Mental preparation

[Ottman]

I find myself doing the same as krunchy. I'm constantly thinking about martial arts and ways to use it. There's nothing wrong with it, I think I can speak for every member of this forum when I say: "It's just our thing."

 

On a side note, studies have shown that people who visualize their actions and thus consider the outcomes of them, are more successful at meeting there goals.

 

Still, I haven't gotten in a street fight since I was 13 (22 now) and the best course of action is always to seek the peaceful way out.

[White Warlock]

On a side note, studies have shown that people who visualize their actions and thus consider the outcomes of them, are more successful at meeting there goals.

I've not seen these so-called studies, but i'll take your word for it.

 

Anyway, visualization works best when you are the only sentient variable to contend with. I.e., visualizing the perfect dive, the perfect run, or the perfect choreographed kata. But, when you are dealing with an adversary, visualization can get you in trouble... especially when things don't work out how you visualized they would. And, in a confrontation gone physical, it is 'always' not how you visualized it to be.

 

So, don't get all caught up in visualization. It's a good thing to do, when looking at the big picture (the scene), but not at the little picture (the fight).

[Ottman]

WW- I understand what you mean. In the fight you need to react to the opponent, and therefore the mental activity of visualization is counter-productive in moments of actual combat, but I meant visualization in terms of a training regimen. Not in-fight, but pre-fight, and during training as a way to engrain the physical movements you personally use and execute in your memory, so that you don't have to think about it in a fight.

 

Not sure where I first heard about the general studies on visualizing and meeting goals, but here is a link to a site on the physical, and neurological implications of visualizing physical activity, and then executing it later.

 

http://dubinserver.colorado.edu/prj/elo/p03.html

 

I hope you'll find it interesting.

[SevenStar]

WW- I understand what you mean. In the fight you need to react to the opponent, and therefore the mental activity of visualization is counter-productive in moments of actual combat, but I meant visualization in terms of a training regimen. Not in-fight, but pre-fight, and during training as a way to engrain the physical movements you personally use and execute in your memory, so that you don't have to think about it in a fight.

 

Shouldn't sparring take care of that?

[Ottman]

Sure, but even after you're done sparring, you can still get better just by thinking about your own technique. Takes no energy at all, what could be better?