The Mental Edge-Kenneth Baum

Since I'm not training physically, I might as well work on my mental game.

The Mental Edge
-maximizing your sports potential with the mind body connection-
Kenneth Baum





Perception Stretchers

1. a loss becomes a gain
-carefully evaluate “failures” by asking do I need to train differently, think differently, eat differently.... and what happened in that particular match and how can I make the outcome different next time?

2. if you do what you have always don you will get what you’ve always gotten
-be an experimenter, change things up, be willing to learn, let go of the ego and realize that you don’t have the market cornered on how to train the most effectively

3. the imagination is more powerful than the will
-use visualization

4. bodies work perfectly, minds get in the way
-learn how to relax, focus, quiet the mind so that the body can do what it’s been trained to do

5. limitations are temporary
-don’t get frustrated by plateau’s and remember limitations are usually temporary and come more from the mind than the body

6. anyone can play any sport better
-pattern the excellence of others

7. events have no meaning except what you give them
-remember a jiu jitsu match is a jiu jitsu match whether at the dojo, a local competition, or worlds... so, learn to set aside tension/anxiety

8. getting better is more important than winning
-the goal should be performing at peak levels

9. practice like you play
-if I am competing in 7 minute matches, I should train that way, etc.

10. the more you expect from a situation the more you will achieve
-modest expectations produce modest results, focus on the possibility of success