I'm currently taking taekwondo classes and everytime we spar, I get injured in some way (or extremely exhausted). I'm also afraid to kick sometimes because I'm alwas afraid of counter-attacks or some sort. lol I get a little angry when I get hit by a back kick. (it hurts even with sparring gear) Any way to overcome this fear? (afraid to get hit in the crotch- it happened once)
2007-07-10 04:58:00 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Martial Arts
Ok, first you need to "cowboy" up. Martial arts are a contact activity. If you cannot deal with getting hit you may need to find another activity. Being hurt and being injured are two very different things. Everyday when I get out of bed it hurts, I am not injured but I am in pain. You have to just be tough and work through the pain.
Fear is another matter. Fear is far worse than pain. Fear is a natural response to perceived danger, you must learn to control fear and make it work to your advantage.
You have to keep sparring, practice is the only way to overcome these issues.
The people in your school should be using controlled techniques and not just plowing each other. The goal is to learn, not to pop somebody real hard.
Try this next time you spar. Ignore points. Just defend yourself. Use all defense. Do not attack. Just block. Keep in mind this is just to build confidence, this is not how you will defend yourself in the street. Also, put in some extra time blocking. Have someone you trust punch at you and work your blocks. Make sure they connect if you miss the block but in a manner that stings, not causes physical damage.
Good luck!!!!
2007-07-10 05:17:19 · answer #1 · answered by spidertiger440 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tae Kwon Do isn't always point sparring, Bluto. Many schools do contact, and full-contact. Imagine that.
It's going to take some time to get used to it, but you have to continue practicing. There's various concepts you can learn to get past that fear whether it's aliveness, or it's advantage concepts like interception (Countering an opponents attack with your own attack), defensive counters, parrying, dodging and more. Ask your teacher about honing these skills. You may still get hit, but after awhile the ability to dodge and counterattack might just be something easier for you. You should talk to your instructor about it period anyway. He/she should be able to protract on the whole thing.
As for the low kick: Yea. Those are annoying. I used to be able to sense it quick enough to dodge it by jumping back a little bit, but I lost that. The only way to overcome this fear, however, is to face it. You can't keep yourself hiding. If all else fails: Wear a cup. They have regulation Tae Kwon Do cups, flexible cups (Where it's foam instead a plastic, which doens't impede leg movement), and more. You have various choices if you want to stay protected there. I know I wished I had a cup on when I got shot in the balls while playing paintball awhile back... That was a bit painful. :p
Good luck. There's some other advice here that will help as well.
2007-07-10 11:23:54 · answer #2 · answered by Kenshiro 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cups are mandatory for sparring in my school and even with a cup on groin shots can be painful. You don't say how old you are or what age the people are that you are sparring either when you get hurt and that could be a factor as well as their lack of control. If I were you I would try to look at it more objectively and remove the injury factor and your previous experience from sparring as much as possible. Secondly I would also spire at half speed with some of these people and that will enable them to have better control and you to see the techniques coming more easily and develop your defensive skills and help you to get some of your confidence back. Another thing is you can spire one sided and by that I mean one fighter is defensive and can only counter while the other is offensive and throws techniques and combinations without overwhelming his sparring partner.
2007-07-10 09:21:29 · answer #3 · answered by samuraiwarrior_98 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dude you got to practice. If you are afraid of getting hurt then just stop because you cant be a whimp...I train for wrestling i do sparring and im only 5'2 118 pounds and im a girl!!! I win 1st place for sparring so listen to me...Concentrate...Try to second hand guess what the next move is...Dont think about anything but what they are doing. Hands up..Hop a little it makes you quicker on your feet. Go for the head but bring your knee up to your chest so if they go for a counter they will hit ur knee...No point and also they wont hit your crotch good thing for you i guess...!!! Also alot of combos are good.. when he/she least exspects it just get a few head shots then a shot to the mid section then back off before they do have time to recover and make a counter attack...If you are scard you wont make it. You need to go i fearless! Have fun with it!
My first tournement i was 4'9 and i was 12 and i am a girl i went against a 16 year old guy that was 5'8 and 145 pounds and i kicked his @$$!!! You can do it!
2007-07-12 00:20:09 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
When you get hit in the groin than where a cup. And when you spar just know that you want to go for the goal. But don't feel like you are scared.
Sparring is not full contact. Because you are wearing head feet and hand gear.
Don't be afraid just know you aren't in the class just because you want to just get hurt. Go for the GOAL. And be the best person you can be
2007-07-11 10:47:41 · answer #5 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The only way to overcome the fear is to face it. Ask fellow students to spar you before class or after if allowed. The more you do it the less afraid you will become.
2007-07-10 05:09:27 · answer #6 · answered by lee49202 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
every guy is afraid to be hit in the crotch. ive been kicked, punched and shot(paintball) there but u gotta ease back in. as for injury its something that comes with the sport. just try to push on and remmeber that youre not a punching bag. they hit you you hit back. always dodge and counter. sneak in leg kicks, theyre rarely countered.
what ive found is the best defense is a well orchestrated offense. keep your opponent on their toes and constantly defending or running.
2007-07-10 07:04:15 · answer #7 · answered by jcjunkact 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just keep on sparring! Do you have rib cage sparring gear?
that really helps too. and a word of advice... use a cup!!
2007-07-10 05:04:36 · answer #8 · answered by Katie 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i know sparring can be really hard, but when you get into it. YOU LOVE IT! its so fun to let loose and attack your opponent(when you start competing it'll get better)
ig they'r hitting to hard, than let them know! if they continue, tell your instructor, he can have them sit out class
as for exhuastion? thats normal. sometimes after a long practice, i can hardly lift my arms and legs. one thing that'll help you build stamina is going to classes, one after another. then afterwords, go for a mile walk ^_~ that helped me
or if thats not an option, you can try jogging, DONT STOP keep jogging past the point of exhuastion, force your body to move
(hope i helped)
2007-07-10 06:16:53 · answer #9 · answered by Mollie 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Work on your defensive technique. No how to attack and counter an attack.
Check a local catalog for extra gear too, until you get better at defensive moves.
2007-07-10 05:08:44 · answer #10 · answered by michaeldillon 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