Focus. You must focus if you want your techniques to be accurate. Usually, when a person's eyes start to wander, he or she is unsure of the next move. Do not lose your concentration, whether you did not practice enough or because someone starts playing loud music in the ring next to you.
Intensity and Presence. Since you are fighting imaginary opponents, you should not have a blank look on your face or a smile. Be intense. Use your facial expressions to help the judges visualize your fight. Kiai intensely at the appropriate points. Low intensity kiais or powerful exhalations help emphasize techniques at other times.
Speed. Some basic, traditional forms do not require much speed from strike to strike. However, even in a simple form, show great speed in a single kick or a single punch. In the more advanced forms, showing a quick combination of movements is important. Do not emphasize speed exclusively.
Crisp techniques. Ensure your techniques are executed crisp and snappy. The arm, leg, or body should move from one position to the next as quickly as possible and should stop exactly in it is next position. If the technique calls for a flowing motion, seek to be smooth rather than fast.
Flexibility. If your flexibility is good, you will be able to perform difficult kicks with ease.. I do not think there is anything more exciting than watching someone throw a kick straight up with good execution and power.
Difficulty of movements. The more difficult your moves are, the higher you will score. However, many people put difficult moves in their routines before they can perform them flawlessly.
Perform for the back row. Stage actors make exaggerated movements so the movements may be seen by people sitting in the last row of the theater. When performing patterns, you should perform for the person sitting on the top row of the bleachers. When sweeping movements are required, make them very large sweeping movements; when snap is required, make it very snappy; when power is required, make it very powerful. When performing patterns, you imitating a fight against multiple opponents. Remember, are performing a fight, not using realistic fighting techniques.
Have a good backup. Make sure you know the rules regarding ties. Some tournaments may require a different routine. Even if they do not require a different form, have a solid backup. If you can go out and do a different form just as well as the first, you are showing how multi-dimensional you are.
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