Power of the mind undeniable

MANY athletes need high levels of strength to succeed in their sport and the fighting disciplines are no different.

For example, the boxer throwing that knockout hook, the martial artist involved in grappling and the kickboxer delivering a thunderous kick.

The higher the power output that the athlete can produce, the greater their chance of success. And in combat sports it only takes one shot.

However, having worked extensively with amateur boxers and combat sport athletes in the lead-up to the 2000 Olympic Games, I can tell you that they are fascinating athletes, strength, speed, power, reaction, proprioception and timing.

But, on top of this, is their unyielding mental attitude. There is much research suggesting that athletes who have the ability to control the mind possess far greater clarity and vision than those who cannot.

Along with this state of mind comes confidence – and my experience with athletes has led me to believe that the most dangerous athlete is a confident one.

Look through history at the great champions and they all possess a very noticeable trait, undeniable confidence, one could almost say – confidence that borders on arrogance.

From the great Muhammad Ali to the modern UFC champions of today, like the notorious Conor McGregor, they all know the untold secret, that is once all the physical work and training is done, it comes down to a state of mind.

Visualisation is often used and an old adage is “seeing is believing”, and I fully agree with this having witnessed athletes developing consciousness and controlling emotions, which are essential to peak performance.

So what can you do to achieve such a state of mind? I have used strategies such as creative visualisation, positive suggestion and future self with local, national and international athletes. It can be as simple as finding some floor space; lay down and close your eyes for five minutes, visualising what it is you want to achieve. All of us have five minutes that we can spare to do this.

So when your favourite athletes steps under the lights, just spare a thought as to what is going through their mind. Do they see it, believe it and achieve it.