Tournaments

Visualize

Visualize yourself winning, moving from disassociated to associated visualization. Disassociated visualization may be either objective or subjective. First, objectively visualize your instructor perfectly performing a technique as if you were watching a video recording and then subjectively visualize yourself perfectly performing the technique in the same video. Then move to associated visualization see yourself actually in a match. Try to visualize the sounds, your feelings, your tactics, and most of all, your winning. If a negative visualization creeps in, stop the video, rewind to just before the negative, and start again. Repeat a short but inspiring personal slogan or mantra, such as "Pilsung" or "Certain Victory," over and over in you mind to calm and center your thinking.

Establish a preparation cycle

For sparring, hydrate, use restroom, don sparring equipment, warm-up, and stretch. Keep moving to maintain you flexibility and focus. Relax and cultivate your fighting spirit. Focus on the task at hand and reject all other thoughts. When called to fight, answer loudly, run to your position, and fight as if everything depended on your winning. Whether you win or lose, show good sportsmanship, run off the mat, relax and think about what you did wrong and how you can improve it. Consult with other competitors, your instructor, your coach, or fellow students about how you may improve. Attend to any injuries and relax. If you will fight again, start the preparation cycle again. If you win, you may have to condense the cycle, so you are ready to fight again in short notice.

• For patterns, use the same preparation cycle as for sparring except for donning the sparring equipment.
• If you lose, do not whine. Accept it as learning experience and plan on how you to change your training plan to improve your weaknesses before the next tournament. Do not leave the area and pout. Stay and encourage and cheer your teammates in their matches.
• If you win, do not brag. Accept it as a reward for your hard work and plan on how to improve. Do not leave the area. Stay, encourage, and cheer your teammates in their matches. Brag on their wins but do not dwell on your own wins.