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    Mental Preparation for Championship Judo

    Yaburi
    Yaburi


    Posts : 23
    Join date : 2012-12-31
    Location : USA

    Mental Preparation for Championship Judo Empty Mental Preparation for Championship Judo

    Post by Yaburi Mon Jan 14, 2013 6:10 am

    MENTAL PREPARATION & SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY & JUDO

    A Primer by Mark Lonsdale




    Sports psychology helps athletes control their minds and bodies to produce optimum sporting performance. It is also a critical part of coaching, communications and team building. Sports psychology is all about mental toughness, focus, confidence, stress management, optimal arousal, motivation and commitment.



    In any sport, including judo, the mental aspects of competition are every bit as important as the physical aspects, but often neglected. These mental skills are not just for the high performance elite athletes, but also for the recreational competitor struggling with the stresses of training for competitions and shiai. As Henry Ford said, “Whether you think you can, or think you can’t, you’re right.” In other words, if you do not wholeheartedly believe in yourself, then you will probably fail. Thinking or, more importantly, believing that you can, is the first step towards achieving a goal or winning a tournament.



    At the international level, it is assumed that elite athletes are all at a similar level of physical fitness, strength, endurance, technical proficiency, and experience. Look at the winning results in almost any Olympic sport and you will see that races and competitions are won by a hundredth of a second or a tenth of an inch. So in looking for that winning edge, it often comes down to mental preparation and attitude.



    In addition to fitness, technical & tactical skills, and experience, winning requires desire, determination, dedication, and sacrifice, all of which require mental toughness. Mental toughness is the psychological edge that helps an athlete to perform at a consistently high level.



    Mentally tough athletes commonly exhibit four characteristics:


    • A strong self-belief (confidence) in their ability to perform well
    • An internal motivation or drive to be successful
    • The ability to focus thoughts and feelings without distraction
    • Composure under pressure



    To aid in mental preparation, there are a number of skills to be studied, learned and applied to training and competition. The six mental skills for successful athletes are:

    1. The ability to concentrate and refocus

    2. Visualization and mental rehearsal

    3. Energizing

    4. Relaxation & breathing

    5. Maintaining a positive attitude

    6. Self motivation and being goal oriented



    In training, the coach and athlete need to set a series of attainable goals and markers. Mental attitude will improve as these markers are achieved. Successful athletes set short and long-term goals that are realistic, measurable, and time-oriented. You and your coach should be aware of your current performance levels and be able to develop specific detailed plans for attaining the next level. You must be highly committed to your goals and to the daily demands of your training programs. Knowing that you have trained harder and smarter than your opponents will put you in a positive frame of mind.



    Pre-competition, an athlete must eliminate all personal issues and problems well before the championship. You cannot afford to be distracted by financial debts, rocky relationships, or personal conflicts. Your weight management routine must be on track to make your fighting weight category. From experience, you should have established a pre-tournament routine that begins the afternoon before the event. This may include a light workout, sauna, massage, carbo-loading, or just relaxing, resting, and packing your gear bag for the next morning. Pre-tournament rituals are an important part of mental preparation.



    On competition day, be prepared to arrive early, rested and focused on the event. Allow time for warming up, stretching and taping. Know any changes to the IJF rules and have your coach attend the coaches brief and referees meeting for any updates. Keep thinking positive – this is no time to be having doubts.



    On game day athletes will perform better at optimum arousal, the mental state that puts an athlete “in the zone.” This is also known as the Individual Zones of Optimal Functioning (IZOF) since the model suggests that the zone of optimal emotional and physiological intensity varies for each individual athlete. Anger, as one example, is a double edged sword since it can increase drive, energy, and power, but clouds thinking and decreases thought processes necessary for planning and game strategy.



    When you enter the arena or step onto the mat, do so with a positive attitude. Recite your mantra, “This is my day, this is my purpose….,” and maintain the proverbial Eye of the Tiger. Focus on fighting each fight, not thinking about the finals or the medal ceremony.



    Successful athletes know what they must pay attention to during each game or sporting situation. They have learned how to maintain focus and resist distractions, whether they come from the environment or from within themselves. They are able to regain their focus when concentration is lost during competition, and have learned how to play in the “here-and-now,” without regard to either past or future events. In judo, conscious thought process is too slow when fighting. Attacks, combinations and counters must come from conditioned response and reflex. Seeing an opponent’s attack and thinking what you can do to counter it will be too slow. Judo is about confidence and feel – the confidence that comes with hard training and the feel that comes from repetition and experience.



