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Page 1: Mindset Methods of Championsfightersconfidence.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/...Mindset Methods of Champions Below, you'll find the mindset methods of six champions of combat sports--and
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Mindset Methods of Champions

Below, you'll find the mindset methods of six champions of combat sports--and one interesting entry from the world beyond sports. All of these methods can help both the serious jiu jitsu competitor and the jiu jitsu hobbyist make the most of their training and competing experience. All the best, Coach Connors

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Chapter One CAIO TERRA, SEVEN-TIME BLACK BELT WORLD CHAMPION

http://caioterra.com/

What better source of advice than a seven-time Black Belt World Champion? Here are five tips from a really informative interview by www.bjjhacks.com. (You can find the link to the interview below.) These are Training Mindset tips, but if you follow them you will surely fare better in competition. 1. If you're not concerned about winning or losing in the gym, you'll focus on improving your technique.

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The trap some jiu jitsu players can fall into is when they insist on winning at every jiu jitsu round of randori. In order to improve and expand your technique, you have to put yourself out there in training. When you're trying to introduce something new into your arsenal of techniques, you'll likely not "win" every round of training. The primary goal of training should be improvement of your technique, not winning. 2. Make the conscious determination to be good, or to improve. If you do not decide to make improvement of your game a priority, there's a real likelihood that you will not only improve at a much slower rate, but you might not improve at all. There's nothing wrong with enjoying jiu jitsu as a hobby, but everyone can make improvement if they decide to make that a goal. 3. Be happy to train - you need this attitude to put the appropriate energy and time into studying and drilling jiu jitsu. If you really enjoy training jiu jitsu, you will put the time in to get better. If you want to be a world champion, then you had better really love jiu jitsu because it's going to take a lot of work to get there. 4. There's a difference between being the best jiu jitsu player right now and being the best you can be in the long term. Focusing on improving your technique will yield the ultimate best you, instead of focusing on just adding more speed and power to the techniques you already possess. Work on being well-rounded and strengthen your weaknesses to be better in the long run. Follow the link below o view this inspiring interview, and check out other great BJJ interviews and videos at www.bjjhacks.com. http://bjjhacks.com/2013/02/caio-terra-the-keys-to-success-in-jiu-jitsu/

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How can you apply these tips today?

1. Make the conscious decision right now to improve your jiu jitsu: I, ____________________, have decided to become the best jiu jitsu Print name player I can be: ____________________________, ____/____/____ signature date 2. The next time you got to train jiu jitsu, go with an attitude of joy and happiness. 3. The next time you train, do not concern yourself with winning. Instead, focus on improving your technique in one of your areas of weakness.

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Chapter Two MARCELO GARCIA, FIVE-TIME BLACK BELT WORLD CHAMPION

https://www.mginaction.com Marcelo Garcia is considered one of the greatest jiu jitsu players of all time. But believe it or not, Marcelo lost his very first jiu jitsu match! Fortunately for us, that did not deter him from developing into the great competitor and teacher that he is today. Below you'll find some Training Mindset tips as well as Competition Mindset tips. 1. Many athletes use visualization techniques to reach their peak performance state, but Marcelo Garcia used his imagination early on to teach himself jiu jitsu techniques.

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According to the biography in Marcelo's book, The X Guard, early on in his jiu jitsu career, Marcelo would await the one monthly jiu jitsu magazine that was published in Brazil. It's hard to believe in this information age, but at that time there were no websites, or books, or DVDs about jiu jitsu. Just this one magazine. Here's what Marcelo says about it:

" Every time I got my hands on one, I would examine it like a mad scientist. It wasn't like the publications today where they show step-by-step instructions of the various moves. All they had was a single snap shot of a competitor finishing his opponent with a certain submission. I would then have to try and figure out how he set up that submission and where to apply pressure. I spent a great many hours on this form of analysis."

Could this process have been the key to developing Marcelo Garcia's jiu jitsu mind? Being limited like this initially might have forced him to learn how to understand the techniques at a deeper level. 2. How does Marcelo Garcia handle the pressure of competition? He turns his back on it. When Marcelo attends a competition, he does not spend a lot of time scouting the competition. He is only interested in their initial move or takedown. He's more focused on bringing the match into his world of jiu jitsu than trying to counter what his opponent might do. In an interview, Marcelo said that he turns away from the competition when he's warming up so as not to get too anxious before the match. When the match starts, he's relaxed and ready to do what he does every day in training.

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How can you apply these tips today?

