Two Worlds And The Shared Discipline

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222 – August, 2023

By Barbara McCoy

Walking into the exhibition hall of The Big E in Springfield, MA, to meet the handler for the first time, I knew or even understood very little about the sport of purebred dogs. While my dog is currently off traveling with his handler, I still know very little, and yet I know more than I thought I ever would. Until 2018, I knew nothing of the breed ring outside of watching Best in Show which came out in the early 2000s. I wasn’t aware of the prestigious honor it was to be at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Have you ever seen the movie Karate Kid that came out in 1984? Have you heard of the World Open Martial Arts Championship (WOMAC) held each year in New York? I am most comfortable with Martial Arts and the hype of the Karate Kid franchise. Much like the martial arts industry and competitions, more is happening at a dog show behind the scenes that media platforms only sometimes present. Below are five concepts of competing in martial arts that have made the transition into the dog world easier and enhanced my team’s place in the martial arts venue.

Protect Your Mind.

Being nervous is a standard component of the competitive athlete’s process, which shows that the act they are about to take part in matters to them. They care. That is why the mindset one has entering any competition sets the stage for the behavior about to take place. If the internal narrative spoken is one of fear and doubt, the performance will represent that mindset. Entering the arena of conformation competition has made me step away from being ringside. Though I know I can do nothing for my dog once he is with the handler, I still get nervous. Unfortunately, like a good boy, he can sense it and looks for me when I am nearby. This predicament reinforces not only the need for peace amongst the chatter in my mind during competitions, but it also helps support the need for athletes to know that they are fighting the battles within the ring. Once that athlete steps into the ring, the performance relies solely on the athlete’s mindset, not anyone celebrating or holding their breath for them on the sidelines.

Take Risks.

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222 – August, 2023

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