Learning sequence of Forms/Katas

[busling]

I generally know the sequence of the form/kata I have to do (Wing Chun first form Shil Lum Tao), and can do it easily in class or by myself at a slow speed. I passed it in my grading over 6 months ago.

 

However now I find that under the pressure of my other gradings I mess it up in sections. I am sure that it is the mental strain of the grade that is messing me up.

 

To overcome this problem I have started to practice it at high speed(ignoring correct technique) to simulate the pressure of gradings. This seems to be helping me.

 

Does anyone have any other suggestions of how to learn my form/kata so that I can perform it under stressful situations?

[Kaminari]

Practice, practice, practice. Practice it slowly, with proper technique, until you've got it down, then you can speed up. If you keep practicing it, eventually it won't require you to think about it too much, and you'll have an easier time performing. The more you practice it, the better you'll know it, therefore the less you have to worry about messing up while performing it.

[Shane]

Yeah practice makes perfect!!!!!

 

You want to practice it to the point that you dont even think about whats next you just do it.

[Master Jules]

NEVER ignore "correct technique".....never.......

 

Practice the form slowly.......countless times.....WITH CORRECT TECHNIQUE

 

As your mind and body work as one to perform and understand the form, your body will naturally begin to "speed up" the techniques until the form is being performed at the proper speed with the correct techniques.

 

NEVER EVER EVER SACRIFICE TECHNIQUE FOR SPEED.

[busling]

Thank you all for your feedback.

 

Master Jules I appreciate your comments. My problem is that I do the form correctly at slow speed, with no pressure. However when I am under pressure or stress I mess it up.

 

I have been using speed as a method of simulating stress.

 

I can see that doing it quickly with crap technique runs the risk of my brain remembering the techniques incorrectly. However if I only practice it slowly as I have in the past, I make mistakes when it counts.

 

I was hoping that there was a valid method of ingraining the sequence in my brain without harming my technical execution of the form.

 

It seems that lots and lots and lots of slow practice is the way to go.

[scottnshelly]

I concur with everyone else.

 

What used to help me, was to break the form down. I would take a step, then think about how it coordinated with the last step, then how it flows into the next step. Asking myself questions like this while breaking the form down seemed to help. This was, by the way, done at a very very slow pace - slower than walking pace.

 

This was especially helpful when i learned Kenpo Long Form 6, which as it's name suggests, is a very long form.

 

Try this once. it may not work for you, but it did for me.

 

Whatever works for you, never practice faster than normal - i didn't believe my Instructor the first time he told me that, but it's true.

[Nick_UKWC]

Think of someone you trust but is not involved with your MA.

 

Anyone you would be nervous showing it to, even if the fear is ridicule, not getting the form wrong.

 

Practise in front of them, learn to ignore the stress. Remeber they wont know if you make a mistake, there is nothing to worry about in that respect, just get it done at your own pace.

 

Might help

[smr]

I think I could speak for your instructor when I say that he would much rather you perform the wrong techniques correctly than perform the right techniques poorly. It is easier to relearn the sequence of techniques than to unlearn bad technique.

[steveb]

Practice doesn't make perfect! Perfect practice makes perfect.

 

Also, I'm not conviced that speeding up your form to simulate stress is the right way to approach this problem. Your problem is the same problem that singers, musicians, etc face when in front of a live audience. They get nervous about making a mistake and looking foolish. In my experience the best way to overcome this type of performance anxiety is to perform in front of non-judgemental crowds (family, friends, etc). They will not laugh or ridicule you for any mistakes and you will gain confidence that you can survive the experience. This worked for me in the past when I had to do public speaking, hopefully it will help you as well. Good luck.

[The Saint]

Besides the whole practise thing try clearing your mind of all the crap that has gone on during the day. Picture your pattern in you head before you start. Take a deep breath, relax open your eyes and start. Focus on all your movements stances punches and blocks as if you were practicing alone. I have messed up in the past and was able to fix the problem. I have been in gymnasiums with hundreds of sreaming people and was able to block out noise and distractions and win in my patterns. It is challenging at first but you can apply it to many other things too.