Member
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2006
- Messages
- 804
I'm now a Blue Belt and my sensei reckons I should start sparring because he wants me to eventually participate in competitions and do him proud. What a jerk. :anime: Anyway, I've been practising my kicks and everything for very long now, so they're pretty good. Now here's the problem.
My sensei is throwing me headfirst into murky waters and letting me swim or sink. For my first practice, I faced a Black Belt who's won many competitions. I was totally nervous. I'd seen her fight before, and her counterattacks were freaking fast, so I dared not attack. She was in a ready stance and waiting for me to make the first move. Cruel. Furthermore, I was also unsure about distance, timing, etc. My sensei was at the side telling me to switch legs often and move closer to the enemy slowly, but for GOD's sake he saying it our loud to my opponent too. I followed his advice, attacked and got owned. And got scolded. To cut things short, it was a traumatic experience.
My problems are this:
First, I'm a blue belt, for crying out loud! Other beginners get someone of the same rank or one level higher as their first opponent, but I have to face someone so terrifying. Most black belts there are terrifying. So now, I have to get over this fear. Has anyone had a similar experience? What I'm afraid of is their skill level and getting hurt. We spar without protection, and these black belts have a whole lot more experience, so I'm afraid to attack because I'm pretty sure I'll get a deadly counterattack. And I've been hit once on the balls (couldn't stand for 5 minutes) while play sparring with a friend of the same rank, so I'm phobic. I need a groin guard but I've got no money.
Second, I need some advice on moving in for the attack AND also attacking in combos ala video games. When I look at the distance between me and my opponent, my mind is at a blank. I don't know how to close in and manipulate the distance. Also, even when I'm close enough, my timing is totally off, because I lack the experience to notice an opportunity and seize it. Plus, when I attack, I only deliver one kick (usually a Turning/Roundhouse Kick), and don't follow up with a Back Kick or some other attack. I need advice in these areas.
The black belts and my sensei are helpful, and they try to give me advice, but most of their advice cannot be understood because it's too high level and I lack the first hand experience. There're some really good fighters on this forum, I think Bolt also learns Taekwondo, and there was a Wing Chun fighter and a Silat Warrior who was pretty advanced. I appreciate whatever advice you have. Movies show the protagonist getting whacked and beaten by the seniors, and from there he learns to be stronger, but I keep getting whacked without understanding what's happening, and so I learn nothing. I need someone with alot of experience to explain in beginner's terms to me, because this new aspect of training is giving me mental stress.
My sensei is throwing me headfirst into murky waters and letting me swim or sink. For my first practice, I faced a Black Belt who's won many competitions. I was totally nervous. I'd seen her fight before, and her counterattacks were freaking fast, so I dared not attack. She was in a ready stance and waiting for me to make the first move. Cruel. Furthermore, I was also unsure about distance, timing, etc. My sensei was at the side telling me to switch legs often and move closer to the enemy slowly, but for GOD's sake he saying it our loud to my opponent too. I followed his advice, attacked and got owned. And got scolded. To cut things short, it was a traumatic experience.
My problems are this:
First, I'm a blue belt, for crying out loud! Other beginners get someone of the same rank or one level higher as their first opponent, but I have to face someone so terrifying. Most black belts there are terrifying. So now, I have to get over this fear. Has anyone had a similar experience? What I'm afraid of is their skill level and getting hurt. We spar without protection, and these black belts have a whole lot more experience, so I'm afraid to attack because I'm pretty sure I'll get a deadly counterattack. And I've been hit once on the balls (couldn't stand for 5 minutes) while play sparring with a friend of the same rank, so I'm phobic. I need a groin guard but I've got no money.
Second, I need some advice on moving in for the attack AND also attacking in combos ala video games. When I look at the distance between me and my opponent, my mind is at a blank. I don't know how to close in and manipulate the distance. Also, even when I'm close enough, my timing is totally off, because I lack the experience to notice an opportunity and seize it. Plus, when I attack, I only deliver one kick (usually a Turning/Roundhouse Kick), and don't follow up with a Back Kick or some other attack. I need advice in these areas.
The black belts and my sensei are helpful, and they try to give me advice, but most of their advice cannot be understood because it's too high level and I lack the first hand experience. There're some really good fighters on this forum, I think Bolt also learns Taekwondo, and there was a Wing Chun fighter and a Silat Warrior who was pretty advanced. I appreciate whatever advice you have. Movies show the protagonist getting whacked and beaten by the seniors, and from there he learns to be stronger, but I keep getting whacked without understanding what's happening, and so I learn nothing. I need someone with alot of experience to explain in beginner's terms to me, because this new aspect of training is giving me mental stress.