Is there any useful tips you guys have on dealing with nerves? I have another competition at the end of June (the one I won last year) and really don't want to be in the same state as Sunday. Any suggestions would be gratefully recieved.

M.
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Be water, my friend.

sensei8 · KF Sensei

Whenever my nerves start to get the best of me, I either keep busy some how and some way, OR, I put on some headphones so I don't keep thinking about what's ahead; F.E.A.R. ...Future Events Appearing Real

Breath, relax, and do whatever relaxes you. However, some nerves are good, therefore, natural.

Hang in there!!

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**Proof is on the floor!!!

pittbullJudoka · Black Belt

The more you compete the less the nerves will get to you or that is my case. But I wrestled in high school so I was on the mats every weekend with numerous matches per day for that helped when I stated and competed in karate. As Sensei8 stated try to relax. The better prepared you are the less nervous too or again in my case. I keep the old proverb in the back of my mind "Bleed in the Dojo and Laugh on the battlefield"
But just relax and have fun. That's what a competition is fun, don't get caught up in winning and loosing. Have fun meet some new people and learn.

mazzybear · Brown Belt

Thanks for the replies guys, much appreciated. I think maybe next time I'll leave it till nearer my allocated time slot to go, I went from the start on Sunday to watch the kids from the club do their thing and could feel the nerves gradually building.

Hawkmoon · Pre-Black Belt

DWx · Black Belt

Totally agree with the familiarity advice. The more you do it the less scary it will be. Do as many tournaments and events as you can and soon it'll just be routine. Put yourself in training stressful situations as often as possible and tournaments will be a piece of cake. I'm lucky in that my instructor regularly pulls us out individually in front of everyone to have our forms pulled apart and inspected. Same with our sparring.

Aside from that, I think it's good to build up a tournament routine. Get some music together and have a warm up of something that you do everytime to get in the zone

Another version of that quote from pittbullJudoka is:

"The more you sweat in training, the less you bleed in battle."
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"Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it." ~ Confucius

pittbullJudoka · Black Belt

Drew · Orange Belt

Personally, competitive experience hasn't helped control my nerves. The only way I can get a handle on it is to distract myself with video games or a book. When the fight is in a few minutes or the bell is ringing, however, I have to make myself cold, otherwise I can't work. There was this girl that was killed around these parts a while back and the circumstances were pretty messed up. I then blame the person I'm about to fight. This helps dehumanize them some so you can hurt them, and it also hardens the nerves down into something better. Still enough nerves to keep the pep in your step, but not so much that you spaz or freeze.

Of course, you could use any injustice or horror you please as long as it gets you into the right mental state. I like having a few butterflies, but not a migration swarm. I like my body to feel a little electrified, primed, like when you go for a walk on a summer night. I also need to want to hurt my opponent, or else empathy gets in the way of winning.

I don't know if this method will appeal to you, but if it does I hope it helps

wayneshin · Orange Belt

Routine can be valuable.
Pack your bag and anything else you need including food/snacks the night before. That way you don’t start the day with any last minute stress (eg where is my belt/gi/gloves etc)
How you relax on competition day is different for everyone. Some prefer the company of others, chat, watch some matches, others will lay down with their headphones on. I don’t suggest arriving closer to your match because in may martial arts events the start time is uncertain – that will lead to worry (ie I’m going to miss my match)
Most importantly have a set warm up routine that you follow every time. Practise it is class. A full pre competition warm up should commence about an hour before your event is scheduled. You should be sweating when you finish. Also have an abbreviated 10 minute warm up routine for those times you get the “Black Belt Open please report to Court 3” calls. The very act of conducting your familiar warm up will relax you.

Hawkmoon · Pre-Black Belt

Good words:

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