ZTD | TECHnology
Developing New TECHnology
[COLLAPSE="Click here for "The Truth""]
So throughout my career as a competitive Brawl player I have experienced 4 significant increases in skill.
The first was when I decided to take Smash seriously and study the 'Boards and learn the mechanics of the game.
The second was when I finally committted to a single main character
. As a result, I grew as a player and my strengths as a player began to shine through.
The third was when I quit working two jobs and stopped working 60 + hours. As a result I actually had time to practice the game and study videos.
As I grew, I began to realize the importance of each of these. And it was around later last year that I noticed my gameplay was evolving. Tutu was among the first to notice. But I was unable to recreate this "high level" play consistently. It seemed I had pretty good moments...and then I had bad moments. How could I unlock my potential?
I began to explore the psychology behind the game. I had the correct tools as WTP listed...but something wasn't clicking in my head. I came to the conclusion that it was a mental block that prevented me from playing at my best during tournament. Throughout early 2012, I would keep saying to myself after a "decent" performance "How can I play like I did vs Tutu at Skynet?"
I was becoming frustrated. I was stuck at the bottom of the Power Rankings. I kept thinking about if I could only beat someone ranked in the Top 3 or something along those lines. I kept thinking about how "I should be able to get Top 3 at this event" and similar thoughts. I went through a period where I felt like I had plateaued..and it was driving me up the wall. For all I wanted was to be the best. To be recognized. I wanted to be the next Coney.
And then Phoenix Saga 3 happened. It had been quite some time since I had felt like I played at 100%. But I had a rather large tournament to run. I didn't even have time to think about my performance. Things were running way behind. And then my set with Azure Kenny happened. I didn't go in with my usual mindset "If I can beat him, I'll get some PR points". I just played. My mind was so exhausted from TOing, I just went in and played. And as a result, I played the best I had in tournament in a long time. I held my own vs a good MK and forced him to time me out. I had lost. But I was proud. Everyone was surprised. Even myself.
And then I played Sparta Kick. In all honesty, he only lost because of some very critical technical errors that put him in terrible positions. But I had still felt like I was playing better than normal. Dan knows I am not pleased with how I won that. But what I was pleased with, was how I played better overall that day. Maybe there was something to that.
So Phoenix Saga 4 comes around and I decided to go in with a new mindset. I would only go into a match with a clear mind. None of this "I can't lose this" or "I have to beat this guy" bull****. I would simply play the game. And I would focus on TOing when not in the game. I'm knowledgable, I can figure things out when it comes time to. And low and behold..it happens again. I managed an upset win over Keitaro and almost beat Meekspeedy. And it was at that moment I realized why I was playing at my best.
When you go into a match thinking about who your opponent is or thinking about whether you have to win or whatever, you're limiting yourself. "If I beat Lain, I can make it on the PR" or "I can't lose to Randomplayer456 or I risk my chance of being PRed" as BAD thoughts. These are NOT your friends! You cannot bring extraneous baggage like that into your matches. You must remove the pressure element from your game plan. This is the truth.
Play to have fun and focus on playing your best. When it comes down to it, only worry about what's happening on the screen. If you go in thinking about the other stuff then you automatically make it impossible to play at 100% because part of your focus is centered on those desires.
It seems contradictory to be a competitive player and then say "Just play fo fun". But you have to remove the pressure somehow. You do not need a formalized list to validate your existence as a player. If you're good, you're good. Fact is fact. No one can take that away except yourself. Focus on playing your best and the results will happen naturally! And if you're no thinking about that other stuff, you can actually focus on learning and improving!
So next time you enter a tournament:
Don't focus on beating a PRed player. Don't even worry about your placement. Do not worry about whether you should be able to beat Player X. Clear your mind and let it all happen naturally. Allow your mind's eye to not be covered up.
So if you've reached that point where you've had some good moments before and just not sure how to get that back in your hands, consider this. Have you been placing high expectations on yourself because you beat Arty or Coco once? Have you been wondering when it's gonna be your time to be on the PR?
