Overenthusiastic puppy syndrome

[evergrey]

When I was growing up, my family had a basset hound. As a puppy, her ears dragged on the floor, and when she got too excited and started running around, she would trip on them!

In the dojo I think I often end up with overenthusiastic puppy syndrome. I want to do well SO BADLY! I try so hard and get spastic, lol, and trip over my own metaphorical ears.

I do try to improve my technique and learn, but I know, I know, I often try to fly before I can walk, haha!

And then I get an asthma attack and cannot breathe, but I just... can't give up! Well, I just won't! Until things start to go grey, then I know I have to stop, but I get really annoyed and want to go back to it! I tend to see the failings of my body as an inconvenience.

Probably some of that is ego. Some of it is stubbornness. Some of it is just... hyper-focus in a strange way. My instincts and my heart and my spirit just want to push through it, to endure it and keep going, keep going, keep going. I often get this fierce look on my face. Maybe the kids see that when I'm fighting the black belts, and they think I'm so furious and angry with my partners, or so mean, but actually I'm battling myself...

Oh man what it must be like for the poor black belts I'm fighting. "Argh that puppy is nipping at my face again and jumping all over me!" LOLOL

Anybody else like this? I will throw myself at anyone, no matter how scary of a fighter they are, or how high rank... if we're facing off on the mat, I might know I'm going to get trounced, but I still just go for it with all my heart, and end up bouncing around like a spaz.

Re... rehuuh.... rheeeluuaaaax? Relax? What is this thing and how do I find it?

[MasterPain]

Start with a Stuart Smally Daily Affirmation.

Physically, start with your hands, go almost limp wristed, if your fists are clenched you are holding tension in your arms and shoulders, including in the muscles that are counterproductive to good punching power. Focus on that and the rest of your body should relax more by extension.

[darksoul]

Yeah... I still get that sometimes. I still have yet to find a cure

[yamesu]

Unfortunately for many this is commonplace in MA training I think.

I train with a couple of people like this, and in particular some who only come into the dojo every now and again after reaching a certain rank.... (in fact last week I was punched square in the throat by an overly enthusiastic puppy! Needless to say I was less than impressed)

I believe that one of the keys to MA is slowing down techniques, only then does one really grasp the true nature of what we are learning. Perfect it slow, and then gain speed.

My tennis instructor once told me "Practice does NOT make perfect. Perfect Practice Makes Perfect!!!".

It is highly unlikely (unless they are extremely skilled) that anyone will attain perfection by travelling at 100 miles per hour off the bat (if you get my gist).

In kyokushin I think this is particularly true.

Look at some of the greats. They sit and wait for the right moment, never charging in, but picking each and every move as if it were their last.

This, to me,is what makes a great MAist, and a trait which I have learnt to carry into the Boardroom to become very successful in my career.

My only advice is to breath and think more. Slow things down, because then you can really look at areas that need improvement.

[sensei8]

First of all...great topic Ev!!

I think that all of us MAists have experienced this syndrome at one time or another. I know for a fact that I've experienced it more times than I care to remember, even though the syndrome has exposed me as a MA dork in the awe of some of the greatest MAists; old age and/or experience has dulled that syndrome within me from a giddy dork to an appreciative smile and a bow/handshake.

[ninjanurse]

yamesu has a great point-often overlooked and hard to put into practice at times-slow it down! Technique ALWAYS comes first, then speed, then power. Most of us have experienced both sides of this coin during our training-getting "nipped" by a puppy and being scolded for being too enthusiastic all in the same class!

[ShoriKid]

Hey, sometimes you have to let the puppy play a bit before you calm it down and teach it to sit and stay and what not.

I love that enthusiasm that some students have where they just want to soak everything up and try to learn things. Sure, they have to be reminded to learn the front kick, correctly, before moving on to the lever kick. Of all the troubles to have in a student, I would rather deal with the over excited puppy than the fatalist donkey. "Oh, I try, but I just can't seem to get it." guys. They keep seeking approval and pats on the back, not through their efforts, but seek them out to reassure themselves.

And Evergrey, never let being a lunger back you down from anything. Push until the world spins if you have the heart for it. I condone it, support it and do it often enough. I'll go against what a lot of people will say here, but be the puppy. Just don't make your instructors take a rolled up newspaper to you too often!

[evergrey]

Thank you everyone for the great advice and discussion. :}

[DWx]

Being enthusiastic is great. Enthusiastic students make it a pleasure to teach and work with because they always are trying hard and wanting to have a go at things and often put in way more effort than everyone else.

The thing is though, enthusiasm is a really good thing but it's worth trying to control it a bit and channel it appropriately. Being enthusiastic sometimes means that the student doesn't recognize their own limits and that's when either they themselves or a training partner can end up getting hurt. So by all means throw yourself into it, but remember getting an injury today will stop you from training tomorrow and no-one wants that! And enthusiasm can quickly turn the other way if the white belt is trying to do what the blackbelts are doing and failing each time. So never tire of learning evergrey but channel your enthusiasm and look after yourself

[evergrey]

Thanks!

Yes, after a snapped ACL I have become a lot more careful. ;} I'm a 5th kyu now but I still consider myself to be a beginner. Soooooometimes I am calm and relaxed while fighting.

Except with that one guy who decided to snitch on me about something he didn't understand, and get me in big trouble, LOL!

It's very bad to hold a grudge in the dojo or fight one's dojomates with anger. I know this, but last time I sparred him, I did sort of turn into a little Dalek.... "extreerminaaaate!" Not trying to cause injury, of course, more snarling and hurling myself at him. Too bad I'm not a good fighter yet, haha! Or maybe it's a good thing.

I just got an "Evey, try not to fight looking so ANGRY" from my Shihan for that one though.