In the previous parts to this series we have looked at ways to calm the mind and free it from stress through meditation and also focus it in the right direction through visualization and goal setting. In this part of the series we are going to look at a set of mind training techniques that together, make up the brain science known as Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP).
NLP has been popular with people from all walks of life for many years now. Athletes especially have used it to enhance their performance in a number of ways, a couple of which we will be looking at here. Most of you will be familiar with NLP already, but for those of you that aren’t, let’s take a quick look at what NLP actually is and how it could help you become a better martial artist.
What is NLP?
Developed in the 1970s by John Grinder and Richard Bandler, NLP provides a way for you to get into yourself and understand how to be able to achieve success in a way many other motivated and well known individuals already have, including athletes, professionals from all walks of life and many martial artists.
These people went as far as they did because they knew they were able to do so. The creators of NLP realized that the things they were doing could be learned by others as well, and that if this were done effectively, anybody could do almost anything they set their minds to.
The name encompasses the three most influential components involved in producing human experience: neurology, language and programming. The neurological system regulates how our bodies function, language determines how we interface and communicate with other people and our programming determines the kinds of models of the world we create. Neuro-Linguistic Programming describes the fundamental dynamics between mind (neuro) and language (linguistic) and how their interplay affects our body and behaviour (programming).
Based on the dynamic interplay between these three fundamentals the creators of NLP have devised a number of techniques that make it possible for people using them to change their behaviour and the way they look and feel about themselves. In effect it is a form of brainwashing that you do to yourself for the benefit of making yourself better in some way, enhancing your performance as a human being.
NLP puts itself across as a science –a science of the mind- though the established scientific community has never done anything to validate this claim and has in fact continued to refute its scientific credibility. There is no denying however, that NLP can have a positive effect on an individual who takes it seriously. Indeed many individuals and organisations across the world, including police forces, recognised athletes and many business communities will testify to the fact that NLP has really helped their over all performance, regardless of scientific validity.
I personally think NLP works because it focuses the mind so much. The techniques used force you to really examine your beliefs in a certain area and then put a lot of attention and focus on actually changing and making better that particular area. So really, NLP represents creative focus backed up by a willingness to improve. It’s not really the techniques that matter as much as the time and energy you put into actually improving yourself.
So regardless of its scientific validity, NLP has been proven to work over the years, even if that’s mostly on a subjective level. NLP is a subjective pursuit, but that doesn’t make it any less valid here. I have used it over the years to improve many aspects of myself besides martial arts, so I know it works. The question is, will it work for you? I obviously think it will, otherwise I wouldn’t be writing this.
So let’s crack on and look at two NLP techniques in particular that can help you improve your martial arts performance.
NLP Techniques
1. Modelling. Modelling is the main technique I want to discuss here because I think it holds the most use for us as martial artists. Modelling is a technique that was created to model the excellence of others. The basic idea was to be able to replicate the skills and abilities of experts. The modeller studies with precision every aspect of this expert. That includes his or her values, ethics, behaviour, habits, etc. The modeller then imitates the expert.
Now many NLP exponents tend to complicate this process by bringing in a lot of pseudo-scientific principles, to the point were the whole process becomes convoluted and almost unworkable for the average person. What I am going to do here is give you the method that I have used on a number of occasions with good success.
So the first thing you will do is select someone to model, which should be relatively easy if you’re a martial artist. Most people choose their Sensei or instructor for obvious reasons. Your instructor will usually be very advanced and skilful compared to you and therefore will be the ideal person to model.
Once you have chosen the person you want to model, take yourself of to that quite room again and get yourself nice and comfortable like we talked about before with the meditation practice. Do some deep breathing and get your mind and body as relaxed as possible.
Now in your minds eye begin to see the person you are modelling in action. If it’s your instructor then picture them training, watch them perform their techniques in the very skilful way they always do. Examine how they move, how they breathe, how they position themselves, take in as much sensory information as possible. Do this for a few minutes or as long as it takes to get a good handle on their behaviour.
