First tournament... tips please!

[backfist64]

Congrats, krunchyfrogg, on your first upcoming tournament. As someone has already mentioned, expect to have fun and enjoy the environment and comradarie. Chances are, you will meet great people that you'll appreciate the rest of your life.

 

The first time in the ring can be fun--or terrifying, depending on one's outlook. Breathe deeply and calmly, and most of all relax your body. Keep your expectations of yourself reasonable, expecting only to enjoy and learn from the experience.

 

Best of luck.

[47MartialMan]

Since I don't compete in your style I won't go into strategy, but instead some other preparations. Let's talk hydration and nutrition. Be sure to be well hydrated. The day before the tournament you should drink enough water that your urine is clear. Bring water to the tournament, not sports drinks. If you want a sports drink, save it till after you're finished competing.

 

Agree

 

Eat a good breakfast of complex carbs. I like whole wheat pancakes the morning of a tournament. Bring some healthy snack to snack on during the day to help maintain your blood sugar level. You don't want to eat a candy bar to get that sugar rush and then crash as you enter the ring.

 

Somewhat disagree, sometimes eating, pending on the person, can upset the stomach. In fact, if one did not eat, their energy and focus will increase.

 

You will probably feel butterflies in your stomach, you might get a dry mouth (cotton-mouth) and your legs will feel like they are made of cement.

 

This is why eating will be bad for some people.

 

I've been competing and winning for seven years now and I still get that way. It's natural. It sometimes helps to distract yourself from the competition by talking to and getting to know the people in your division. I've made friendships with several guys I normally compete against. It helps you realize that they are just normal folks like yourself. If your legs feel heavy, lay on your back with your feet up against a wall. This has helped me before.

 

Problem with competing for too many years, bad fighting habits will surface. And you can't always win.

 

Get a good warm up if you can. When I am judging it's hard to break away to warm up before I compete, but as a green belt you shouldn't have any problem. Try to break a sweat. Get your second wind before competing.

 

Warm up yes-break a sweat-no. One should not over-exert themself-especially if they ate a lot of carbs and pancakes

 

And yes, it's very important….HAVE FUN

 

The fun will end when discrepancies arise. Some parents get belligerent more than competitors. At times, competition has its cons. I have written a article on this.

[Kicks]

47MM, in response to your disagreements to some of my suggestions: It's worked for me. You can't dispute my record.

In fact, if one did not eat, their energy and focus will increase.

 

Naw, many times I've sat at ring side and heard people talk about they can't wait till the tournament is over so they can go eat. Yea, their focus increases...about eating.

 

Each person has to find what works best for them. You may feel better not eating and risk not having stored energy source for anaerobic activity. Don't count on fat stoes for energy, that's more for aerobic (endurance) type activities. In sparring you need quick burst of energy. One thing for sure, don't try something new on the day of competition. If you've never eaten whole wheat pancakes before, don't wait till competition day to try them. You may have a negative reaction. Eat what you have conditioned your body to accept.

This is why eating will be bad for some people.

This is due to being nervous. One of the aspects of MA training is learning how to control your emotions in such situations.

Problem with competing for too many years, bad fighting habits will surface. And you can't always win.

 

I don't see your point here. A diligent martial artist will always strive to get better with each MA activity, wheather it is dogang training or competition. Are you saying I'm not diligent, and instead of getting better I'm developing bad habits? How can you possibly judge me?

Warm up yes-break a sweat-no. One should not over-exert themself-especially if they ate a lot of carbs and pancakes

If you have to "over-exert" yourself you break a sweat then you're not ready for competition. By breaking a sweat your muscles are warmed up and blood filled and limber. Your joints are flexable. You are ready for speed and power. You don't have to wait till the first round to get all that conditioning done.

 

My suggestions come based on years of trial and error and diligent research. I've read from and talked to sports trainers and world class athletes about competition day preperations and practices. Much of what they are successful doing I do. I figure if you want to be a winner, find out what winners do and just do it. If it works, good. If not, find another winner!

The fun will end when discrepancies arise. Some parents get belligerent more than competitors. At times, competition has its cons.

 

Amen to that brother!

[47MartialMan]

47MM, in response to your disagreements to some of my suggestions: It's worked for me. You can't dispute my record.

 

Record-what does that have to do with it? What other tournaments and sport actvities have you done? A the point is well made that you made that I am making-it works FOR you. Perhaps not everyone

In fact, if one did not eat, their energy and focus will increase.

 

Naw, many times I've sat at ring side and heard people talk about they can't wait till the tournament is over so they can go eat. Yea, their focus increases...about eating.

 

Look, it is known fact, that if you did not eat, energy and focus will actually increase. After the activity, the body would be craving more nourishment. That IS what I am saying

 

Each person has to find what works best for them.

 

This is what I have been saying

 

You may feel better not eating and risk not having stored energy source for anaerobic activity.

 

Again, most people that I know whom workout hard-do not eat before their activity. I know many people who work out in the evenings, that skip lunch for that reason.

 

Don't count on fat stoes for energy, that's more for aerobic (endurance) type activities.

 

I am not talking of fat stores for energy. Are you saying that these fat stores produce energy for aerobic (endurance) type activities?

