Pre-Fight Performance Anxiety

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jon Rhodes on January 16, 2009 at 11:11am

Visualisation is probably the simplest technique. Get them to visualise (using all the senses) themselves entering the ring with feelings of confidence. Then get them to visualise the fight going perfectly. Beating the opponent to the punch every time time etc...totally dominating the opponent. They can even imagine their punches and kicks to have the power of those old chinese films where the opponent flies 20 feet into the air! The point is get them to visualise fighting, and doing very well, even extraordinarily so!

They could even imagine that they are one of there fighting heroes, with all of their strengths and abilities. Imagine what it feels like to be their heroes, and how it feels, in their perspective, to fight so effectively.

A non hypnotic technique I have heard of is getting the fighters to practice simply being in the ring. Get them to do something they are uncomfortable with, such as sing a song in front of the rest of the guys. After that the concept of fighting there will be easy! If you do decide to go down this road, make ALL of the guys do it though, and create a supportive atmosphere where they all clap each other at the end.


Hope this helps!

Jon
HypnoBusters

Permalink Reply by Art Long CHt. Traditional Doctor on January 16, 2009 at 7:18pm

I have had results with athletes of Olympic and world class in every sport you can think of, for many years.and hypnosis works perfectly in pre performance jitters simply by likening a big event to any training session, or one training session or past event when they excelled, and hold that thought throughout the eprformance, even leaving them under hypnosis. Then you can perform at 120% as the fears of teh brain are suppressed and the body can work at full capacity, and more sometimes. Reactions can be sharpened, tere is a world of possibilities with hypnosis in any sport...Regards, Art

Permalink Reply by Aaron Little on January 18, 2009 at 11:35am

Thank you for your replies. You have both given me some ideas to think about.

Permalink Reply by Gary Baker on January 19, 2009 at 9:12am

Something else to consider - you could change the way they're thinking about the nervousness they're experiencing i.e. instead of thinking of the physical symptoms as anxiety, you reframe it so they think of it as excitement. The physiology for both emotions are pretty much the same; it's our interpretation of them that's the problem.

Anxiety is essentially incorrect focus, so if they're anxious before a fight then it sounds like their pre-fight routine is wrong. Perhaps work with them to create a new routine which gets them into the right frame of mind, and focused correctly, perhaps using some of the elements mentioned above.

Permalink Reply by John Sannicandro on January 25, 2009 at 4:47am

Anybody have any ideas of how Fedor Emilianenko trains his mind? I'd guess he does something along those lines. Watched him last night. Talk about an athlete that is always in the zone.

John
www.jslmhc.com

Permalink Reply by Aaron Little on February 2, 2009 at 8:18pm

I just wanted to post a follow up to say thanks for all the advice. I did a directed visualization while the fighter in question was getting his hands wrapped.

I ran him through getting up from the chair, making his way to the cage, fighting with confidence, winning, getting his hand raised, making his way back to the locker room, and ended with him back in the chair getting his hand wraps cut off. I made sure to drive home the “sights and sounds” of each phase and gave him a rather unique anchor for the state.

He fought the fight of his life. Words cannot truly express the quality of his performance and his composure. He went 3 rounds (3 min each) and I fired the anchor between each round. The effect was very apparent. He won a decision against a very skilled opponent.

Thanks Guys.

Aaron

Permalink Reply by Gary Baker on February 2, 2009 at 11:42pm

That's great, Aaron. Do you want to share what the anchor was?

Permalink Reply by Aaron Little on February 3, 2009 at 6:17am

It was a verbal anchor. When I visually had him back in the chair having his wraps removed I saw signs that he was in the state I wanted him in. At that time I eased into a basic “eat a lemon” visualization. I pushed that until his mouth was obviously watering. This worked great as an anchor. All I had to do during the fight was ask him if he could taste the lemon.

This was his first fight. He now has a great experience to pull from.

Here is a great photo of the result.

Aaron

Permalink Reply by Michael Ellner on February 3, 2009 at 7:32am

Hey Aaron

Congratulations -- Looks like your found a Niche -- Good for you.

FYI - I often use the "Lemon" trigger for helping people relieve intense persistent pain --

Hi Gary --

Sound advice for helping people with any kind of performance anxiety -- the only difference in the sensations we experience -- is what we think about the experience -- Sir Lawerence O. the great actor/director taught his students their internal "butterflies" were a signal that they were primed for a great performance...The power of the reframe--

Permalink Reply by Gary Baker on February 3, 2009 at 8:37am

That's great, thanks for letting us know!

Permalink Reply by Anthony Jacquin on February 4, 2009 at 2:44am

Hi Aaron,

fantastic picture and great work from you by the sound of it.

Many will suggest anchoring. It is a great technique of course especially if it is something that is triggered automatically. Back that up with visualization work.

You will find these techniques are much stronger if backed up with hypnosis. My preference is to back up anchors with post hypnotic suggestion. My father a hypnotherapist used to coach a boxing club and has done lots of sports hypnosis and generally keeps it simple. So every time you get in the ring you will remember everything useful you have learnt in your years of training/ when you hear the door to the squash court close you will rememeber everything you have learnt etc/every time you glance at your speedometer you will regain absolute focus and composure. Encouragement that he will be able to trust his senses and unconscious memory. That he has all the resources he needs. Link the goal to things that matter to him. And for fighters of course remember pain is a point of view - change their view if required. Give them absolute clarity of thought, time distortion is useful too.

When I have worked with fighters in MA comps they often get psyched by someones history or a past fight experience. Deal with this like you would any other trauma ensuring they are not carrying unhelpful emotions onto the ring with them.

Anthony

Permalink Reply by Aaron Little on February 6, 2009 at 7:32am

Thanks Anthony. Your work "Reality is Plastic" has already had a profound effect on my approach to mindset training in the gym. While not sport related it has forever changed the way I approach the subject.

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