Think about what I said and see if it resonates with you.
[/COLLAPSE]
So throughout my career as a competitive Brawl player I have experienced 4 significant increases in skill.
The first was when I decided to take Smash seriously and study the 'Boards and learn the mechanics of the game.
The second was when I finally committted to a single main character
. As a result, I grew as a player and my strengths as a player began to shine through.The third was when I quit working two jobs and stopped working 60 + hours. As a result I actually had time to practice the game and study videos.
As I grew, I began to realize the importance of each of these. And it was around later last year that I noticed my gameplay was evolving. Tutu was among the first to notice. But I was unable to recreate this "high level" play consistently. It seemed I had pretty good moments...and then I had bad moments. How could I unlock my potential?
I began to explore the psychology behind the game. I had the correct tools as WTP listed...but something wasn't clicking in my head. I came to the conclusion that it was a mental block that prevented me from playing at my best during tournament. Throughout early 2012, I would keep saying to myself after a "decent" performance "How can I play like I did vs Tutu at Skynet?"
I was becoming frustrated. I was stuck at the bottom of the Power Rankings. I kept thinking about if I could only beat someone ranked in the Top 3 or something along those lines. I kept thinking about how "I should be able to get Top 3 at this event" and similar thoughts. I went through a period where I felt like I had plateaued..and it was driving me up the wall. For all I wanted was to be the best. To be recognized. I wanted to be the next Coney.
And then Phoenix Saga 3 happened. It had been quite some time since I had felt like I played at 100%. But I had a rather large tournament to run. I didn't even have time to think about my performance. Things were running way behind. And then my set with Azure Kenny happened. I didn't go in with my usual mindset "If I can beat him, I'll get some PR points". I just played. My mind was so exhausted from TOing, I just went in and played. And as a result, I played the best I had in tournament in a long time. I held my own vs a good MK and forced him to time me out. I had lost. But I was proud. Everyone was surprised. Even myself.
And then I played Sparta Kick. In all honesty, he only lost because of some very critical technical errors that put him in terrible positions. But I had still felt like I was playing better than normal. Dan knows I am not pleased with how I won that. But what I was pleased with, was how I played better overall that day. Maybe there was something to that.
So Phoenix Saga 4 comes around and I decided to go in with a new mindset. I would only go into a match with a clear mind. None of this "I can't lose this" or "I have to beat this guy" bull****. I would simply play the game. And I would focus on TOing when not in the game. I'm knowledgable, I can figure things out when it comes time to. And low and behold..it happens again. I managed an upset win over Keitaro and almost beat Meekspeedy. And it was at that moment I realized why I was playing at my best.
When you go into a match thinking about who your opponent is or thinking about whether you have to win or whatever, you're limiting yourself. "If I beat Lain, I can make it on the PR" or "I can't lose to Randomplayer456 or I risk my chance of being PRed" as BAD thoughts. These are NOT your friends! You cannot bring extraneous baggage like that into your matches. You must remove the pressure element from your game plan. This is the truth.
Play to have fun and focus on playing your best. When it comes down to it, only worry about what's happening on the screen. If you go in thinking about the other stuff then you automatically make it impossible to play at 100% because part of your focus is centered on those desires.
It seems contradictory to be a competitive player and then say "Just play fo fun". But you have to remove the pressure somehow. You do not need a formalized list to validate your existence as a player. If you're good, you're good. Fact is fact. No one can take that away except yourself. Focus on playing your best and the results will happen naturally! And if you're no thinking about that other stuff, you can actually focus on learning and improving!
So next time you enter a tournament:
Don't focus on beating a PRed player. Don't even worry about your placement. Do not worry about whether you should be able to beat Player X. Clear your mind and let it all happen naturally. Allow your mind's eye to not be covered up.
So if you've reached that point where you've had some good moments before and just not sure how to get that back in your hands, consider this. Have you been placing high expectations on yourself because you beat Arty or Coco once? Have you been wondering when it's gonna be your time to be on the PR?
Think about what I said and see if it resonates with you.
[/COLLAPSE]
/
