Have you ever wondered how elite athletes maintain their composure under intense pressure? Or how some individuals seem to effortlessly excel in their chosen fields while others struggle to reach their full potential? Recently, I had the privilege of speaking with Dr. Josuke Tanaka, affectionately known as Coach Jo, and his insights shed light on these intriguing questions.
Coach Jo isn't your average sports mentor. He's a unique blend of modern-day chiropractor, world-class athlete, and exceptional Judo coach. His HiLevel approach to performance has helped countless individuals, including myself, overcome physical ailments and push beyond perceived limitations.
During our conversation, we delved into the fascinating world of performance coaching. What Coach Jo shared surprised me and challenged some common assumptions about HiLevel Performance.
Coach Jo specializes in coaching the sport of judo, focusing on the mental approach to performance. His model identifies three distinct aspects of an athlete's mental functioning:
- Innate mental characteristics
- Acquired positive behaviors and mindsets
- Acquired negative behaviors and mindsets
Coach Jo's first step in working with athletes is to assess which of these three categories dominates their performance. This understanding allows him to tailor his coaching approach to each individual athlete's needs.
What is innate: These are the skills or mental capabilities that you are born with. You can't teach them; either you have them or you don't. You can sometimes forget that you have them or distance yourself from them, but you will never lose them as they are in your core structure.
What is acquired in a positive way: These are the skills that you typically learn from great parenting or great coaching. Your coach, teammate, or parents tell or show you something that will amplify and improve your skills. The best coaches are the ones who can magnify someone's natural talent and bring an athlete closer to their innate capabilities.
These skills can also be learned by yourself from past experiences. For instance, if you lose a game because of a mistake you made, you are able to recognize what you did wrong, correct it, and eventually never make the same mistake again. Great champions are those who, every time they lose, are able to learn from their mistakes, correct them, and gradually accumulate these small corrections in their umbrella of skills. Eventually, they become very hard to beat because they make almost no mistakes.
What is acquired in a negative way: These are the skills that you learned through the opposite effect of the previous category. I remember a teammate being yelled at, pretty much humiliated, by his coach after he lost a fight. The coach's strategy was to create a "mental electric shock" to wake up the beast inside him. But because the coach didn't understand very well how that athlete's mind worked, it only served to distance him from his innate capacity. How many times have I met an athlete with huge potential and a strong aura, but because they listened to the wrong advice, they end up too far away to be able to enable that potential?
Each athlete, within themselves, has these three different types of functioning that are more or less present at all times. The naturals are the ones whose category one dominates their entire behavior. These are the "naturals"; they are in an almost constant state of flow. Watching them compete is like watching a lion hunting its prey on National Geographic. Those with category two dominant are the "hard workers"; they work their butts off but eventually get to where they want to be. Those who function mainly with category three are the ones that feel "stuck" somewhere. BUT if they are able to remove those negatively acquired habits and come closer to their innate capabilities, they can become unstoppable
So, what can we learn from Coach Jo's approach? Here are some key takeaways:
- Recognize Your Performance Type: Are you a "Natural," a "Could Be," or a "Stuck" performer? Understanding where you fall on this spectrum can help you define your approach to improvement.
- Embrace a Personalized Approach: What works for a "Natural" might not work for someone who's "Stuck." Customized strategies that address your specific needs are crucial for growth.
- Reframe Setbacks as Opportunities: Every mistake and upset is a chance to learn and improve. Developing resilience and maintaining your calm under pressure are skills that can be cultivated over time.
- Integrate Mind and Body: Coach Jo's background in both physical therapy and athletic coaching highlights the importance in the words of Dr. Homer Rice, “a total person approach.” Mental conditioning, breathing techniques, and physical training all play crucial roles in achieving HiLevel Performance.
- Cultivate a Growth Mindset: Cultivate the belief that you can improve through dedication and smart practice is essential for long-term success.
The journey to HiLevel is personal and often challenging. It requires not just physical prowess, but also mental fortitude and emotional intelligence. As the legendary basketball coach John Wooden once said, "Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming."
Whether you're an athlete, artist, entrepreneur, or professional in any field, the principles of HiLevel performance remain remarkably similar. It's about understanding yourself, developing your own strategies, and consistently pushing your boundaries.
Remember, excellence isn't just about natural talent. It's about passion, perseverance, and the willingness to continuously learn and adapt. By applying these insights from Coach Jo, you too can unlock new levels of performance and achieve HiLevel in your chosen field.
What area of your life could benefit from this HiLevel approach to performance? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!
That’s HiLevel!