The next thing you are going to do is step into their shoes, so to speak. Actually feel yourself becoming that person and begin to feel how they move and react. Become that person in your mind, see things through their eyes and allow yourself to move in the way they do. How does it feel to be that person? How does it feel to move like they do? What do you think they are thinking? Allow your intuition to take hold here. This is a subjective process so there is no right or wrong way you should be feeling. Just go with the flow in your mind and be as vivid as possible in your imaginings.
When you start to get a real sense of this person your modelling step outside of them again and then picture yourself doing the same techniques but see everything in the first person and try to keep a hold of how it felt before when you were in that persons shoes. Feel yourself move like they do, think of yourself as being on the same advanced level as they are. Do this for as long as you like or until you get a good sense of what it feels like to be at such an advanced level.
Doing this little exercise everyday for a few weeks or so can have an amazingly positive effect on your martial arts performance. You will be quite surprised, as I was when I first tried this technique, at the results you get from it and you will notice a real difference in your technique.
You can take this technique even further if you wish by actually questioning your subject on the thought processes that go through their head when they are performing, processes that you can replicate in your own performance. The only problem with this is the very subjective nature of such processes and also the means used to illicit them in the first place, all of which makes accuracy of information quite difficult. The option is there though if you want to take things further.
2. Anchoring. Some sounds, pictures, smells, tastes or tactile sensations create special feelings in us. These sensations are called anchors in the field of NLP. A particular sensation which is connected to a person’s particular behavior, feeling, or thought is an anchor. The procedure in which an anchor is created is called anchoring.
Anchoring works on the subconscious level of the mind. Therefore, it is extremely powerful. You get anchored to various stimuli in the surrounding world. If a stimulus is anchored with a negative behavior, it is a disadvantage. When you understand how anchoring works, you can break anchors which are of disadvantage and create more useful anchors as you wish.
You see athletes using this technique all the time. When you see a tennis player make a fist and shout “Yes!” after scoring a point, that’s anchoring. It’s holding on to that positive, peak performance state, which is why it is especially useful for martial artists, especially those of you who compete in competitions. If you need to be on top form at any given moment then all you have to do is activate your anchor and your body and mind will automatically go into the required state. How useful is that for sparring, gradings or competitions? Very, I’d say.
To make a successful anchor simply follow these instructions:
• If your desired state is confidence, close your eyes, relax, sit erect, and relive a very powerful moment of your life when you were most confident, seeing what was there then in your mind’s eye, hearing the sounds, feelings and other sensations. Your mind and body must be totally absorbed in the desired state.
• Make the anchor when the state is at its peak. Make the anchor a special one. Make it an uncommon one such as pushing your right left finger back wards with your right hand, pressing your left wrist with your right hand or just clenching your fist and saying a word like “Yes!” in to yourself or out loud, it doesn’t matter, as long as it’s something quick, simple and easy to remember.
• Keep repeating the anchor several times a day in the same manner for a few days until your desired state is firmly embedded to the anchor.
That’s all you have to do. Now, when you need to be super confident for something, you just employ the anchor and your body and mind will go instantly into that state of confidence.
This is a very useful technique that I use all the time and you can anchor whatever state of being you like, whatever state you think will be useful to you in a given situation. Peak performance is generally what you are aiming for with this technique.
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The two techniques we have looked at here are just two out of many in the area of NLP. I chose to concentrate on modelling and anchoring because I think they are the most useful for martial artists. If you are interested in learning more techniques then there is a wealth of books, videos and online information out there on the subject of NLP.
Like all such techniques you really have to commit to them and focus for you to get any real benefit from them. You also have to give them time to take hold in your mind and bring about any real changes. Rest assured they do work, as I and many other people across the globe can testify to. They are just another way to focus the mind so we can better achieve our goals, both as people and as martial artists. I don’t think you can ever have too many tools in the box. It’s just a question of which ones you like to use and which ones actually make your life easier. I believe the tools I have given you here do both.
Next time we’ll be looking at the thing that holds us back the most in life and training- fear –and how to control it.
Further and Recommended Reading:
NLP: The New Technology of Achievement
Teach Yourself NLP (Teach Yourself: Games/Hobbies/Sports)
Teach Yourself NLP (Teach Yourself: Games/Hobbies/Sports)
Mindworks: An Introduction to Nlp: the Secrets of Your Mind Revealed
