When you close your eyes, what do you see? What are the pictures that come to mind? Here’s a quick experiment: Think of an image you want to see, and then close your eyes. Maybe you picture yourself accepting the trophy for a major martial arts competition. Maybe you visualized meeting your favourite Martial Artist. No matter what image you held in your mind, you just practiced an exercise called visualization. Visualization is about building positive actions out of the positive images you create in your mind.
Learning to create positive visualization is an important part of a Black Belt program. Champions in any sport or endeavor have mastered the art of visualization. It’s a way to program the mind for success every step of the way.
Visualization is really just a from of concentration. It’s a technique used long before you face your opponent (or any crucial situation). Because visualization is meant to cultivate positive mental images, it is similar to daydreaming, with one important difference. When we daydream, our minds wander from image to image. With visualization, the “dream” is under our control. We shape images in order to make those images become reality. By creating images of success and repeating them, we harness the power of the mind and bring greater power to the body. It’s simple: if you picture yourself enjoying victory, you’re more likely to live that experience when you compete.
Visualization doesn’t come without effort. Like every aspect of training, it is a skill that improves with practice. Applying yourself to positive visualization can add a valuable dimension to your overall improvement as a martial artist.
Anyone who sets goals will come up against obstacles that may slow progress. Visualization can help you overcome these obstacles. Whenever you feel frustrated or disappointed, visualize the moments of triumph that attaining Black Belt will bring. You can be sure that every time you visualize victory, you will be bringing yourself one step closer to achieving it.
Sensei Malcolm Bale
www.jiu-jitsu-calgary.com
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on Thursday, July 23rd, 2009 at 8:12 pm and is filed under Martial Arts.
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