ciroccoj | Speaking words of wisdom

Last TKD class before the tournament. I go up to do my pattern in front of the class, and I keep in mind what one black belt, Mrs. M, said to me: When doing your pattern, rather than thinking to yourself "What's my stance/where do my hands go/don't forget to drop/pivot sharply/force at the end," just imagine you're doing it with an opponent. If you do that, the stance and the pivot and the force and all of it will just fall into place.

Did the pattern. Was pleased with myself. Went to sit back down.

Chris leans over. "You know how Mrs. M told you to imagine you're doing your pattern with an opponent?"

"Yeah..."

"OK. Now. Try to imagine that your opponent? Is trying to kill you. And you're going to kill her first."