Why is it that you tighten up when you’re under pressure and how can you learn to move freely without the use of mental game tips or spending hours reworking your technique?
Natural movement is uninhibited; it just flows.
It’s completely different from the tightness that dominates on pressure points or when things are not going your way and you can’t seem to turn them around.
Watching Wimbledon over the weekend it was interesting listening to the commentators as they remarked how a player’s arm was moving freely again or how their footwork and general movement around the court started to return as the momentum of a match shifted their way. A couple of games later this all changed as unforced errors crept back in, angles were missed and shots landed over the base line as the fluidity left them and the tightness returned.
We see the same thing in golf where this phenomena shows up to an even greater degree as a player’s practice swing can be fluid and have good rhythm and momentum but then just a minute or two later as they set-up to take their shot this ease of movement suddenly leaves them and they stiffen up, don’t swing back far enough or extend fully through the ball.
What’s going on?
Well, if you listen to the mainstream – and by that I mean even the most experienced coaches, players and sports commentators – you’ll be encouraged to believe it is either a mental game issue and/or a problem with their technique. Most experts and even the players themselves will try to ‘fix’ the problem using psychological techniques like positive thinking (Serena’s legendary notes to herself which she reads under her towel during the breaks), or by reworking grip, ball toss, and practising one backhand slice after another – or in the game of golf, hiring a different swing professional, getting a new set of clubs and reading endless instructions on swing mechanics.
Enhancing sports performance can, I believe be made much simpler – not easier, as everything depends on training – but it’s what you’re training that’s the crucial thing.
The new frontier, again based on my own beliefs and what I’ve witnessed over many decades of training, research and coaching will be the imperative of the mind~body connection, because without it the shot that’s visualized or intended will not manifest itself from the way the athlete moves.
Here’s a comment from one of my students which might help to explain how the Chi-Performance method can help:
“If performance is ‘potential minus interference’ Jayne’s coaching enables a player to realize their full potential by releasing the use of their fundamental movement skills in a very natural, non-technical way. Moreover, she helps the player to maximize the use of these natural skills by enabling them to ignore the negative interference from their inner voice, again through proven, non-technical methods.” Mike S, Essex
The great Samurai swordsman Miyamoto Musashi said “The Way is in Training” and it doesn’t matter where you are on this journey, if you’re just beginning or you’re seasoned in this approach, your ability to release natural movement will depend on getting out of your own way, quietening your mind, reducing anxiety and adhering to fundamental biomechanical principles – all of which can help you keep the connection between your mind and your body, withstand pressure and allow you to keep moving freely – especially during those crucial points on which championships are won or lost.
If you have any comments or questions please post them using the link above and I will be sure to reply.
For all 1-1 and Skype coaching enquires please send me a message or text +44 7986 447 250 and we’ll arrange a time to speak.
Happy training!
Jayne