 

In sparring you need quick burst of energy. One thing for sure, don't try something new on the day of competition. If you've never eaten whole wheat pancakes before, don't wait till competition day to try them. You may have a negative reaction. Eat what you have conditioned your body to accept.

 

Yes, or don't eat at all. Person pending

This is why eating will be bad for some people.

This is due to being nervous. One of the aspects of MA training is learning how to control your emotions in such situations.

 

Come on, you weren't nervous for your first tournament. This IS what the thread is about. So, why would anyone being nervous for their first tournament, eat before it?

Problem with competing for too many years, bad fighting habits will surface. And you can't always win.

 

I don't see your point here. A diligent martial artist will always strive to get better with each MA activity, wheather it is dogang training or competition. Are you saying I'm not diligent, and instead of getting better I'm developing bad habits? How can you possibly judge me?

 

I am not judging you. I said THE problem-not YOUR problem. But I have seen many tournament competitors loose in street confrontations resulting from bad tournament habits. And ONE cannot always win tournaments.

Warm up yes-break a sweat-no. One should not over-exert themself-especially if they ate a lot of carbs and pancakes

If you have to "over-exert" yourself you break a sweat then you're not ready for competition. By breaking a sweat your muscles are warmed up and blood filled and limber. Your joints are flexable. You are ready for speed and power. You don't have to wait till the first round to get all that conditioning done.

 

So your term of breaking a sweat, is not heavy workout, but minor sweat?

 

My suggestions come based on years of trial and error and diligent research. I've read from and talked to sports trainers and world class athletes about competition day preperations and practices. Much of what they are successful doing I do. I figure if you want to be a winner, find out what winners do and just do it. If it works, good. If not, find another winner!

 

Yeah, same here. Perhaps before you. But I don't see you winning every tournament. And I don't see you partcipating in all types. I bet you have a selection. So, are you creating bad habits and limitations-why or why not? Serious question-no offense

The fun will end when discrepancies arise. Some parents get belligerent more than competitors. At times, competition has its cons.

 

Amen to that brother!

 

Now-I must state-as I know Master Moon and respect him-though I don't know you, you seem to be a "diligent" martial artist. I commend you on that. I just hope that you are not one of those "tournament people" that believe tournament competiton/tactics can be used in a street confrontation. And lastly, my most important comment-Please do NOT take offense

[Kicks]

47MM

Please do NOT take offense

 

No offense taken. I took a defensive position. I'll defend my statements because I can back them with actual, personal results, not hypothesis.

 

I strongly disagree with your point of not eating before a tournament. It goes against what all experts and world class athletes say and do. I don't know how you have more expertise then them. When I compete it's usually at least an hours drive to the tournament site. I have to be there at 9:00 for the black belt meeting, so I'm up at 6:00 AM, eat, and on the road by 7:45 - 8:00. I then judge and coach all day. I don't get to compete till 2:00 - 3:00 in the afternoon. You're asking me to go famished all day and have no energy source. NO balanced blood sugar levels. A freaking hunger headache! That’s nuts! No offense.

[47MartialMan]

47MM

Please do NOT take offense

 

I strongly disagree with your point of not eating before a tournament. It goes against what all experts and world class athletes say and do.

 

But I have and know other experts and athletes that agree with what I stated.

 

I don't know how you have more expertise then them.

 

Ditto from the above.

 

When I compete it's usually at least an hours drive to the tournament site. I have to be there at 9:00 for the black belt meeting, so I'm up at 6:00 AM, eat, and on the road by 7:45 - 8:00. I then judge and coach all day. I don't get to compete till 2:00 - 3:00 in the afternoon. You're asking me to go famished all day and have no energy source. NO balanced blood sugar levels. A freaking hunger headache! That’s nuts! No offense.

 

Now we get to it-TIME FRAME-8-hours....in that case, if the food is in moderation and thus-I AGREE because of the time laspe

[Kicks]

Now we get to it-TIME FRAME-8-hours....in that case, if the food is in moderation and thus-I AGREE because of the time laspe

 

Yeaaah! I knew I'd win you over with my charm.

[GrrrArg]

Just like to put something in here, its very good to see two people with differing opinions discussing it like adults and not letting it descend into a flame war. Keep it up, I personally im finding this very interesting

[foreveryoung001]

Just like to put something in here, its very good to see two people with differing opinions discussing it like adults and not letting it descend into a flame war. Keep it up, I personally im finding this very interesting

 

Flowers for everyone!!!

 

pssst.... (*whisper mode on*) hey kicks, you're not gonna let 47MM get away with saying what he said, are you?

 

psst... (*whisper mode still on*) Hey 47MM, can you believe Kicks said that? You're gonna do something about that aren't you?

 

 

 

(*Whisper Mode Off*)

 

Peace and Love!!!!

 

 

 

Seriously though, this is what's cool about this forum. I've seen more good debate than actualy flaming and arguing....

[GrrrArg]

pssst.... (*whisper mode on*) hey kicks, you're not gonna let 47MM get away with saying what he said, are you?

 

psst... (*whisper mode still on*) Hey 47MM, can you believe Kicks said that? You're gonna do something about that aren't you?

 

Now, where did I leave my katana. I *know* its around here somere..