The Guillotine


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Winning On and Off the Mat
Inspiration and Motivation by Mark Schwab

Check back every Monday for a new message until late March.

Medals, Respect, and Critics (part II)

March 23, 2010

Many of the fundamentals that America is supposedly built on and much of what people, politicians, teachers, parents, and coaches say is valid, desired, wanted, in demand and employable, is found in our sport. What our sport can give, pending on what you give, are the ingredients to excel and thrive in any arena

This sport has taught many that they can do things they never thought possible. This sport will take you places emotionally and physically you never knew existed. These places are not found on any map. You can point others in a direction, but they have to find the place themselves. My suggestion is to start packing for the trip. You will need a good attitude, resilience, toughness, responsibility, open-mindedness, and work ethic. Make sure to leave your negativism, excuses, and “know-it-all” behind.

This sport has and will render many a college degree. Many wrestlers I know would not have a degree without this sport. We used the sport to get a degree, good! Early on we were not mature enough to know the importance of a college degree. Wrestling may have brought us to college and even kept us there until we were able to understand and clearly see how important, necessary, and crucial it is to get an education. Education will play a part in what we do, where we go, and the options we will have. These are strong and lasting benefits that are by-products of this sport.

This sport will teach you disappointment as well. You had better learn to take it's lessons and move on; no need to serve a self-induced sentence. It’s about putting everything into your pursuit and reaching a goal. It’s an effort that was repeated and now realized. Even if you don’t reach your goals, you have still attempted what few have. You could have taken the easy road and stayed safe. However, you knew the fruit was on the limb, so you ventured out.

It is about learning to balance several things in life, organizing your priorities, and realizing that you can balance, meet and even excel in these demands. This sport will teach you that the hours, days, months and years of sacrifice, efforts and discipline may result in defeat. “Welcome to reality.” It may go like this. It has for many. They say the definition of a true winner is one who can lose everything, suffer the disappointment, have to go all the way back to the beginning or zero, and still muster up the courage to begin again.

The coaches in our lives are often “life jackets” for the real world we live in. They try to get us to see what we have not yet seen. The reality is we may give everything we have, do everything right, and still not get our acknowledgement, hand raised, medal, trophy, plaque, newspaper clipping. I know plenty of people that experienced this. I maintain that if we take what we learned in our experience, apply to whatever arena we step into, it will prove to reap an abundance of excess; this, I will guarantee. As a coach, we affect a lot of people along the way. Hopefully, we make a positive difference.

On our tombstone there may be a few words. However, it’s basically a birth date and death date; between those dates we hope we impacted others, lived right, and dared to challenge ourselves.

Medals, Respect, and Critics (part I)

March 17, 2010

Those who have competed know you do so much to feel good for a short period of time; then it’s on to the next race, chasing that feeling once again. To experience the pinnacle is brief; you spend most of your time striving to get there. It’s the “strive time” that has enduring benefits. It’s here where you evolve from a colt to a horse.

I hope athletes learn to relish their experiences, friendships, growth, and remember the obstacles they overcame. I hope they value the depth of their efforts, and their private and behind the scene victories that will last longer than any trophy or medal. Life is said to be “What is lived between the big moments.” The big moments are so few; what you do between them is who you are and what you’re made of. The economy, cancer, new born baby, interest rates, eyesight, health, disease, and those that truly love you, don’t care how many medals or trophies you have. What counts is how you impact people. You can’t take anything with you. Ask any coroner or funeral director. When one of the wealthiest men in history, John D Rockefeller, died, his accountant was asked “How much did John D. leave?” the accountants reply “all of it”

I know many athletes who feel they failed in athletics. Although, they gave everything they had. Most athletes’ role is behind the scene, making those in front of them better. They are a catalyst in the program’s success. The athletes that show up day after day, receiving limited recognition, never in the limelight, are worthy of respect. It’s very tough to come in day after day when you’re the hero, let alone in a supporting role. However, there are no heroes without these significant cogs in the wheel, which are often introduced as “The rest of the team.” I take my hat off to these athletes. Every team and every sport is mostly comprised of these spokes in the wheel. They are the foundation of all successful teams and athletes.

You may think you need applause from the world, and who does not want to be acknowledged? But it fades and dies out. So, if your reason for being in it is about “notoriety and awards” you will be disappointed. People may be looking in your direction today. However, they will be looking elsewhere tomorrow for the new hero, gadget, wrist-band, or hair-do.

Our sport “wrestling” is much bigger than any trophy or medal. It’s about the will and inner drive to excel, overcome, and succeed. It’s not a race against an opponent as much as it is with oneself. A real competitor wants to know how good they can be. I don’t care if you ever win. The respect goes to the athletes that continue to give 100% in victory or defeat. It’s really about what you become in the process that brings longevity and inner satisfaction. It’s difficult to detect while you’re going through it. But then a day comes when you realize that you’re not who you used to be; you’re improved, have grown, overcame, and progressed. You may be unrecognizable to yourself after years of pursuit. This is what our great sport can do for you.

