Preparation Before Competition

[Standly]

I am trying to prepare for a Full Contact Kickboxing Competition. Can anyone suggest some good conditioning exercises?

[jjpregler]

Jogging. At least 1 mile per round of your fight.

[RDCParker]

Yes running is good. Also try "burpies" (the exercise I hate most, but it gets your lungs working hard):

1. From standing position, immediately drop down into a push-up position and do one pushup.
2. From there, immediately pull your legs in and jump straight up into the air, pulling your knees up to your chest, before landing on your feet. That's one rep.

You can do two or three sets of these, 10 reps each to start, or you can increase reps for every number you count up to 10. So in other words, you count "1" and do one rep, then count "2" and do two reps, "3" and do three reps, and so on up to 10.

[jjpregler]

Yes running is good. Also try "burpies" (the exercise I hate most, but it gets your lungs working hard):

1. From standing position, immediately drop down into a push-up position and do one pushup.
2. From there, immediately pull your legs in and jump straight up into the air, pulling your knees up to your chest, before landing on your feet. That's one rep.

You can do two or three sets of these, 10 reps each to start, or you can increase reps for every number you count up to 10. So in other words, you count "1" and do one rep, then count "2" and do two reps, "3" and do three reps, and so on up to 10.

I hate these sooooo much!!!

[Richard]

I sincerely hope you aren't really in need of advice on preparing for a Kickboxing match... You should already have a coach/trainer for that.

Do what they say, when they say it and for how long they say it for. If you don't trust their advice or just want a second opinion, then find another trainer.

If this is simply a troll... oh well... you got me

Cheers,
Rich

[RDCParker]

I sincerely hope you aren't really in need of advice on preparing for a Kickboxing match... You should already have a coach/trainer for that.

Do what they say, when they say it and for how long they say it for. If you don't trust their advice or just want a second opinion, then find another trainer.

If this is simply a troll... oh well... you got me

Cheers,
Rich

Hmmm... I didn't think about trolling... well, hopefully not. I would suggest that you post an intro in the Meet and Greet section ASAP and give us a chance to get to know you. Don't worry, we'll welcome you with open arms.

As far as having a coach/trainer, I did think the same thing, but figured maybe you just wanted some outside opinions, which isn't a bad thing. But Richard is right, you should have someone behind you helping you prepare.

[jjpregler]

As having been through this before, your first matches are usually without the aid of a professional trainer. You walk in sign a waiver, plop down an insurance fee and hope you don't get killed. So I can understand his looking for advice.

[RDCParker]

As having been through this before, your first matches are usually without the aid of a professional trainer. You walk in sign a waiver, plop down an insurance fee and hope you don't get killed. So I can understand his looking for advice.

Oh I see... so it's kind of like an open tournament then. That's interesting. Well good luck to Standly!

[jjpregler]

No, they are more like exhibitions. But you can pick up professional training at these events.

[John M. La Tourrette]

I sincerely hope you aren't really in need of advice on preparing for a Kickboxing match... You should already have a coach/trainer for that.

Do what they say, when they say it and for how long they say it for. If you don't trust their advice or just want a second opinion, then find another trainer.

If this is simply a troll... oh well... you got me

Cheers,
Rich

My thoughts exactly.

If you don't have the proper training, which should include the proper conditioning, I sure would wonder.

[Sebastin]

Good Luck, Standly, I prepare for competitions by doing a lot of cardio exercises to build my stamina. I do a lot of running apart from repeated punching, kicking and technique practice.

However, I also found a very interesting response to a similar question by Professor Gary Lee in Martialcafe.com

you can view his response by clicking on this link:
http://www.martialcafe.com/quest/quest_view.php

[Seabrook]

Do a lot of bag work, and timing drills on hand pads. Do a lot of running, and sparring against quality opponents. Eat healthy.

[John M. La Tourrette]

Do a lot of bag work, and timing drills on hand pads. Do a lot of running, and sparring against quality opponents. Eat healthy.

Just curious.

I've noticed that all the aspects given have been on the line of physical conditioning and physical training.

Nothing has been mentioned about the psychological aspects.

How about a few of those?

How to establish mindset, focus, determination, intention, etc.

Dr. John M. La Tourrette

[Seabrook]

Just curious.

I've noticed that all the aspects given have been on the line of physical conditioning and physical training.

Nothing has been mentioned about the psychological aspects.

How about a few of those?

How to establish mindset, focus, determination, intention, etc.

Dr. John M. La Tourrette

Physical training will undoubtedly push you mentally. Forcing yourself to get up a train early in the morning when your opponent is sleeping is very much a product of the mind.

As for other psychological attributes, I tend to focus on my faith:

Phil 4:13: I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.

[John Brewer]

Good to see you posting Mr. Seabrook! I thnk competition (mentally) has some relation to testing. You must have the mindset of nothing will stop me! Keep yourself relaxed but do not forego proper preparation. Good Skill and trust in your training and your trainers.

[Kenpo Gary]

In my opinion you need the proper kind of running. Not jogging because 2 and three minute rounds are not like jogging. Jogging is continuous and r4elatively slow over an extended period of time. Fighting is two to three minutes of fast pace (more like a sprint) and then a minute rest in between, almost nothing like jogging.

In the absence of a good trainer, a high school wrestling coach could help you get in shape. Conditioning for wrestling is much more consistent than jogging.

Wind sprints would be better than jogging.

Perhaps the best conditioning is to put in many rounds of intense sparring with the same go and rest intervals as you will be using in you match.

Kenpo Gary

[John M. La Tourrette]

1. I thnk competition (mentally) has some relation to testing.
2.You must have the mindset of nothing will stop me!
3.Keep yourself relaxed but do not forego proper preparation.
4.Good Skill and trust in your training and your trainers.

I'll go over each of your 4 points and add a bit of Sports Performance Psychology to each step, if that is okay?

1. Yes, competition does have a relationship with testing in some schools. The problem is "testing what?" and "testing against whom?"
John Wooden alway taught to "do your best".

2. Actually, using those words leaves your unconscious mind with the thought form of "something stopping you". It would be better to leave it with a thought form of something you want instead of NOT wanting.

3. Relaxation is good if it's the type of relaxed state of mind of a cat getting ready to spring on the bird. Notice that the cat does NOT fear the bird, because he "owns the bird". Your preparation and proper mental conditioning will leave you in the mind set of owning the "event", whatever the event is.

4. Trust yourself because you've trained hard and you will DO YOUR BEST. If you focus on winning, that adds in anxiety that will get subconsciously in the way of your peak performance state.

Many athletes have entered a competition feeling very sick and because of the illness have just focused on "doing their best". Many 1st places have been won by those "doing their best". Thinking about winning is NOT doing your best, but limiting your best.

Dr. John M. La Tourrette

[John M. La Tourrette]

In my opinion you need the proper kind of running. Not jogging because 2 and three minute rounds are not like jogging. Jogging is continuous and r4elatively slow over an extended period of time. Fighting is two to three minutes of fast pace (more like a sprint) and then a minute rest in between, almost nothing like jogging.

In the absence of a good trainer, a high school wrestling coach could help you get in shape. Conditioning for wrestling is much more consistent than jogging.

Wind sprints would be better than jogging.

Perhaps the best conditioning is to put in many rounds of intense sparring with the same go and rest intervals as you will be using in you match.

Kenpo Gary

Gary,

That was actually VERY GOOD.

Thank you.

Dr. John M. La Tourrette