scholarly journals Testing the Mental Toughness Model in the Setting of Chinese Martial Arts

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-43
Author(s):  
Veronika PARTIKOVA
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Martial Arts ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Target Population ◽  
Mental Toughness ◽  
Mental Skills ◽  
Modified Model ◽  
Mental Skills Training ◽  
Body Contact ◽  
Confirmatory Factor

BACKGROUND: Aim of this paper is to test the Sport Mental Toughness Questionnaire (SMTQ) in the setting of Chinese martial arts. The target population is adult European practitioners of modern and traditional wushu. Mental toughness is an established concept of being able to perform under pressure while remaining positive and perseverant. However, it has not yet been tested on this population. It is argued that Chinese martial arts can generate unique types of pressure situations, such as dealing with pain, body to body contact, fear of sparring, and a lack of designated levels of achievement, such as a belt ranking system.  METHODS: 277 respondents (85 female) were sampled from 28 countries. The exploratory factor analysis was conducted in SPSS, and internal consistency was calculated. Confirmatory factor analysis using AMOS was used to evaluate the model fit. RESULTS: The EFA resulted in losing four items, with two items switching places on the components. The model reached a good fit of x 2/df = 1.307, IFI = .965, CFI = .963 and RMSEA = .047. CONCLUSIONS: This paper provided the validation of the SMTQ scale for a Chinese martial arts setting. Researching mental skills in the specific environment of Chinese martial arts may be a fruitful direction for further research, especially when developing a mental skills training program for this population. The modified model resulting from this study is the first step in this respect. Moreover, it confirms the recently discussed multidimensionality of the mental toughness model.

Stepping on the Mat: A Novice Practitioner’s Experiences Conducting a Mental-Training Workshop for Mixed Martial Arts Athletes

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-85
Author(s):  
Jamie Taber ◽  
Kat Longshore
Keyword(s):  
Martial Arts ◽  
Group Intervention ◽  
Case Reports ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Mental Skills ◽  
Mixed Martial Arts ◽  
Current Case ◽  
Mental Skills Training ◽  
Recreational Athletes ◽  
Efficacy Research

The current case reports a multimodal group intervention implemented at a mixed martial arts (MMA) school. Participants in the workshop included athletes of a range of belt ranks and experience levels, demonstrating an interest in mental-skills training from not only competitive but also recreational athletes. Goal setting, arousal regulation, self-talk, and imagery were covered, with a short informative lecture and an activity for each skill. Feedback was generally positive, with participants indicating that they had learned a lot and suggesting more workshops in the future, as well as more sport-specific examples. For the student-trainee, being new to leading workshops and being a member of the population were important; for the supervisor, taking on that role and working in an unfamiliar sport were novel experiences. Efficacy research should be conducted with this kind of intervention for recreational MMA athletes, but feedback demonstrated an interest in mental skills for this population.

Mental Skills Training to Improve Soldier Performance: Development and Implementation

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernie Holliday ◽  
Louis Csoka ◽  
Coreen Harada ◽  
Jon Hammermeister ◽  
Michael A. Pickering ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Skills Training ◽  
Mental Skills ◽  
Mental Skills Training ◽  
Performance Development

How Does Sport Psychology Actually Improve Athletic Performance? A Framework to Facilitate Athletes’ and Coaches’ Understanding

2010 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 386-402 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris J. Gee
Keyword(s):  
Sport Psychology ◽  
Athletic Performance ◽  
Academic Discipline ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Mental Skills ◽  
Mental Skills Training ◽  
Athletic Competition ◽  
The Past ◽  
Physiology And Biochemistry ◽  
Sport Psychologist

The popularity of sport psychology, both as an academic discipline and an applied practice, has grown substantially over the past two decades. Few within the realm of competitive athletics would argue with the importance of being mentally prepared prior to an athletic competition as well as the need to maintain that particular mindset during a competitive contest. Nevertheless, recent research has shown that many athletes, coaches, and sporting administrators are still quite reluctant to seek out the services of a qualified sport psychologist, even if they believe it could help. One of the primary reasons for this hesitation appears to be a lack of understanding about the process and the mechanisms by which these mental skills affect performance. Unlike the “harder sciences” of sport physiology and biochemistry where athletes can see the tangible results in themselves or other athletes (e.g., he or she lifted weights, developed larger muscles, and is now stronger/faster as a result), the unfamiliar and often esoteric nature of sport psychology appears to be impeding a large number of athletes from soliciting these important services. As such, the purpose of this article is to provide the reader with a simple framework depicting how mental skills training translates into improved within-competition performance. This framework is intended to help bridge the general “understanding gap” that is currently being reported by a large number of athletes and coaches, while also helping sport psychology practitioners sell their valuable services to individual athletes and teams.