    Dominating and winning in any combat sport requires that the fighter respond reflexively to the opponent’s attacks. What is often termed muscle memory is in reality conditioned response to external stimuli. It is also not wise to worry about the opponent’s strategy or tactics. By taking your fight to him or her, and by attacking relentlessly, you are keeping the opponent off balance and reacting to you.



    To conclude, just as the following apply to most successful athletes, they could work for you:



    1. Choose and maintain a positive attitude

    2. Maintain a high level of self-motivation

    3. Set realistic and attainable goals

    4. Deal effectively with other competitors and officials

    5. Use positive self-talk (mantra)

    6. Use positive mental imagery (visualization)

    7. Manage anxiety & emotions effectively (coping mechanisms)

    8. Maintain concentration (focus)

    9. Fight each fight and then move onto the next one

    10. Manage your time and energy wisely between matches





    END



    Mark Lonsdale is available for lectures and clinics on this subject, and others related to coaching and athlete development
    Okazi
    Okazi


    Posts : 37
    Join date : 2013-01-08
    Location : Canada

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    Post by Okazi Tue Jan 15, 2013 8:12 am

    The first book I read on this topic was Terry Orlick's In Pursuit of Excellence. It was highly accessible, full of practical exercises and interesting anecdotes. There are plenty of books that one could read and we all should read a couple, for our own benefit and the benefit of others.

    Amazon link to In Pursuit of Excellence:

    http://www.amazon.com/In-Pursuit-Excellence-4th-Edition/dp/0736067574/ref=sr_1_49?ie=UTF8&qid=1358180564&sr=8-49&keywords=sports+psychology





    The tip that has stuck with me the longest from this discipline is focusing on "process" and not outcome.

    As in if I do:

    50 nagekomi, 45 minutes randori, practice counters, practice combos, train with various bad ass judoka, uchikomi with various grips and in various stances and do uchikomi at home with a belt etc I will then feel confident, enough.





    Also, understanding that I won't get better by doing more competitions...Let's say that I compete twice a month:

    8 opponents (Only 8? Yes, because I’m heavyish) x [ 7 minutes (approximate total time on competition tatami) + 7 minutes (because I'm on the deck for 7 minutes preceding my own match thus still in the competitor head space)] = 8 x 14 = 112*

    That is 112 minutes of "competitor" head space, the length of your average movie.

    Being a male in his late 20s who divides his time between a small town and a big city I am exposed to many interesting situations out there (in the real world) and possible reactions. Embarrassing someone who cuts in line, standing up for a worker at a clothing store when a customer goes crazy on them, asking for a raise, not reacting when someone “shoulders” me when we both have 2 meters of sidewalk to share etc. are all opportunities to develop “mental toughness”. The essence of sports psychology is getting over the emotional and mental barriers to performing effectively. As an individual who wears jeans+sweater (its cold in Canada) more often than white pants+uwagi you’ll have more opportunities off the mat than on the mat to train your mind, and soon you will be mettle-ing at every competition.



    *obviously this figure is not worthy of peer-review
    Yaburi
    Yaburi


    Posts : 23
    Join date : 2012-12-31
    Location : USA

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    Post by Yaburi Tue Jan 15, 2013 8:58 am

    Thanks Ozaki - good observations. I like the way you add up all the minutes for a total "competitor head space"
    genetic judoka
    genetic judoka


    Posts : 541
    Join date : 2012-12-30
    Age : 38
    Location : Florida

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    Post by genetic judoka Tue Jan 15, 2013 11:45 am

    Okazi wrote:8 opponents (Only 8? Yes, because I’m heavyish)
    only 8?

