Adrenaline dump

[jared]

Ok, so my question is how you deal with an adrenaline dump in the tournament format. I have only one knockdown fight under my belt. I am a super heavy weight at 6'6" and 235 lbs, so there isn't as much competition at my size. In my first tournament it was just me and one other huge dude. Due to this I only had the one fight. I had worried about nerves and had read a couple sports psychology books to help with that and I was calm as can be heading into the fight.  I didn't expect the adrenaline dump afterward.  I don't know how would have faired if I have to go again. 

How do you deal with that dump?

[GJEC]

Feb 15, 2014 21:37:55 GMT -5 jared said:

Ok, so my question is how you deal with an adrenaline dump in the tournament format. I have only one knockdown fight under my belt. I am a super heavy weight at 6'6" and 235 lbs, so there isn't as much competition at my size. In my first tournament it was just me and one other huge dude. Due to this I only had the one fight. I had worried about nerves and had read a couple sports psychology books to help with that and I was calm as can be heading into the fight.  I didn't expect the adrenaline dump afterward.  I don't know how would have faired if I have to go again. 

How do you deal with that dump?

Some get it before, some after. Use it up by cooling down on some pads. Breath down, visualise your next fight. Refuel. Then switch it on again for your next fight as required.

Gary

[evergrey]

I found myself feeling disturbingly calm my entire fight. :/ Never did feel the adrenaline rush like I can sometimes sparring in class.

After, though, I got really sick for a couple days.

[MMX]

It will go away the more you spar/compete. That is what I have noticed. I had huge ones from yellow to brown belt. Now not really at all.

[curlbroscience]

I 'liked' your post because of your avatar. Very funny and true. Thanks for posting.

[jared]

Hmmm, not sure if I was entirely clear on my meaning. I am not asking about dealing with that spike. The problem I want to ask about is the exhausted feeling when that spike wears off.

[GJEC]

That's why you need to refuel or you get up for your next fight with no energy.

You might not feel like it but there are lots of energy gels that go down easy.

Gary

[meguro]

Feb 15, 2014 21:37:55 GMT -5 jared said:

Ok, so my question is how you deal with an adrenaline dump in the tournament format. I have only one knockdown fight under my belt. I am a super heavy weight at 6'6" and 235 lbs, so there isn't as much competition at my size. In my first tournament it was just me and one other huge dude. Due to this I only had the one fight. I had worried about nerves and had read a couple sports psychology books to help with that and I was calm as can be heading into the fight.  I didn't expect the adrenaline dump afterward.  I don't know how would have faired if I have to go again. 

How do you deal with that dump?

Do you experience the same sensation after regular dojo sparring? If you are like most, probably not unless you are a beginner. The difference between competition and the dojo is psychological. Spar more. Compete more and you will find a way to control your nerves better.

Between matches, if I hadn't been eliminated in the first round, I found getting away from the action ( meditating, breathing) a good way to level out and conserve energy. If I were watching the other matches, I'd wear myself out before I stepped on the mat again.

I am intrigued by Gary's suggestion of energy gels. I used energy bars but never the gels.

[MMX]

I also like the gels. You get a boost but you don't get a stomach cramp from digestion. Used them on my Shodan and Nidan tests.

guenergy.com/ is what I used as that is what they sell at the outdoor sports shop for bicyclists and climbers.

[evergrey]

I am going to need to see if I can find these gels in the USA...

[Ros]

Feb 19, 2014 11:47:34 GMT -5 MMX said:

I also like the gels. You get a boost but you don't get a stomach cramp from digestion.

I think you might get a gyppy tummy if you don't wash them down with water! There's a good review on them here (relating to triathletes, but still useful):

triathlete-europe.competitor.com/2012/01/16/all-you-need-to-know-about-energy-gels

Summary: Eat a substantial breakfast to minimise the need for simple sugars later, energy gels can help replace the glycogen and calories you burn when exercising but they aren't very efficient so timing and frequency are important and don't try energy gels for the first time when competing!

Who'd have thought energy gels would be so interesting?

[powerof0ne]

Dojo kumite doesn't compare to competing because you're not in the same "safe environment" you're used to in the dojo.

Gary gives solid advice about refueling for more energy. How to deal with it partially comes with the awareness that it's normal but also experience.

For karate, it took me 3-4 tournaments until I felt quite a bit more comfortable. For Muay Thai, probably due to a fight typically being much longer, that took me much longer to get that under control so I would not tire out. To go from a 2 minute sprint to a potential minimum of 9 minutes to 15 minutes not counting the minute break in between rounds took a lot more for me. I was fortunate, that the audience never got to me like I know it has with some others I've trained with over the years. As long as my Dad wasn't in the audience, because I could always "hear" his voice through everybody's which caused a slight distraction. However, this is different for everybody. It is fortunate to only have one fight in a tournament (for the most part) but having to go through 4-6 opponents to possibly win first is a bit hectic to say the least.
Osu!