Mental Skills

2021 ◽  
pp. 61-75
Author(s):  
Dave Collins ◽  
Hugh Richards
Keyword(s):  
Skills Training ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Influential Factors ◽  
Professional Judgment ◽  
Mental Skills ◽  
Mental Skills Training ◽  
Normative Expectations ◽  
Level Of Experience ◽  
Special Circumstances ◽  
The Impact

This chapter considers issues in optimizing the impact and efficacy of mental skills training (MST). Balancing MST focus between performance, well-being, and character development is essential and requires data-driven case conceptualization. Effective professional judgment and decision-making underpins development of effective MST, enabling consideration of aspects such as timing, sequencing, and periodization, which determine the optimum “blend” of intervention techniques and delivery. Three interacting factors underpin effective application of MST. Relevant performer characteristics (e.g., gender, age, maturity) and special circumstances (injury, retirement) interact with practitioner characteristics such as level of experience, specific training, and preference/expertise with certain skills. Interactions are also influenced by cultural/contextual factors, from normative expectations of service delivery to contractual conditions and geographical locations (online/remote). The actual benefit of mental skills can only be realized when the provider both comprehends how to plan and deliver effectively and can navigate influential factors appropriately.

scholarly journals Development, Implementation, and Evaluation of anAthlete-Informed Mental Skills Training Program for EliteYouth Tennis Players

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 429-449 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lea-Cathrin Dohme ◽  
Gordon A. Bloom ◽  
David Piggott ◽  
Susan Backhouse
Keyword(s):  
Training Program ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Mental Skills ◽  
Mental Skills Training ◽  
Tennis Players

Biofeedback Training: Enhancing Athletic Performance

Biofeedback ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 101-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boris Blumenstein ◽  
Yitzhak Weinstein
Keyword(s):  
Athletic Performance ◽  
Training Programs ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Biofeedback Training ◽  
Mental Skills ◽  
Training Process ◽  
Successful Performance ◽  
Mental Skills Training ◽  
Vital Component ◽  
Conceptual Paper

During the last three decades, mental skills training of athletes has become widely accepted as an important factor in sport and a vital component of successful performance of top athletes. Biofeedback training (BFT) is a key element/tool of a complex multifaceted treatment/training program aimed at enhancing athletic performance. The main purpose of this conceptual paper is to illustrate the successful integration of the Wingate 5-Step Approach to training programs that are based on a periodization principle. This integration is targeted at the development of both physical and mental skills to optimize and enhance the effectiveness of the mental training process. Examples derived from our experiences are illustrated and discussed.

The Creation of a Mental Skills Training Program in Elite Youth Tennis: A Coach-Driven Approach to Developing Resilient, Confident Competitors

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 74-81
Author(s):  
E. Earlynn Lauer ◽  
Mark Lerman ◽  
Rebecca A. Zakrajsek ◽  
Larry Lauer
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Training Program ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Youth Sport ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Mental Skills ◽  
Strength And Conditioning ◽  
Mental Skills Training ◽  
Self Talk ◽  
Strength And Conditioning Coach

In this paper, we describe the development and content of a mental skills training (MST) program and how a strength and conditioning coach/certified mental coach delivered this program within a United States Tennis Association (USTA) Player Development (PD) program. The purpose of the MST program was to create resilient, confident youth tennis competitors. Specific mental strategies (i.e., journaling, routines, breathing, imagery, self-talk) were identified to best meet the objectives of the MST program and were delivered using a three-pronged approach: (a) classroom lessons, (b) strength and conditioning sessions and on-court lessons, and (c) homework assignments. Specific ways that the USTA PD coaches reinforced the use of these strategies during tennis practice are described. Recommendations for coaches to integrate an MST program in high-performance youth sport environments are also provided.

scholarly journals Mental skills training limits the decay in operative technical skill under stressful conditions: Results of a multisite, randomized controlled study

Surgery ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 165 (6) ◽  
pp. 1059-1064 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas E. Anton ◽  
Tomoko Mizota ◽  
Jake A. Whiteside ◽  
Erinn M. Myers ◽  
Eric A. Bean ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Skills Training ◽  
Technical Skill ◽  
Randomized Controlled Study ◽  
Controlled Study ◽  
Mental Skills ◽  
Mental Skills Training ◽  
Randomized Controlled

Reflections on a 5-Year Consultancy Program with the England Women’s Cricket Team

1995 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 148-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen J. Bull
Keyword(s):  
Service Delivery ◽  
Sport Psychology ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Mental Skills ◽  
World Cup ◽  
Mental Skills Training ◽  
Evaluation Form ◽  
The World ◽  
Psychology Service ◽  
Informal Feedback

This paper documents a 5-year sport psychology consultancy program with the England Women’s Cricket Team. The paper describes the method and content of sport psychology service provided and distinguishes between four phases of delivery: introduction and education in mental skills training, competition preparation and thinking, preliminary World Cup preparation, and final World Cup preparation and on-site provision. Service delivery was evaluated by the use of the Consultant Evaluation Form (Partington & Orlick, 1987), ongoing informal feedback from players and coaches, and a formal interview conducted after the World Cup. Reflections on successful and unsuccessful aspects of the program are provided. Overall, the sport psychology program was very well received and was considered instrumental in achieving the stated goal of winning the World Cup. The paper concludes with a number of recommendations for delivering extended sport psychology services to an international team.

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