Off day

[Rateh]

The other day I was at the dojang, near the end of class we were going over two beginner level forms (I joined the style this summer, and learned them then, but they are extremely basic) So I was doing the forms....and I looked like crap. No power, no finess, hesitation, even did the wrong move at one point. It was like I was watching myself and I couldn't fix it. It just wouldn't happen. Now I've been doing martial arts for 10 years, and I have never had such an off day. I felt like beginner.

Just wanted to get that off my chest...non martial artists in my life don't understand that delema

The day before I was having some trouble as well, was lacking balance in my spinning kicks...I hope I'm back to myself by this next week I feel like an idiot because I know I can do much better, I take pride in my training and work to be the best I can be, and it just looks like slop right now.

[bushido_man96]

I feel your pain here. I have my share of off-days as well. They come and go, but the key is just working through them. Things aren't always on the up and up, so it is good to have days like this, where you may have to compromise yourself a bit here and there. In the end, it makes us better, I think.

[Zanshin]

I agree with Brian, sometimes you learn more from the off days than you do from days where you go home thinking "that felt alright".

Whilst its good to feel that your karate training is going well, i think its important not let yourself become too complacent. This is where a good instructor comes in. The day you start to think that you have got a kata "licked" is the day you should worry about the most.

Unfortunately that still doesn't stop you from feeling bad, and lord knows I am no stranger to that.

[Shotokan-kez]

I'm with you here. The run up to my dan grading was like this, i kept forgetting moves in the beginner kata's I know what you mean about non-martial artists not understanding, they listen but dont take it in lol

But we do all have 'off' days. It happened to me last wednesday, i just didnt want to fight but i had to fight this big guy same grade but better than me, and i kinda just took the beating Sensei asked what the problem was i just wasnt in the mood!

[pers]

what a good thread with some useful advice .

I read an article some years ago by Enoeda Sensei "hitting a brick wall ".

and how we come across that many times in our training and the key is as others said here to " keep at it " and " never give up " and conquer the wall even if you have to do it brick by brick !

[Rateh]

Thanks for the kind words and advice. It's nice to hear from others who have gone through the same type of thing.

It was actually kinda funny at one point. I was doing a kicking combination and as I finished I said to my instructor "I jackknifed my roundhouse kick". She laughed and said "well that makes my job easier if you just blurt out your mistakes".

[WolverineGuy]

I think we've all been there at one point. I know that I blanked on an intermediate kata on my black belt test....oy, that was embarassing. But everyone, myself included, got a good laugh out of it, and my sensei had a sense of humor, so its all good.

[KarateEd]

This happens from time to time. It has happens to me in MA and when playing sports, too. I don't know what causes it, but in my experience, it has only been temporary.

Ed

[pittbullJudoka]

Man I feel ya there. I went through a very shooty patch right before my black belt test. I faailed to complete the most basic kata and major hesitation during self defence and sparring. It seemed I'd never pull out of this rut. I just continued to work and it past. I talked with the older black belts at the dojo about it and they said not to worry it happens to the best of us.

[bushido_man96]

I sometimes wonder if many of these days that we have in MA classes perhaps end up having more to do with having a general bad day.

For example, most of the time we got to class knowing and expecting physical challenges, and we are prepared to work with them and deal with them. However, when we have a bad day at work, or at home, and are generally frustrated or flabergasted about something when we get to class, I think we end up noticing our "bad MA days" more, too. Perhaps it has to do with just a teeny bit of negativity that we forget to shake off before heading in to work out?