    I'd be thrilled to have 8 opponents in the heavyweight division at a local tournament around here!
    Yaburi
    Yaburi


    Posts : 23
    Join date : 2012-12-31
    Location : USA

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    Post by Yaburi Tue Jan 15, 2013 11:54 am

    Tell us where you are and we will send a bus load over.....
    genetic judoka
    genetic judoka


    Posts : 541
    Join date : 2012-12-30
    Age : 38
    Location : Florida

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    Post by genetic judoka Tue Jan 15, 2013 12:02 pm

    I'm in florida. you send a bus load of heavyweights to any comp in FL and tell me where, and I'll be there.

    ok I'm still trying to get back in shape after the knee surgery and subsequent wedding and honeymoon, but the above statement will be true in a month or two. maybe sooner if all goes according to plan.
    Yaburi
    Yaburi


    Posts : 23
    Join date : 2012-12-31
    Location : USA

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    Post by Yaburi Tue Jan 15, 2013 12:36 pm

    I was down in Miami for the World Masters and there seemed to be no shortage of 100+ players in several age categories.
    Okazi
    Okazi


    Posts : 37
    Join date : 2013-01-08
    Location : Canada

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    Post by Okazi Tue Jan 15, 2013 1:11 pm

    Yaburi wrote:Thanks Ozaki - good observations. I like the way you add up all the minutes for a total "competitor head space"

    genetic judoka wrote:
    Okazi wrote:8 opponents (Only 8? Yes, because I’m heavyish)
    only 8?

    I'd be thrilled to have 8 opponents in the heavyweight division at a local tournament around here!

    Thanks guys. The minutes aren't exact but it gives you an idea as to other areas that may require your attention.

    Also, approximately 4 opponents each comp, give or take, usually give. Some comps we get grouped into small, medium, large and those by far are the best.
    genetic judoka
    genetic judoka


    Posts : 541
    Join date : 2012-12-30
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    Post by genetic judoka Tue Jan 15, 2013 2:33 pm

    yeah, there are a lots of masters heavyweights in FL. but I'm 26. unfortunately I've got 4 years left before that does me any good.

    also that was the world masters, which happened to be in florida. so those people were from all over the place not just florida.
    judoratt
    judoratt


    Posts : 309
    Join date : 2012-12-30
    Age : 67
    Location : Seattle

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    Post by judoratt Tue Jan 15, 2013 3:17 pm

    [quote="genetic judoka"]
    Okazi wrote:8 opponents (Only 8? Yes, because I’m heavyish)
    only 8?

    I'd be thrilled to have 8 opponents in the heavyweight division at a local tournament around here![/quote

    We have 13 100kg players registered for Saturday's Continental Crown. There is a nonstop flight from Orlando to Seattle registration is over at 9pm friday. LaughingLaughingLaughing
    judoratt
    judoratt


    Posts : 309
    Join date : 2012-12-30
    Age : 67
    Location : Seattle

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    Post by judoratt Tue Jan 15, 2013 3:25 pm

    [quote="Yabur


    Sports psychology helps athletes control their minds and bodies to produce optimum sporting performance. It is also a critical part of coaching, communications and team building. Sports psychology is all about mental toughness, focus, confidence, stress management, optimal arousal, motivation and commitment.



    In any sport, including judo, the mental aspects of competition are every bit as important as the physical aspects, but often neglected. These mental skills are not just for the high performance elite athletes, but also for the recreational competitor struggling with the stresses of training for competitions and shiai. As Henry Ford said, “Whether you think you can, or think you can’t, you’re right.” In other words, if you do not wholeheartedly believe in yourself, then you will probably fail. Thinking or, more importantly, believing that you can, is the first step towards achieving a goal or winning a tournament.



    At the international level, it is assumed that elite athletes are all at a similar level of physical fitness, strength, endurance, technical proficiency, and experience. Look at the winning results in almost any Olympic sport and you will see that races and competitions are won by a hundredth of a second or a tenth of an inch. So in looking for that winning edge, it often comes down to mental preparation and attitude.



    In addition to fitness, technical & tactical skills, and experience, winning requires desire, determination, dedication, and sacrifice, all of which require mental toughness. Mental toughness is the psychological edge that helps an athlete to perform at a consistently high level.



    Mentally tough athletes commonly exhibit four characteristics:


    • A strong self-belief (confidence) in their ability to perform well
    • An internal motivation or drive to be successful
    • The ability to focus thoughts and feelings without distraction
    • Composure under pressure




    To aid in mental preparation, there are a number of skills to be studied, learned and applied to training and competition. The six mental skills for successful athletes are:

    1. The ability to concentrate and refocus

    2. Visualization and mental rehearsal

    3. Energizing

    4. Relaxation & breathing

    5. Maintaining a positive attitude

    6. Self motivation and being goal oriented



    In training, the coach and athlete need to set a series of attainable goals and markers. Mental attitude will improve as these markers are achieved. Successful athletes set short and long-term goals that are realistic, measurable, and time-oriented. You and your coach should be aware of your current performance levels and be able to develop specific detailed plans for attaining the next level. You must be highly committed to your goals and to the daily demands of your training programs. Knowing that you have trained harder and smarter than your opponents will put you in a positive frame of mind.