1. If you're competing in the near future, invest some time visualizing your successful match. Use as much detail as possible. For training purposes, use visualization to review the techniques that you learn in class. When watching instructional videos or pictures, try to visualize how and why the techniques work. What are the principles that apply? 2. The next time you compete, try this trick directly. Avoid watching other matches while you're warming up. Focus on your game and what you intend to do, not on your opponent.

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Chapter Three FELIPE COSTA, BJJ BLACK BELT WORLD CHAMPION

Felipe Costa is the first competitor to ever win a World Championship in the black belt division without having ever placed (first, second or third) in a major competition prior to receiving his black belt. Felipe competed before in the lower belt divisions, but had never won a major tournament (Mundials, Pan Ams, Europeans, etc). So, here is a guy who has won at the highest level, but also knows about struggle and losing. In fact, he did not win a single match in the first four years of competing. In another great bjjhacks.com interview (link below), Felipe said:

"There is not one fight in a tournament where it doesn't cross my mind that, 'ah I already lost'... Every time is like that... I try to neutralize those thoughts... I try to think... No I'm not giving up..."

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Here are two tips - one that applies to both Training or Competition Mindsets, and one Competition Mindset. Tip number 1: Expect to have negative thoughts when competing or training jiu jitsu. Everyone has negative thoughts at times. Just be prepared to answer those negative thoughts back. Felipe found that he could perform well in his academy, but his performance degraded at the tournament. He found the environment "scary". How did he overcome his anxiety? Tip number 2: "I would concentrate and try to think as if I was in the academy. I would actually say 'this is my academy' and repeat things like this... It helped me. By saying this, and actually believing in my mind that I was in my academy, I would think 'this person, my opponent is visiting my academy. This is my house, I need to do something.' And little things like this helped me a lot. To view this inspiring interview, follow this link: http://bjjhacks.com/2012/06/behind-the-scenes-felipe-costa/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAf4aRszdT8

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How can you apply these tips today?

1. Simply apply the first tip directly in training and competing. When you hear that negative voice on your shoulder, just answer back "No. I'm not giving up." 2. Try the second tip out the next time you compete. Even if you feel a little silly, don't worry, it's all in your head. No one else has to know. But the more consistently you apply the idea, the more fully you commit yourself to the idea, the better will be you results.

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Chapter Four RICH FRANKLIN, FORMER UFC MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION

http://www.richfranklin.com/ Rich Franklin is a former Ultimate Fighting Championship Middleweight Champion and is widely respected for both his physical and mental toughness. Franklin has stepped into the cage to face some of the most dangerous fighters of the modern era. How does this former schoolteacher prepare himself mentally to meet the challenge? I discovered four of his secrets from Brian Cain's excellent book, Champions Tell All: Tip number 1. Hard work during fight camp instills confidence. Rich works incredibly hard during his fight camps. Not only does this prepare him physically for the challenge, but he uses this fact to bolster his confidence. In his mind, he should be confident, because he has earned it.

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Tip number 2. Use mental imagery and breathing exercises. Like many successful athletes, Rich uses mental imagery to visualize the successful outcome of his match. Breathing exercises help him lower anxiety in the moment and allow for better performance. Tip number 3. Use the inevitable anxiety to fuel performance. Just like Felipe Costa, Rich found pre-competition anxiety to be inevitable. Instead of worrying about the anxiety and creating a runaway vicious circle, accept the inevitable physical symptoms and realize that they are just your body's method of preparing itself for combat. Tip number 4. Stay inside your circle of control. Just concern yourself with things that are within your direct control. You can't control what your opponent will do, or what the referee will do. You can't control the amount of traffic you encounter on the way to the event. So let your concern about matters like that fade away. Focus on your own personal preparation and performance. You can find Brian Cain's Champions Tell All as well as other great sports psychology books at: http://briancain.com/

How can you apply these tips today?

Rich's Tips speak for themselves. How many of them can you introduce into your practice?

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Chapter Five DIEGO SANCHEZ, UFC VETERAN

When it comes to mental toughness in the octagon, there is noone who surpasses Diego Sanchez. Fight after fight he just displays incredible mental focus and toughness. He might not win all his fights but he never quits and has never been submitted in an MMA match. Tip number 1. The "Yes" Cartwheel Diego is perhaps infamous for his "Yes!" cartwheels. He performs a series of cartwheels while enthusiastically exclaiming "Yes!". You can check out the cartwheels here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=md_8WJzhsow

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But Diego doesn't limit himself to cartwheels. As one of the top UFC fighters, he chants "Yes!" to himself in training and as he walks into the cage. This not only gets him into a peak state and (as he puts it) "flips the switch", it also drowns out any negative voice. He's screaming to himself "Yes! I'm the greatest fighter in the world! Yes!" If the fight starts to not go his way, he doesn't let the inevitable negative voices get in; he screams over them to himself. And it works for him. Win or lose, he never gets discouraged or lets up. "Yes!" For more on his approach, check out this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAheK2yGD80

How can you apply these tips today?

