While performing my martial arts forms, I get unbelievable performance anxiety. It is always with me during my forms, and it causes me to make stupid errors, lose my footing, etc. How do I combat this?
2006-09-05 17:35:57 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Martial Arts
By doing it over and over again. Its not going to happen right away. I remember doing my forms many many years ago, you know what I did? Hell, I made something up because most of the time the judges don't know the forms you are doing anyway, most practice other types of martial arts. You'll get better but as I said do what most actors and actress do when they fluff things up and just make it up (ad lib). Don't worry you look fine! Nobody will ever know, I promise you.
2006-09-05 17:41:51 · answer #1 · answered by soniaatcalifornia 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I feel qualified to answer this on several levels. I have been studying martial arts for 13 years I also have a degree in Public Speaking, at my job I have to make presentations.
Performance jitters is adreniline. You are nervous because you are about to perform in front of an audience. You fear making a mistake in front of others as it may affect what they think of you I imagine.
What you need to do is breath deep, load your body up with oxygen. Continue to breath deep. Control your breathing and you control your biological systems. Water helps a lot too ( but you may not have this option). Your nervous reaction is a natural defense mechanism. it is rooted in your fear. Instead of fearing what you are about to, relish in it, savor it. Enjoy it. it is all a mental state. Something else that helps is to know your material inside and out. Practice your forms hardcore, and practice them in different ways. Eyes closed, backwards, sideways, in an enviroment other than your school. This will help you focus on doing it the same everytime and help you avoid becoming overly comfortable in the school.
If you make a mistake ... no worries. Just keep rolling with it. Have the courage of your conviction. If you accidently do a high block instead of a low block than do a good high block. If you step left instead of right then step left correctly.
From a martial arts stand point this is part of the training. Performing under pressue is part of the learning process. In a real situation you cannot stop and re-due something. you must do it with conviction. Performing in front of an audience provides that false sense of pressure that can help you in real life. Also, it allows people to point out your mistakes for the purpose of correcting them. It is a good memory tool, if you are told you did something incorrectly in front of others you are more apt to remember it. Other students can also learn by watching you, both more experienced and less experienced people.
I could go on forever but I will end it here...
2006-09-06 09:40:11 · answer #2 · answered by spidertiger440 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just do it in front of other people more often.
Practice makes perfect. Once you've done it enough, even to the point of being annoyed by doing it again, you will not think twice about your anxiety. It will become something you used to have.
Tell yourself everyday "I can perform my forms with ease." Eventually you will believe it. Such is the way of the mind. Tell yourself everyday until you really believe it. It works!
2006-09-06 00:42:56 · answer #3 · answered by Fingers 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Perfom in front of your family and friends.
Plus, nobody who is attending this event
at least not many of them will even know
if you mess up. If anything, they will all be
overly impressed by your skills. Even if
you aren't that great and I was watching
you I'd be impressed because you tried
your best and I can't do martial arts!
Believe in yourself and practice a lot!
Good luck. I'm cheering for ya!
2006-09-06 00:43:06 · answer #4 · answered by sac_baby_girl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
comfort foods, stretching, meditation, and proper breathing. everyones different.
I like to havea cup of tea preferbly green tea
jsut beacause it makes me feel comfortable.
as for stretchign people have told me it wears you out. Well, to bad i would rather be exausted after a long kata or raff than have pulled muscle and not be able to fight for the lead position in a competition. Or look silly from pulling a muscle.
Meditation helps me center myself and bring me down to earth helps tell me not to try things that all though might look exciting but if messed up could seriously harm me.
And breathing. By breathing through my nose and out through my mouth it helps me. It lets your body regulate properly, long strong breaths is key
HOpe i helped good luck getting over the jitters. And if your as experienced as you sound you shouldn't even worry!
2006-09-06 12:21:59 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
OK listen... concentrate on your breathing cuz breathing is the most important thing in martial arts if you can't breath you can't fight so take deep breaths and think of your breathing and you will see that when you do your performances you will come out victorious
2006-09-09 13:19:56 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
you are in the gym or your yard. Focus on the imaginary opponent. Remember, your goal is "wei-wu-wei" (knowing without knowing).
Follow this rule and you will perform perfectly without mistake, and you will have progressed on the path...
2006-09-06 00:44:46 · answer #7 · answered by toyoyo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ice cream.
2006-09-06 00:38:43 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
JUMAICAN RUM, smoke CUBAN CIGARS, you become a star.
2006-09-06 00:41:47 · answer #9 · answered by litehmusicdj 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
practice practice practice
and when you're done, practice some more
2006-09-06 00:44:46 · answer #10 · answered by ♫ sf_ca ღ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