State of Mind Coaching & Training

Repetition is the mother of skill.  This goes for MMA, as well as, any other skill you want to develop.  I remember my high school German teacher saying, “practice doesn’t make perfect, it makes permanent.”  And, of course, the same goes for mental training.  Look at the thoughts you are constantly running through your head.  How many different thoughts are there?  I’ll venture to say that a majority of them are the same, and the ones that are different are different because they about something that is just now happening or has happened recently.  How many of you have thoughts recurring that are detailed thoughts about becoming a doctor?  A lawyer? An engineer?  Probably, only if you are in that profession or are a student working towards that end. 

What’s this leading to?  Well, as the great motivation expert, Earl Nightingale, used to say, “We become what we think about.”  Thoughts precede action. Action is power.  Because most of us are having recurring thoughts, and if the majority of people are not achieving at the level wanted, we can deduce that it’s because of our thoughts. So, change your thoughts, change your activities, change your life. 

Try this.  Have different thoughts.  We’ve all heard, “if you do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.”  And further, “Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity!”  Now that I’ve put some different thoughts into your head, what are some thoughts you want repeated in your head.  What is your favorite fighter thinking?  Borrow theirs.  They’ll never know it!  What have you heard your coach say that was powerful that you might have said to yourself, “I could never think that way.”  What would happen if you did!?  Try it on for size. 

Back to repetition (pun intended.)  Are you the type of person who goes into each fight, practice or not, with the same ferociousness?  Or goal, at least?  I know you know of someone who practices a little too rough.  This is partly because they practice how they play.  Practice soft, play soft. Practice focused, play…

Now, get your head in the game!

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How important is mental training?  Important enough for The Ultimate Fighters to do and discuss it.  Watch and listen to what they had to say on the Ultimate Fighter Aftermath – Snitch.  Guests on this segment were Demico Rogers from Team Rampage, Team Rashad’s Brendan Schaub and Asst. Coach for Team Rashad, Mike Van Arsdale. At the 3min.45sec. point, all 3 guests talk about Team Rashad taking 20 min after practice 3-4 times per week to do mental training. He had them close their eyes and relax, then visualize their upcoming fights. Specifically, visualizing their opponent doing well against them and doing well in spite of their opponent.  Mike said the fighters mentally rehearsed the fight 5-6 times before they actually got out there.  Demico even praises Brendan! And explains how he noticed Brendan’s calmness when Demico was on top during the actual fight.  Mental preparation is something everyone can do, effortlessly, that will make a HUGE difference in your performance.  And this is a specific example of “how” to do it and “what” to think about while you’re doing it.  Now, get your head in the game!
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