Competition Anxiety

[DanielSun]

Hey everyone. Next week I am planning to participate in the Bangkok WC sabre event. This will be my first international competition, and although I am well prepared, I cant seem to control my nerves. This week, I had a couple horrible practice sessions that delivered a harsh blow to my confidence. Do you guys think its normal to practice poorly before a comp, or an onimous sign of failure? Any insight you can share would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
~danny

p.s. On a different note, do you think herbal stimulants or suppliments might be useful for a competition (e.g. ginko, ginseng, spirulina) ?

[prototoast]

It's tough. I've been inexplicably nervous for several competitions (though never a world cup--I'm not that good). If you're having bad practice sessions, I'd focus the practices on doing simple technical actions correctly. As for the competition, I think you just have to try to relax and have fun. I mean, worst case scenario is that you finish last, and if you're too nervous to fence well you'll do that anyway.

As for supplements, personally I wouldn't recommend them.

[ThatReallyHurt]

Heh... funny you should mention being nervous - I'm entering my very first comp (it's a small open tournament in my city), and I'm all butterflies.

I don't think it's a good idea to try any supplements (or anything different for that matter) - just keep eating what you normally eat, and doing what you normally do.

As for the practices - I don't think I'd worry too much about that. If you're nervous, you're going to be overcritical of yourself. Just sit back, maybe watch some TV...

[Aeric]

At the beginning of a college dual meet, I tend to get jittery and not attack or react the way I should in a bout. The solution to this is to get pumped up. I was feeling a bit lazy until I saw our foil team in action, which was pretty intense. It sparked me to do well myself and my actions were solid for the rest of the day.

[jeff]

Having bad practices before a competition isn't a real problem - you may just be too nervouse and tense about the event. Try to back off a little and relax rather than place a lot of burdens on yourself.

I used to take ginseng before competions, and never noticed any advantage. I wouldn't bother. Also: be sure you are in compliance with the drug testing policies that will be in effect. Better to not take anything that might be forbidden.

[telkanuru]

Heh, I fence better on 2 hours of sleep, apparently. Find your rhythem and stick to it. I find it helpful not to think about the reputation or ranking of the person you are going to fence, but rather just fencing and zoning out everything else.

[Coup de Grace]

It is natural to be nervous. Fear not! Have fun. You are there for a reason. Enjoy the moment and take it one touch at time brother.

[cowpaste]

Whenever I have performance anxiety, I take a special pill. Anyway, just show up in Bangkok a few days early and enjoy the sights and sounds. Befriend a nice college lass with decent English and ask her to take you around. Go have a nice chat with Kothny in German. Eat tons of spicy food. Always keep in mind that you're probably better than all the Thai sabreurs except maybe one.

[glowstix]

Heh, I fence better on 2 hours of sleep, apparently.

so do i it seems. i've had my best finishes on little sleep the night before...and of course the early morning 4 hour drive to venue and 4 hour drive back to get home at midnight is always a lot of fun!!

[Larrison]

Hmm? seriously -- how far are you flying? And how different is it going to be?

My personal recommendation is -- give yourself a couple of days to adapt to time changes, if you're coming from more than a couple of time zones away.

Similarly, watch out for intestinal problems -- nothing bad, but things like drinking local water, eating local food etc can make you feel bad for a couple of days. Drink only bottled water, watch what you eat (no raw vegetables!) and be careful...

There may be a difference in climate too -- and in BKK, probably hot and humid, so you may have to adapt to that. Drink LOTS of water, and consider something like salt tablets or electrolyte replacement supplements if you're not used to the weather.

Get lots of sleep -- but the night before competition, I recommend a reasonable, light supper, followed by 1-2 glasses of wine or beer (not to get you drunk, but to relax you) and go to bed a little early.

I'm basing this on not having been to international fencing competitions, but internal business travel. And flying for 12-14 hours and going right into a meeting and negotations is just as bad...

[SouthPaw]

I may be a freak case, but for me fencing really crappy in practice just before competitions has always been a very good sign. Get out all of your stupid mistakes now and you won't make them during the competition.

[Faggot the Hutt]

p.s. On a different note, do you think herbal stimulants or suppliments might be useful for a competition (e.g. ginko, ginseng, spirulina) ?

Jesus H. Christ! Don't be such a friggin' panzy. Why don't you just give yourself a Kool-Aid enema and shut the hell up.

[Schiavona]

Jesus H. Christ! Don't be such a friggin' panzy. Why don't you just give yourself a Kool-Aid enema and shut the hell up.

As always, so very helpful!

[Faggot the Hutt]

As always, so very helpful!

Look... this isn't a damn "U" level event we're talking about. If he's going to a WC he had better have his ducks in line and get over those "nerves" of his like a man instead of pissing his pants and reading self-help remedies straight out of Seventeen Magazine. And, as for the rest of you, stop coddling this prick. You "men" are acting like a bunch of chicks at a salon palor. I see enough of this crap at NAC's, I certainly don't want anyone polluting my WC's.

BTW, I'm connected through a server in the Arab Emirates today. So... A FREAKIN' JIHAD ON YOU!

