Thursday, February 17, 2011

Emotional Toughness Strategies from the NAVY SEALs that every single combat athlete must have

The NAVY SEALS training program i do think may be the single toughest undertaking for any human being to undertake. The initial “hell week”, that's roughly 132 hours in length weeds out roughly three out of 4 cadets. I currently have found a number of the subconscious methods and routines that the SEALS trainers teach the cadets to handle the pressure within their duties.


  1. Excitement Control via adequate Respiration: SEALS understand the relevance concentrated breathing can have on the excitement involving the overall body. Whenever inherent hazard is experienced by the body, it sparks the fight or flight reaction. The response is increased breathing and quicker pumping by the cardiovascular system. The mind becomes reactive while cortisal as well as adrenaline flood the bloodstream. This causes intricate motor skills to de-activate and also the predatory instincts take control. In a combat scenario which necessitates concentration on the particular job currently happening - emotional constraint is essential. Thus just how does the NAVY get a “tough guy SEAL” to focus upon his own breathing? They will employ the 4x4x4 breathing rule. Utilizing this rule the SEAL breathes in for four secs, exhales for 4 seconds, and they repeat this breathing for four minutes. This rule forces the soldier to rid his / her brain of the stress (the problem) and concentrate upon his or her inhaling and exhaling (clears the mind for options). I actually believe the inhaling and exhaling component to be the sole greatest skill to obtain for everyone.
  2. Set small, obtainable goals: A SEAL consistantly has their particular long term targets planned out for any objective. What seperates them from other special ops and even us mere mortals is they will only concentrate upon the short period plans. They understand that when the mind “believes” with confidence that the following move can be finished, it will get motivated and utilize every source there is to choose from to complete it. When the mind is exhibiting symptoms of self-doubt, it is going to close off to just about all options and breakdown becomes near. Whenever you’re practicing, specify small goals to accomplish, and adjust them all so they become stimulating and motivating. If your sprinting, locate an entity in front of you and concentrate on sprinting to that item. In the event that your brain believes it’s too far off, you may get anxious as opposed to enthusiastic. When anxiety starts up, locate an item slightly nearer to you and begin sprinting.
  3. Picture success: The sole training program which undoubtedly isolates the SEALS from other armed service personnel is the underwater battle exercise. Throughout this particular exercise the cadets dive in to a pool with their own Scuba equipment on while working on a battle type job, the trainers will certainly tamper with their hoses, tanks,and also rip the mouthpiece from their mouth’s. This kind of harrasment activates the fight or flight system simply because of the built in dread associated with drowning. Since humans have approximately 50,000 various thoughts a day, you can imagine that during this high level of anxiety, images of drowning crop up straight into their mind. Whenever a cadet focuses on themselves succeeding within their mind’s eye, they'll recenter and refocus on their activity. When they keep their cool, they will start to realize they without a doubt aren't going to drown, and they remain in control. The next time you see yourself within a demanding scenario and losing control of things, focus upon imagining yourself being successful and you will recover at your inner levels.
  4. Positive internal dialogue: Since the normal human being speaks roughly 300-1000 words and phrases every minute in “self talk” it only would make sense when the majority of that was negative, it’s absolutely no question why several fail terribly in order to succeed. SEAL cadets are coached to communicate to them selves within a good manner. In the event that they find them selves overloaded with regard to negative thinking they need to ask them selves two questions: 1. Do I know this belief or negative internal dialogue being 100% true? and 2. ”Just what do I understand that disagrees with this damaging internal dialogue or belief?”. For example: I’ll never ever become a great fighter!!!! Question 1: Is this 100% true? I don’t know maybe, maybe not….. Question 2: What do I know that contradicts this question? ”I have trained harder than my opponent, my coaches have told me I am a skilled fighter, my energy levels right now are depleated and panic is trying to set in. I am tough, spirited and smart and I will get passed this.”
These are generally just a couple of emotional skills taught by the NAVY SEALs which can be implemented by combat athletes. These are easy enough to incorporate into day-to-day training to become habitual, yet helpful enough to be a stand alone mental training program.


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Tuesday, February 1, 2011

4 Characteristics Essential for Mental Toughness

There's four distinct characteristics that every single champion athlete possesses which in turn put them on the edge within their respective sport and will be carried over into Mixed Martial Arts and other combat sports. Given, many excellent athletes retain natural ability which is a gift, however all people possesses the capability to gain the skill-sets required to remain competitive at high levels of competition. One particular skill is mental toughness.

Talent and physical skills will only enable you to get so far as they are physical traits that only make up 50% of your body wholes. We all must incorporate the other 1 / 2 of ourselves that is our mind game. The next four traits undoubtedly are a prerequisite if you'd like to be a success.

  1. Always be adaptive: This means that you have to have the ability to “role with the punches” prior to, all through and following competition. Truly being able to change gears in your head as well as be poised, optimistic, along with centered. To be versatile is possessing the capability to bend with the instances which might be out of one's control of things. Certain things as an injury, sickness, bad officiating, blown game plans, or whichever adverse situation you can imagine can and do happen, however deciding to move forward into the route that will help your needs, as opposed to focus on the problem itself is a good indicator of a mentally tough athlete.
  2. Always be receptive: It is the ability to remain charged, targeted, intense and highly connected in times of severe stress. While the battle moves to the next level, receptive athletes boost their game since the game itself, steps up. These types of athletes are coined “clutch” players, or “the go to guys”. They do not withdraw from the particular problem and grow unresponsive. This is yet another sign of a mentally tough athlete.
  3. Be Powerful: Mentally and emotionally powerful athletes support the capability to inflict and fight tremendous emotional pressure whilst under great challenges which help them preserve their “fighter” attitude. They are certainly not affected by “momentum swings” or “bad calls” or errors. They retain the aggression from the beginning to the end, despite pain, exhaustion, or even the scoreboard. They keep fighting since it’s putting up the good fight that's crucial to them.
  4. Be resilient: Resistant athletes can easily take in problems and mistakes and recover rapidly while simultaneously getting tougher. They put the bad circumstances behind them and refocus on the task currently happening. They understand that concentrating on the situation simply creates far more problems, thus being a solution focused athlete provides them a lot more choices for achievement.
These four characteristics can be consciously converted to routines by any athlete. You don't need to be a super star to turn into a superstar. Basically like the physical aspect of sports, one gets greater with “perfect” practice, so will the mental aspect. One approach to acquire these four qualities is to recite them continuously, and also consciously make an effort to catch your self whenever you are not acting within the boundaries. By purposely training yourself within these 4 characteristics, they will sooner or later grow to be habitual, and progress you towards effectiveness


If you would like to read more about MMA Training then go to Greatness Inside Out at www.greatnessinsideout.com