Pre-fight jitters

[dawson9b7b]

Does anyone else get ridiculously stressed/nervous before a fight or comp?

If so, how do you deal with it/overcome it?

I'm not talking about an actual fear of being harmed or anything girly like that, but more 'performance anxiety', fear of failure that sort of thing.

I used to throw up before rugby matches and it's that sort of thing - basically a massive adrenaline spike that seems to sap most of my cardio.

[jubaji]

The best way to deal with it is to experience it so often that you become desensitized to the situation.

[Uke]

The best way to deal with it is to experience it so often that you become desensitized to the situation.

How generic was that advice? What are you, a fortune cookie? Why not end it by telling him his lucky numbers too?

[jubaji]

How generic was that advice? What are you, a fortune cookie? Why not end it by telling him his lucky numbers too?

I'm sorry, with all your long years of experience in high-pressure competition, what would you advise? Meditation? Accupuncture? Listening to music? Sitting in a dark room? etc, etc, etc...

There are a million things that different individuals do, but in the end what I said holds.

[Tant01]

Does anyone else get ridiculously stressed/nervous before a fight or comp?

If so, how do you deal with it/overcome it?

I'm not talking about an actual fear of being harmed or anything girly like that, but more 'performance anxiety', fear of failure that sort of thing.

I used to throw up before rugby matches and it's that sort of thing - basically a massive adrenaline spike that seems to sap most of my cardio.

Not so much. No mind. Win lose or draw... The WAY you think about the competition will make you FEEL that way. Ju is right on the money. You know the OTHER GUY probably suffers from the same thing...

Just relax and think of chess. If your first strategy fails try something else. The worse that can happen is ending up in "check mate" yourself. It's just a game. Breath, relax SMILE! It's just for FUN!!!

Hard to enjoy the experience if you're sick before it starts. Get sick after...

[Bjjexpertise@be]

I used to have that during wrestling and it stopped me from performing to the best of my abilities. However, this never happened to me in BJJ. I find that the previous experience of wrestling matches has helped me cope with the stress in BJJ competition. On top of that, having undying faith in your abilities helps you ease up and realize that no matter if he escapes this move or the move after that, you'll catch him in something in the end.

[Uke]

I'm sorry, with all your long years of experience in high-pressure competition, what would you advise? Meditation? Accupuncture? Listening to music? Sitting in a dark room? etc, etc, etc...

There are a million things that different individuals do, but in the end what I said holds.

What you said is tantamount to saying "practice makes perfect" ... another overstatement of the obvious.

BTW fortune cookie, your lucky numbers are 16,21,14,25 and 4,9,3,11. Those numbers tell the story of your frustration. Play them. You might make some money.

[Adept]

Does anyone else get ridiculously stressed/nervous before a fight or comp?

If so, how do you deal with it/overcome it?

I'm not talking about an actual fear of being harmed or anything girly like that, but more 'performance anxiety', fear of failure that sort of thing.

I used to throw up before rugby matches and it's that sort of thing - basically a massive adrenaline spike that seems to sap most of my cardio.

Quite natural to feel this way, old chum. It means you're ALIVE.

I use to have to piss before every competition myself. I had a feeling of needing to take a crap, too.

But you know what? It was all in my mind. You're just a little bit excited and afraid.

What I do to overcome this nervousness was simple. I'd close my eyes for a moment and breathe in, whilst holding my breath, I calmly and quietly say to myself 'Win, lose, or draw, it's no biggie' and then exhale after. I repeat this over and over until I stop feeling nervous or afraid. Sometimes, while doing this cycle, I visualize what happens during my matches. Visualization helps calm your nerves, because you're prepping yourself for the inevitable.

If anything, I'd say anticipation was what made me want to crap in my pants. So preparation is the best counter for me to fight against the anticipations.

Like jujabi said before me, everyone is DIFFERENT. My 'rituals' before a competition may NOT work for you. To each his own.

Hope this helps. And good luck.

[aseepish]

Someone asked a similar question at a BTT seminar I attended a few years back. Murilo Bustamante's answer was yoga.

A lot of the BJJ clubs in Vancouver also offer yoga classes. One of the instructors at the Gracie Barra club I visted in Melbourne started each class with 20 mins of yoga.

[jubaji]

What you said is tantamount to saying "practice makes perfect" ... another overstatement of the obvious.

Its funny that everyone here who actually has experience in competition knew just what I was talking about.

Maybe you should stick to discussing 'theory' with your *ahem* friend.

[Tant01]

What you said is tantamount to saying "practice makes perfect" ... another overstatement of the obvious.

.....

Repetition is key...

[Uke]

Its funny that everyone here who actually has experience in competition knew just what I was talking about.

Maybe you should stick to discussing 'theory' with your *ahem* friend.

Everyone knows what you're talking about. Its just that coming from you its like hearing David Duke discuss racial harmony. In other words, its something you clearly know nothing about.

[jubaji]

Everyone knows what you're talking about. Its just that coming from you its like hearing David Duke discuss racial harmony. In other words, its something you clearly know nothing about.

You're really bad at this, aren't you?

[Garland]

Does anyone else get ridiculously stressed/nervous before a fight or comp?

If so, how do you deal with it/overcome it?

I'm not talking about an actual fear of being harmed or anything girly like that, but more 'performance anxiety', fear of failure that sort of thing.

I used to throw up before rugby matches and it's that sort of thing - basically a massive adrenaline spike that seems to sap most of my cardio.

It's good...means your peripheral nervous system is working. You can talk yourself down from being amped, or you can use the same type of rationalizing method to redirect the fear of failure to a "hey, this cocksucker is trying to embarass me in front of my friends, family, hurt me, and shit on my last X months of training....I'm going to HURT this motherfucker real bad, so if he wins, it'll be a pehric fucking victory...no matter what, he'll be sorry he crossed those ropes."

[Adept]

"hey, this cocksucker is trying to embarass me in front of my friends, family, hurt me, and shit on my last X months of training....I'm going to HURT this motherfucker real bad, so if he wins, it'll be a pehric fucking victory...no matter what, he'll be sorry he crossed those ropes."

They sure sound nice when the actors in 'Rocky' say it, don't they?

But....having a huge egotistic thought might actually backfire for when you really lose, and I mean lose to someone that's just plain better than you.

I think you'd do better if you remained either positive or at least neutral in your mentality. If you talk like that to yourself, another fear comes in: the fear of losing. If you're afraid of losing, you'll play it safe and not risk anything, such as trying a submission. When you let go of that fear, you do more and unlock so MUCH more of your true potential.

Just a two shilling for thought, not trying to step over your methods there, Mr Garland.