user123
Silver Member
VA
Posts: 381
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Post by user123 on Feb 2, 2014 17:01:47 GMT -5
OK. There goes my theory.
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Post by Chris Gobby on Feb 2, 2014 17:38:11 GMT -5
Nerves are awesome! Let's you know you care about what is about to happen. I'd be afraid if I felt amazing before a tournament, because that would mean I'm not taking it seriously. This happens so often in sports it's not even funny, and sports psychologists buy BMW's and Mercedes because of it. Hitting slumps, inability to hit jumpshots, can't putt, you name it it's happening right now all over the sports world. I used to get it pretty bad before certain events as a baseball player, but an old crusty coach put it like this to me. "You won't die if you lose you feckin poosy, remember why you started playing in the first place and go have fun." Perspective on any situation is always good, sometimes we lose touch with how much fun competing really is. ^^ I'm with him. Sack up and keep walking into the fire. It gets better, it's called battle tested.
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Post by John Wilson on Feb 2, 2014 19:50:08 GMT -5
Trust me- the worst feeling in the world is when you no longer get nervous. When the butterflies leave, apathy takes their place. The butterflies aren't "fear."
The butterflies are that part of your psyche that prepares you to kill and survive- to destroy whatever pops his head through the bushes in front of you.
The butterflies, the nerves, the nausea- they are the universal language which says "WOE BE UNTO THE POOR BASTARD WHO HAS COME TO FACE ME TODAY!"
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Post by JAMIE SHELDON on Feb 2, 2014 21:28:31 GMT -5
I embrace nerves and anxiety and I use it positively. I FEAR nothing. Big difference.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using proboards
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user123
Silver Member
VA
Posts: 381
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Post by user123 on Feb 2, 2014 22:18:52 GMT -5
That's one way to look at it. I think that most of us fear things, however those of us that are strong use courage to overcome our fear and do what must be done. Those that claim to not fear anything are either lying or don't understand the gravity of the situations they face. To be clear, I'm not talking about just AWing here. At the end of the day, AWing is just a game.
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Post by John Wilson on Feb 3, 2014 1:07:53 GMT -5
Fear is what keeps you alive in some situations.
Real fear comes in several stages:
1: deep concern
2: oh crap
3: HOLY $###!!
4: so scared that you couldn't drive a needle up your butt with a sledgehammer
In all seriousness, the fear of failure can work for you or against you. It can be a paralyzing thing that freezes your thought process or it can motivate you to act or improve. Your response is a choice.
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Post by Jonathon Hoffmann on Feb 3, 2014 1:36:12 GMT -5
I have an analogy I think of.. If you are walking along a 2x6 a foot off the ground.. Easy as crap.. Even fat kids can probably do it. However put that same 2x6 200 feet in the air and walk across. Now the same people are capable of walking across the same preice of wood HOWEVER at 200 ft now the nerves come.. The "fight or flight" reference is very common in this scenario ... In my mind there is a group of people who would rather just be like, "friendly it" and fall and get it over with.. That is the guy who will not pull at full potential.. Or there is the guy who knows he can do it and the fact that people look at you 200 feet in the air and say "wow".. That is what drives the others.. Just realize the goal is just as attainable.. At practice.. At a tourney.. It's the same "walk".. If you will.. Grab your balls and do it because it is the same damn crap.. Be the man to walk across like a champ
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Post by JAMIE SHELDON on Feb 3, 2014 1:50:24 GMT -5
Brilliant
Sent from my SCH-I545 using proboards
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Post by Robert Bishop on Feb 3, 2014 2:12:39 GMT -5
nerves dont get to me until they start pulling the lighter classes
if you keep your mind on other things and you have friends around you to keep your mind on other things its not so bad when your waiting
i have laid in bed watching tv in my hotel room up until they get close to time to pull
nerves dont bother me at all anymore as long as i am not thinking about armwrestling every second lol
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Post by Rob Vigeant Jr. on Feb 3, 2014 7:41:50 GMT -5
I think it's going astray a bit here. I'm not afraid... Or paralyzed by fear... Not in the least. What I am is anxious for the event and in a realm of overthought. It's hard walking into a big event... Then thinking about how you shoulda trained... How your arm suddenly aches... All the irrational insecurities... But it's not fear the way you guys are referencing it . It's nerves... Nerves of letting yourself down... That's not a sack or no sack issue... It's what expectations you put on yourself and standards of success/failure. Me, I have high expectations and standards for myself... I leave a huge margin for disappointment... But I regularly thread the needle... Just the way it is.
I think if you sign up and step to a table... You proved you "sacked up"... Regardless of your inner storm.... You marched on.
Being nervous just means you are more emotional invested and set higher expectations... Fear , as in real life fear doesn't exist in AW... Except for the hour after a room witnesses an arm break.
Everyone is AFRAID of something... I can build a scenario where the mentally strongest man can be overcome with fear. There is a reason CIA and special forces abandoned water boarding exercises to prepare if taken hostage... All the billy bada$$es and "sack up" champs... Panicked and tapped out faster than it took to set the towel over their face.... It was pointless...100% immediate fail. Now if you have family or kids... Another angle or indescribable fear can grip you. Everyone has FEAR.
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user123
Silver Member
VA
Posts: 381
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Post by user123 on Feb 3, 2014 8:11:54 GMT -5
^^Well said Rob. The way you describe your pre-tourney mindset is like you wrote it from inside my head.
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Post by John Wilson on Feb 3, 2014 8:28:14 GMT -5
I Honestly think that it's that nervous / nauseous feeling that keeps a person in the sport.
I said it before- the worst feeling in the world is when that nervous feeling isn't there. It gets replaced by "what the hell am I doing this for... I'd rather be anywhere else but here right now..." That feeling that you're just over it before it even starts. Guess what- that is the feeling telling you you're about to have a 50% performance that day and the worst part is that you know it.
The hardest thing in the world is to still love the sport but you can't find the butterflies anymore. That's where I've been for the last couple of years. There have been bright spots here and there, but mostly it's been a 50% kind of experience.
The nerves in this sport are where the high comes from. Those nerves are the passion as far as I'm concerned.
This sport can be anything you want it to be. The next match can be Everest, or it can be Monday at work. Your level of passion is what makes the difference.
Everest is better.
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Post by John Milne on Feb 3, 2014 11:10:37 GMT -5
RVJ and Mr. Wilson You both nailed it. Totally agree.
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Post by Jorel Koenig on Feb 3, 2014 13:27:25 GMT -5
All these comments are helping me greatly! My first tournament is coming up and I feel the same way most of you do. So my take aways are to "grab my sac", "use my nerves to my advantage", and "remember at the end of the day it's not the end of the world". Oh....and learn to walk on a 2x6 200 ft in the air!!!!
Seriously thanks!
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Post by Rob Vigeant Jr. on Feb 3, 2014 13:50:40 GMT -5
^^^ hmmm... This is looking a little billy goats gruff-ish to me....
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