[JackSparrow]

Just try to enjoy the experience and learn from it as much as you can. Bruce Lee talks quite allot about nerves in his book the 'Tao of Jeet Kune Do'. He says "As an event approaches, the athelete often notices a feeling of weakness in his midsection (butterflies in his stomach), and his heart pounds, he may experience pain in his lower back. The experienced athelete recognizes these sensations not as inner weakness, but as an inner surplus. These signs indicate a preparedness for violent activity. In fact, the athlete who expresses a feeling of euphoria before an event is probably in a poor state of readiness.

If emotional control is not well learned, critical moments in the fight when the emotional tension is highest will result in loss of skill by the fighter. His muscles suddenly must work against his own over-tense antagonistic muscles. He becomes stiff and clumsy in his movements. The state of the athlete's mind as he faces his event determines the degree of excess tension he will carry into the event. The athlete free from excess tension as he awaits his performance is typically self-confident. He has what is commonly known as "a winning attitude." He sees himself as master of the athletic situation confronting him. To many athletes, being champion is a matter of 'psycological necessity'. Fed by previous successes and having completely rationalized previous failure, he feels himself a Triton among minnows."

[Pauli]

Look... this isn't a damn "U" level event we're talking about. If he's going to a WC he had better have his ducks in line and get over those "nerves" of his like a man instead of pissing his pants and reading self-help remedies straight out of Seventeen Magazine. And, as for the rest of you, stop coddling this prick. You "men" are acting like a bunch of chicks at a salon palor. I see enough of this crap at NAC's, I certainly don't want anyone polluting my WC's.

BTW, I'm connected through a server in the Arab Emirates today. So... A FREAKIN' JIHAD ON YOU!

Quite a "junky" reply......
but thanks for sharing. Every opinion counts.....
"If he's going to a WC he had better have his ducks in line and get over those "nerves" of his like a man instead of pissing his pants"
I agree with the ducks in line and to get over those nerves......the rest isn't really what I call helpful. Everybody deals differently with stress. Not everybody has the ability to "take it like a man". What ever it may mean, by the way.
"stop coddling this prick. You "men" are acting like a bunch of chicks at a salon palor." - you must be THE cowboy from your State!

[Zilverzmurfen]

Hey everyone. Next week I am planning to participate in the Bangkok WC sabre event. This will be my first international competition, and although I am well prepared, I cant seem to control my nerves. This week, I had a couple horrible practice sessions that delivered a harsh blow to my confidence. Do you guys think its normal to practice poorly before a comp, or an onimous sign of failure? Any insight you can share would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
~danny

p.s. On a different note, do you think herbal stimulants or suppliments might be useful for a competition (e.g. ginko, ginseng, spirulina) ?

Ok, I'm not sure if this is of any real help or comfort to you but as I understand it you are not new to competitions as such? This is going to sound really easy, but all in all a competition is a competition is a competition... It actually is nothing more than that.

The only thing that is going to be of any major difference is your opponents. To me, meeting opponents that you've never met in competition before is liberating. You will meet lots of new people that you do not have any preconceived notions about, new fencing styles and perhaps even make some new friends.

Eat what you normally do, 'load' your body with water the days before, have a nice pasta dish but go easy on the wine with it (if you have the legal age for drinking alcohol).

For me it's 'normal' to fence lika muppet the week before a competition.
To me this has nothing to do with how I will actually perform in the competition.
And I'm just too plain stupid to be nervous.

Stress affects us all very differently, I hope you will learn how to deal with yours. Rule #1 in fencing is to have fun. (If you want to have fun, then fence. If you want to get bored stupid, go watch some paint dry.)

Best of luck for your competition!

[Inquartata]

I may be a freak case, but for me fencing really crappy in practice just before competitions has always been a very good sign. Get out all of your stupid mistakes now and you won't make them during the competition.

A good point. I wish it were that predictable for me. Often I find that if I have a really good day at practice I do poorly at the competition, and vice versa, but alas, the effect is not consistent. ( Note that the fact that you have company in this phenomenon does not mean that you aren't still a freak. )

But Daniel Sun, I myself would be more worried if I were having great practices. It'd probably mean that I had peaked too soon.

[Schiavona]

I see enough of this crap at NAC's, I certainly don't want anyone polluting my WC's.

Really? You go to NAC's and World Cups? I really didn't think you fenced since I've never read a post of yours that had anything really to do with fencing.

BTW, I'm connected through a server in the Arab Emirates today. So... A FREAKIN' JIHAD ON YOU!

So, does that make you feel important?

[Alain]

Hey everyone. Next week I am planning to participate in the Bangkok WC sabre event. This will be my first international competition, and although I am well prepared, I cant seem to control my nerves. This week, I had a couple horrible practice sessions that delivered a harsh blow to my confidence. Do you guys think its normal to practice poorly before a comp, or an onimous sign of failure? Any insight you can share would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
~danny

p.s. On a different note, do you think herbal stimulants or suppliments might be useful for a competition (e.g. ginko, ginseng, spirulina) ?

Hey. First off, congratulations on taking part in your first international

In practice, keep it simple, as protoblast says try to focus on the simple stuff.

Anyway, don't worry about it, you'll be fine. Being nervous is only natural (I remember my first senior intntl...) - it's hard, but try not to be too over-awed by what's going on; take it one hit and one match at a time! And whatever happens, have a good time in Thailand!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

G'luck