There were a handful of times in my wrestling career where I totally lost control. I can remember one, in particular, that sent me flying across the mat toward my opponent. I had lost, and he had mocked me. I lost it. Thankfully, my dad caught me before I made the regrettable mistake of letting my emotions dictate actions that would have repercussions.
In professional fighting, I can recount one time, specifically, where I lost it. It was in training. My partner was a traditional martial artist and was taking pleasure in delivering spinning kicks and punches, in my opinion, outside of the safety spectrum of training. He was not from my gym. He had no stake in my health, and, imo, was freewheeling with my livelihood. Punch came to shove, and he was against the wall. I was angry and shouting.
I’m not proud, but it happened. I took them both as a learning lesson and got better from it. In today’s reading, John Wooden talks about the importance of controlling your emotions, and the dramatic impact it has on your consistency in performance. Emotional highs and lows result in inconsistent performance.
To each his own, but I favor a steady, systematic approach to performance. A steady “hummmm” as I gather myself to perform. I don’t need/want a rah rah talk.
As the leader, consider this approach and the impact it has on your followers. One of Wooden’s players remarked, “He was cool when it counted; his confidence and strength become ours.”
Allow your confidence and strength to become that of your “team.”
Control your emotions. Control your performance.
Life’s a Fight. Carpe Diem. Fight Well!
Spaniard
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About the author : cbrenneman
Three days after the birth of his second child, The Spaniard discusses Fathership (a Spaniard term): his gratitude, his hopes, his plans, and how little he and his wife are sleeping. What does this mean for you? The tale involving Sheetz will make you think about the power of example. The discussion of summer camp and iffy acquaintances will help you watch for good and bad influences. The story in the hospital will alert you to opportunities to make simple, difficult decisions for growth. Whatever your relationship to parenting—past, present, future, never—there are thoughts here to help you put your arms around what matters most to you. Also: The three inspirations for the new baby’s name!
Three days after the birth of his second child, The Spaniard discusses Fathership (a Spaniard term): his gratitude, his hopes, his plans, and how little he and his wife are sleeping. What does this mean for you? The tale involving Sheetz will make you think about the power of example. The discussion of summer camp and iffy acquaintances will help you watch for good and bad influences. The story in the hospital will alert you to opportunities to make simple, difficult decisions for growth. Whatever your relationship to parenting—past, present, future, never—there are thoughts here to help you put your arms around what matters most to you. Also: The three inspirations for the new baby’s name!
Latest videos
It’s host versus co-host. The Spaniard finds competition essential while Dread questions that. The Spaniard gives a wrestler’s and fighter’s appreciation of flesh-and-blood opponents: how they have shaped him, how they have often obsessed him, and how he sometimes has to search for their equivalents. The conversation highlights how competitors personify high standards and how the highest performance might require a winner and a loser. Also: Will baby Rocky let The Spaniard work out?
It’s host versus co-host. The Spaniard finds competition essential while Dread questions that. The Spaniard gives a wrestler’s and fighter’s appreciation of flesh-and-blood opponents: how they have shaped him, how they have often obsessed him, and how he sometimes has to search for their equivalents. The conversation highlights how competitors personify high standards and how the highest performance might require a winner and a loser. Also: Will baby Rocky let The Spaniard work out?
It’s host versus co-host. The Spaniard finds competition essential while Dread questions that. The Spaniard gives a wrestler’s and fighter’s appreciation of flesh-and-blood opponents: how they have shaped him, how they have often obsessed him, and how he sometimes has to search for their equivalents. The conversation highlights how competitors personify high standards and how the highest performance might require a winner and a loser. Also: Will baby Rocky let The Spaniard work out?
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