You should not lose

[johnwang]

One of David C, K. Lin's student just competed his 1st tournament. David told me that before the tournament, he told his student, "I don't allow you to lose even 1 round". The tournament result for his student was 18-0, 16-0 and 7-0 for all 3 fights (fight for time).

I was also told that if I don't think that I can win then I should not compete at all. Old Chinese saying said, "You can be silent all your life but the moment that you open your mouth, you should scare the hell out of everybody."

Do you think the order that David gave to his student was the main reason that his student won or there are something else? When you send your students (or your teacher sends you) to fight in tournament, what suggestion do you give (or received)?

[chrislomas]

Wow impressive results.
This is why I never, ever open my mouse

[bartekb]

what suggestion do you give (or received)?

When I was 16, I competed n some knock down/TKD tournament, back then due to wrong training methods and my height I had problems with stretching so I couldn't do all those fancy spinning kicks etc and generally I was considered to be technically very poor:)
I assumed - I got nothing to lose here, I'm considered to be the worst already so why just not do my best, they will not think of me any worse. So using front kick, side kick and straight punch I got to finals - beating all the high ranks on the way, where I lost by point with a guy 9 years older than me:)
What this taught me - its not important if you think you are the best or you are the worst- both attitudes are useful - the important thing is to go all the way
Bukowski did a nice poem about it, roll the dice
I like this part:

if you’re going to try,
go all the way.
there is no other feeling like that.

you will be alone with the gods
and the nights will flame with
fire.

Easy when you are 16, more complicated when you have a mortgage to pay:)

[wiesiek]

[MasterKiller]

Well, I'll counter your Bukowski with Whitman:

Have you heard that it was good to gain the day? I also say it is good to fall, battles are lost in the same spirit in which they are won.

[Josealb]

Nice riposte, Mkiller. I believe Yoda sums up the best of the two worlds...

"Try no. Do or do not."

[ashe]

When you send your students (or your teacher sends you) to fight in tournament, what suggestion do you give (or received)?

my SIfu told me two things;

"no advice. more advice, more confused."

"go play, enjoy yourself!"

[Royal Dragon]

Just Do It.

[Darthwing Teorist]

The winning mentality is important but also so it is gaining experience. If you see competitions as a stepping stone to your own mastery, then losing some is not really important in the long run. Wise men learn from their mistakes and failures.

But, like the old samurais said, you should think about winning even in your dreams. I think this is a very important statement as it gives you the right attitude. The danger here is gaining an illusion of invincibility.

[fisherman]

"go play, enjoy yourself!"

This reminds me of what I have heard Laoshi Luo De Xiu say; "More play, more play"

[Darth Rock&Roll]

"I think your opponent copped a feel on your girlfriend."

say this just as they step in the ring.

you want results? wow, this is practically an incitement to murder! lol

[JuanM]

When you send your students (or your teacher sends you) to fight in tournament, what suggestion do you give (or received)?

my SIfu told me two things;

"no advice. more advice, more confused."

"go play, enjoy yourself!"

Yeah, this is pretty much what my Sifu told me too. "the hard part is done, go out there and enjoy yourself."

[jafc]

I think it depends on the student. If there is a good student/ teacher relationship, then the teacher will know a little bit of how that student thinks & what they need. Some people need to be challenged (dont lose even one!), some need more of a relax & have fun, some need the "win/lose doesnt matter", some even need an "i want you to work on this technique". If you know the student, you know what the best approach is.

JC

[johnwang]

凡有比賽，一定要有充分准備，要有必勝把握，“不勝不摔”，不然就不摔，那怕甘拜下風都行。

If you want to compete, you will need well prepared. If you don't have 100% confidence then don't compete.

不鳴則己一鳴驚人

You can be silent all your life but the moment that you open your mouth, you should scare the hell out of everybody.

[MasterKiller]

凡有比賽，一定要有充分准備，要有必勝把握，“不勝不摔”，不然就不摔，那怕甘拜下風都行。

If you want to compete, you will need well prepared. If you don't have 100% confidence then don't compete.

Every contest has a loser, though. Most losers go into a fight thinking they will win.