Papapaint
Just your average kind of Luigi.
In January of 2006, I went to my first "tournament" at the College of William and Mary. Even though Tope showed up and wiped the floor with everyone he played, I never got to play him in the tournament. No, even though I was easily one of the best players on campus at the time, I lost twice in a row to two people I had never lost to before then. People I played against every day. I chalked it up to tournament nerves.
Now, over a hundred tournaments and nearly 8 years later, I have come to learn that it has nothing to do with nerves. Honestly, I don't get nervous very often, except when I have to make some sort of small talk at an office party or something. I love public speaking, I thrive on the adrenaline that comes from playing live music or acting or playing sports. When I play a game of racquetball in tournament, I always play far better than I do in friendly matches. This is not the case with smash.
It's not simply that there's money on the line. I make decent cash, and tournament entry fees are basically extra venue fees. in my mind. It's not a fear of losing my reputation, because I have none and desire none. It is something of a shift that occurs the moment I take a match "seriously." My timing falls apart. My approaches become predictable. My bad habits return. Then, people I could stomp all over in friendlies for hours at a time suddenly beat me 2-0, on my best stages. I'm not an angry person--I rarely get truly salty--so it's not a case of me losing focus due to frustration.
This isn't simply a tournament issue, either. Moneymatches--even small amounts--do the same thing. Crew battles. Rivalry matches... any game that asks me to take it "seriously" automatically sets me up for failure.
I'm asking for any and all advice on getting over this issue. I've tried meditating before matches, being relaxed, being amped up. I've tried making sure I go in with a positive mindset, and I never--NEVER--John at all. I recognize my weak points and work on them, but this is still my biggest roadblock. I'm willing to try just about anything at this point, so please--I'm all ears.
Now, over a hundred tournaments and nearly 8 years later, I have come to learn that it has nothing to do with nerves. Honestly, I don't get nervous very often, except when I have to make some sort of small talk at an office party or something. I love public speaking, I thrive on the adrenaline that comes from playing live music or acting or playing sports. When I play a game of racquetball in tournament, I always play far better than I do in friendly matches. This is not the case with smash.
It's not simply that there's money on the line. I make decent cash, and tournament entry fees are basically extra venue fees. in my mind. It's not a fear of losing my reputation, because I have none and desire none. It is something of a shift that occurs the moment I take a match "seriously." My timing falls apart. My approaches become predictable. My bad habits return. Then, people I could stomp all over in friendlies for hours at a time suddenly beat me 2-0, on my best stages. I'm not an angry person--I rarely get truly salty--so it's not a case of me losing focus due to frustration.
This isn't simply a tournament issue, either. Moneymatches--even small amounts--do the same thing. Crew battles. Rivalry matches... any game that asks me to take it "seriously" automatically sets me up for failure.
I'm asking for any and all advice on getting over this issue. I've tried meditating before matches, being relaxed, being amped up. I've tried making sure I go in with a positive mindset, and I never--NEVER--John at all. I recognize my weak points and work on them, but this is still my biggest roadblock. I'm willing to try just about anything at this point, so please--I'm all ears.