I recently came across this amazing study below.

In one of the most well-known studies on creative visualization in sports, Russian scientists compared four groups of Olympic athletes in terms of their training schedules (as described in Karate Of Okinawa: Building Warrior Spirit by Robert Scaglione):

Group 1 = 100% physical training;
Group 2 - 75% physical training with 25% mental training;
Group 3 - 50% physical training with 50% mental training;
Group 4 - 25% physical training with 75% mental training.

Group 4, with 75% of their time devoted to mental training, performed the best.

Personally, I have always advocated mental toughness, visualisation and mental preparation for competition.  This is an area I have always followed during my own competition days. I would visualise my techniques and visualise myself being successful. Coaches will ignore the above study at their own and their student’s detriment.

Perhaps this needs to be applied in regular classes as well.  Students need to close their eyes and visualise themselves performing the correct body movements.  Thought should go to thinking about balance, reaction hand, finishing position.  Visualise yourselves performing the movement in a fluid action.

If you have not tried the mental training I challenge you to 10 minutes each session and see if this makes a difference to your techniques.   Let me know if you find any difference.  There should be.

In the highly active young boys group aged between 5 – 10 years I wonder if they are capable of mental visualisation.  Parents what do you think?

It today’s hectic modern pace of life our brains are over loaded and bombarded with information and demands.  Bring back those treks in the mountains, long runs along the beach or taking a walk by yourself.  Use this time to recharge the brain. 

Keep calm and meditate on it.