You can try this "Yes!" technique today in your training. You don't have to do cartwheels, either. And if you feel self-conscious saying the

mantra out loud, just say it to yourself and observe the effect it has on your training and competing.

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Chapter Six MIKE TYSON, FORMER BOXING HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION

"Cus D'Amato, who trained Mike Tyson, said emotions, particularly anger, are like fire. They can cook your food and keep you warm, or they can burn your house down. Many great athletes use anger in a positive way. Anger motivates them. Anger steels their resolve. It is much better to become angry than to become afraid." - Gary Mack, Mind Gym

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Tip number 1: "Discipline is doing what I hate to do but doing it like I love it" - Mike Tyson

Mike is referring to the type of training that many athletes find boring, mundane or even painful. Tyson would try to approach all those necessary training activities (footwork drills or shadow boxing, perhaps) with a joyful zeal. You'll get much greater effect from your training if you approach it with joyful enthusiasm as opposed to dreading it and just trying to get through it. 10,000 hours of practice is not enough. You need 10,000 hours of deliberate practice to master something. Tip number 2: Learn from Mike's pre-fight visualization and self talk. Check out the two minute video below to listen to Mike explain his process of psyching himself up before the fight. Take note of the change and progression. Tyson starts off nervous and gradually grows in confidence. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPVlyBDCMIs

How can you apply these tips today?

Can you make yourself love what you need to do to reach your goals? Can you apply this Tyson style of self-talk to enhance your performance?

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Chapter Seven MANDY PATINKIN, AMERICAN ACTOR AND TENOR SINGER

Mandel Bruce "Mandy" Patinkin (born November 30, 1952) is an American actor and tenor singer. Mandy is well-known for his portrayal of Inigo Montoya in The Princess Bride in 1987. He currently plays Saul Berenson in the Showtime series Homeland. If you've had the opportunity to enjoy one of his performances you might be interested in what methods he uses to achieve his optimal performance state.

________________________________________________________

I listened to Jian Ghomeshi interview Mandy on Studio Q. Here's what I picked up on:

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Tip number one: Meditate. Before going on set each day to do Homeland, Mandy does a meditation--a mix of Hebrew prayers, Shakespeare, and Sondheim lyrics. He finds that it calms him before any performance. Tip number two: Appreciate the moment. "I also do another thing which is part of that meditation which is based on a line that Oscar Hammerstein wrote in the musical Carousel. He wrote in that play, "as long as there's one person on earth who remembers you, it isn't over." And because of that line, I recite every person's name that I've ever known that has passed on, to just keep them alive and present in my mind. It both gives me an appreciation for the fact that I'm here, that I have the opportunity to live the life that they could no longer live, and to just appreciate the moment..." For the entirety of this fascinating interview, check it out here on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLc-qxF-Gxc

How can you apply these tips today?

Mandy's process is obviously quite personal and meaningful to him. Can you use his methods as inspiration to develop a calming meditation to aid you in achieving peak performance?

Is This The End?

You've come to the end of this guide. What have you learned? Can you apply at least one of these ideas to your current training and preparation?

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Maybe, you're thinking "Yeah, I can use a couple of these things, but is that all there is? Is there some system I can methodically use to take my MENTAL GAME to the next level?" The answer is "YES". I have created a complete system for you to use in conjunction with your jiu jitsu training to DELIBERATELY AND DIRECTLY TRAIN YOUR MIND.

Are You Missing Out on a Huge Opportunity to Improve Your Jiu Jitsu Performance?

You've read about some of the strategies that world champions and world class performers use. You've seen a simple and streamlined method to FLIP YOUR SWITCH. You're working hard in training. You're studying the science of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. You're working hard to get in great physical condition. But are you still missing out on a HUGE opportunity to Improve your grappling performance? Well, if you are not working systematically on your MENTAL GAME, week in and week out, the sad truth is "YES". Without a proper system of mental training your natural operation of your nervous system will act like a brake slowing (if not stopping) your progress. Why not release that brake now? With a deliberate program you can train your mind to become stronger and keep it there with that training.

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My Mindset Mastery System will give you that program. It will lay out the steps, the daily practices, the insights you need to release the brakes off of your full potential. Go HERE now to claim your Mindset Mastery System and release the brakes that are holding you back. I have a limited inventory, so don't wait. Here's to you reaching your best, -Coach John Connors