    Pre-competition, an athlete must eliminate all personal issues and problems well before the championship. You cannot afford to be distracted by financial debts, rocky relationships, or personal conflicts. Your weight management routine must be on track to make your fighting weight category. From experience, you should have established a pre-tournament routine that begins the afternoon before the event. This may include a light workout, sauna, massage, carbo-loading, or just relaxing, resting, and packing your gear bag for the next morning. Pre-tournament rituals are an important part of mental preparation.



    On competition day, be prepared to arrive early, rested and focused on the event. Allow time for warming up, stretching and taping. Know any changes to the IJF rules and have your coach attend the coaches brief and referees meeting for any updates. Keep thinking positive – this is no time to be having doubts.



    On game day athletes will perform better at optimum arousal, the mental state that puts an athlete “in the zone.” This is also known as the Individual Zones of Optimal Functioning (IZOF) since the model suggests that the zone of optimal emotional and physiological intensity varies for each individual athlete. Anger, as one example, is a double edged sword since it can increase drive, energy, and power, but clouds thinking and decreases thought processes necessary for planning and game strategy.



    When you enter the arena or step onto the mat, do so with a positive attitude. Recite your mantra, “This is my day, this is my purpose….,” and maintain the proverbial Eye of the Tiger. Focus on fighting each fight, not thinking about the finals or the medal ceremony.



    Successful athletes know what they must pay attention to during each game or sporting situation. They have learned how to maintain focus and resist distractions, whether they come from the environment or from within themselves. They are able to regain their focus when concentration is lost during competition, and have learned how to play in the “here-and-now,” without regard to either past or future events. In judo, conscious thought process is too slow when fighting. Attacks, combinations and counters must come from conditioned response and reflex. Seeing an opponent’s attack and thinking what you can do to counter it will be too slow. Judo is about confidence and feel – the confidence that comes with hard training and the feel that comes from repetition and experience.



    Dominating and winning in any combat sport requires that the fighter respond reflexively to the opponent’s attacks. What is often termed muscle memory is in reality conditioned response to external stimuli. It is also not wise to worry about the opponent’s strategy or tactics. By taking your fight to him or her, and by attacking relentlessly, you are keeping the opponent off balance and reacting to you.



    To conclude, just as the following apply to most successful athletes, they could work for you:



    1. Choose and maintain a positive attitude

    2. Maintain a high level of self-motivation

    3. Set realistic and attainable goals

    4. Deal effectively with other competitors and officials

    5. Use positive self-talk (mantra)

    6. Use positive mental imagery (visualization)

    7. Manage anxiety & emotions effectively (coping mechanisms)

    8. Maintain concentration (focus)

    9. Fight each fight and then move onto the next one

    10. Manage your time and energy wisely between matches





    END



    Mark Lonsdale is available for lectures and clinics on this subject, and others related to coaching and athlete development [/quote]

    Again, very well done Mark and thanks for posting on the new forum
    Yaburi
    Yaburi


    Posts : 23
    Join date : 2012-12-31
    Location : USA

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    Post by Yaburi Tue Jan 15, 2013 3:46 pm

    Welcome Bert -- is this your site? Sorry I couldn't make it up to the Continental Crown this weekend. Off to France for the Grand Slam and pre-GS training at the Judo Institute
    judoratt
    judoratt


    Posts : 309
    Join date : 2012-12-30
    Age : 67
    Location : Seattle

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    Post by judoratt Tue Jan 15, 2013 4:23 pm

    Mark,

    Sorry you are not going to make it this weekend you will miss a party, enjoy Paris.This is not my forum it is way beond my computer skills. Dew has set this up in response to the problems with the old JF.
    Yaburi
    Yaburi


    Posts : 23
    Join date : 2012-12-31
    Location : USA

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    Post by Yaburi Tue Jan 15, 2013 4:26 pm

    Understood -- Compliments to Dew -- Will pull some of the articles posted on the old, broken, disfunctional forum to his "New and Improved"

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