Distracted during patterns competition

[AdamTKD]

Hello There.

This is a kind of "what would you do" thread I suppose.

Recently I started a thread which got quite a few helpful replies about a patterns competition I was scheduled to participate in.
This eventually rolled around today, didn't do too well as it turned out, came 4th in a group of four and got the "wooden spoon" trophy.

Anyway, this quite possibly would have happened anyway as it was my first anything competition and nervousness in front of a live audience was definitely a factor.

About two thirds of the way through I couldn't help but notice one of the other four was shaking his head and smirking and I later found out from someone else that he had mouthed "Total bollocks" or something similar in the general direction of the audience.

That was about eight hours ago and I still think that contributed, even in only a small way, to distracting me.

I was just wondering what the rest of you would do in my place.

Adam.

[Thai Bri]

How about ad libbing the Kata? You could feel the Ki and let the creativity flow. By walking over and kicking him in the gob.

Just a thought.

[eXcessiveForce]

Practice more. Distractions are part of life. But you need to be focused and visualizing an opponent attacking you when competing. if you had time to notice somebody watching you you weren't doing it right. I ahve actually had people run into me during my competing when they accidentally walked through the middle of the ring during kata but I still ended up winning first place.

If you didn't win it's always your fault. It is never anyone elses. If you are truely the best in the ring by such a great margin you will always win. Practice harder and do better next time. The purpose of competition is to learn.

[Thai Bri]

Learn what? How to pretend to have a choreagraphed fight with the atmosphere?

[eXcessiveForce]

what ever he can to make him better at his chosen endeavor.

[Damian Mavis]

Performing under pressure is the name of the game man, whether you are fighting or doing a pattern or breaking boards. You have to succeed regardless of what is going on around you. I completely blanked out twice during patterns competitions in the past... I was too nervous and not focused.

Damian Mavis
Honour TKD

[Thai Bri]

That could be disasterous. What if one of those invisible opponents got you with a deadly strike?

It doesn't bare thinking about. Brrrrrrr -

[osopardo]

Distractions and your ability to focus are part of it. Performing in front of a crowd of spectators is part of it. Coping with nerves is part of it.

You have to practice and learn your pattern so well that you can do it in your sleep, so well that you can do it while holding a conversation on an unrelated subject with somebody. Repetitive practice.

I've seen my instructor supervise as many as 4 different patterns being performed by 4 different students at one time. Familiarity.

As for your question regarding what to do, you've already done it. You competed. You have no idea how many wannabes are out there who lack the testicular fortitude to do what you've done. Learn from the experience. Be proud of yourself. Next time you'l do better (mebbe third out of four).

[Szczepankiewicz]

who lack the testicular fortitude to

Ya cut me real deep there bear. Ya cut me deep.

[nolimitskarate]

I'll risk the wrath of the masters by involving myself in another Kata discussion --

My experiance with forms competition is this (I assume we're discussing traditional not contemporary forms) is that the judges play a big part in who wins, and they are all looking for something different -

Some Key areas to focus on: Intensity - the more intensity the better. Strong stances and strong techniques. Visualization and focus (this will also help with intensity).

Never stop or pause during the form - if you miss a step or technique move on, be confident - the judges may not know the form your doing, but they will recognize strong stances, techniques, etc....

The biggest factor of course is repetition - both in and out of competition - the more you do it the better - keep at it and you'll find yourself winning.

Also, watch your competitors, see who's winning - try to draw from what there doing.


Good luck ............

[Thai Bri]

Or pull faces at the competition when its their turn. It works for them!

[Damian Mavis]

nolimitskarate, unlike Karate Tournaments, TKD tournaments are structured and uniform. Meaning in WTF (or ITF) they ALL do the same patterns for their belt level internationally, so the judges know EXACTLY what you are supposed to be doing. If you miss a step then you can pray they were blinking but otherwise you just lost.

Damian Mavis
Honour TKD

[osopardo]

Originally posted by Szczepankiewicz


Ya cut me real deep there bear. Ya cut me deep.

Spankster, How?!? Wasn't aiming at you, didn't realize you had fortitude "issues.

[osopardo]

Originally posted by Damian Mavis
...the judges know EXACTLY what you are supposed to be doing...

Damian, I always thought so until my kid blanked out once during a tournament, and without missing a beat went into one of the most polished looking "creative" routines you'd ever seen. A combination of several different forms. He displayed power, speed, technique, ki, faked the knowledge.

I'm on the sidelines just about ready to loose it - I'd practiced this routine every day for three months with him and I knew every move.

Anyway, he comes off the floor and I ask him "what the hell was that I just saw?!?"

He explained that he just blanked out and realized it would look worse if he paused so he just kept going and then figured he'd blown it so it really didn't matter what he did and then started really enjoying himself until he remembered the final moves of what he was supposed to be doing which gave the routine a proper ending.

He placed second. Maybe they're a more lenient with children(?).

[nolimitskarate]

Originally posted by Damian Mavis
nolimitskarate, unlike Karate Tournaments, TKD tournaments are structured and uniform. Meaning in WTF (or ITF) they ALL do the same patterns for their belt level internationally, so the judges know EXACTLY what you are supposed to be doing. If you miss a step then you can pray they were blinking but otherwise you just lost.

Damian Mavis
Honour TKD

K - but would think that the same issues would apply - intensity, strong (clean) stances and techniques, and if you miss a step it is still better to keep going than to give up..... ???