Respect, success, and being a champion, in its highest form, is about getting the most out of you. If that comes with a blue ribbon, great! If not, so be it. You will depart from competition, but it will always be with you. If you laid it all out there, then you have done what few do. Respect has more to do with how you live and what you give daily, than some medal or newspaper clipping; the medals will tarnish, but respect will endure. When you have respect your rewards are eternal. Also, don’t worry about the critics; they are wannabes that never were. They're experts, even though they've never been in the trench. Yet, somehow they have defied all laws and know more than those who are actually in the trench. I suppose I should not be surprised because it’s much easier to be this type of person. I would say, coward, comes to mind when I think of those who criticize and personal attack those who actually give great efforts. Those who are quick to condemn others usually have a resume that says little in the field they comment on. The real heroes are those that actually take the risk, it’s easy to be safe; it’s easy to hide and never risk success or defeat. Critics will always find something to satisfy their treasure hunt; even a broken clock is right twice a day.

Why not you?

March 8, 2010

Why not you? It has to be somebody, and you’re somebody…right? What you want can be independent from what seems possible. It does not have to be true or realistic; you just have to believe it. So, why not you? It has been demonstrated time and time again that very often the expected happens. However, equally as often the unexpected happens. So, why not you?

Often, those who succeed are those who stick with it and are undeterred. It becomes your inner vision, your reason to get up in the morning. It is going to be what you do today, and then you continue to put those “today’s” together. I stress, whatever it is you romance or have passion about is worth the risk.

Often, we don’t want to act unless we have overwhelming confirmation that our choice will be safe or render a return. The truth is that most situations are ambiguous until we take action. Hey! If it does not work out, you just received an education. If you’re 50/50 on taking action, then find one percent from somewhere. Fifty one percent is enough of a reason to act. And if it does work, you will have an advantage you otherwise would never have. You have to see it in the mind’s eye long before you see it with your visual eyes.

I believe it’s of paramount importance to see, feel, and experience it mentally again and again. Then do whatever necessary to bring it to life. Write down what you want and take the steps to get there. With a "possibility mentality" it’s all possible. And remember there is no physician as skillful as the attitude of possibility. You are wise to acquire an unshakable belief. Once you have this belief up and running, you’re not asking "why not me," You know it’s going to be you.

You’re in control of your time, effort, and mind. You can mentally travel anywhere on earth. You can play it through with you as the hero. You can do what others thought could not be done. It’s not so much what you can do as what you believe you can do.

We all know how to daydream and create the perfect scenario. So, with that I have to ask, why not you? It has to be somebody. Why forfeit your dreams and goals to someone else. Don’t give it away! It’s your time! Let somebody else watch you succeed; let someone else open the morning paper and read about you.

Again, I ask, WHY NOT YOU? Every time you step out there you have a 50% chance of your hand being raised in victory. It’s either you or the other guy; these are good odds. You can up your percentage by what you do daily with your training and mind. The little things make the difference. Give yourself every opportunity to succeed.

I always felt the beauty of this sport was that you, the athlete, have final say over your result. Great competitors welcome having a final say. They love that it’s on them. They are the ones that come back to the huddle with seven seconds left and say “Throw me the ball!” Success is not something that randomly happens; it's something that you dictate. There is no magic; it’s not complex, great truths never are. Armed with this knowledge, I ask, Why not you?

It’s All The Same

March 1, 2010

“Tournament Mind”

This is about a mindset for major competitions:

Dominant: These are the teams and individuals that would win the State or National tournament 10 weeks in a row.

Fade: These are the teams or individuals that want the season over. They started out to be the best, but settled on win some lose some. No plan in place to peak, practice room and lifestyle habits exposed, improper weight management. It could be any of these things. However, I would say the main factor is their mental state. Their fears carried more authority than their belief.

Peak: These teams and individuals get it together at tournament time and shine.

Often, the culprit is lack of belief in one’s self. We waste our present time looking ahead or not unhooking from the past, question our readiness, magnify our opponent’s abilities and minimize our own, and we employ many imagined obstacles.

Tournaments, ideally, are what you look forward to all season. This is hopefully why you are in this sport. This is your reward; its pay day and time to collect your blue ribbon. You can use major competitions to your advantage. Let other competitors work mental numbers on themselves. Let the competition become filled with anxiety and doubt. Let them compete with a mental parking brake on. Let the competition deal with the weight of doubt. Let the competition question and wear themselves out with non-stop mental gymnastics.

Remember, there are many tools to deal with doubt and fear. These topics are beyond the scope of this text. However, I will offer some suggestions through this article.

The most influential step towards a solution is the awareness that mentally, you’re not in an ideal state. And much like the physical training aspect, there are mental training skills that can be implemented. The mental skills I speak of are not extra things to do; they should be part of your overall program. I know many athletes experience mental struggles but do little to change their state. Maybe they think on “game day” everything will work itself out. They roll the crooked dice in hopes of a winner. Don’t risk it!

Our thoughts can be cunning, like a thief. However, they do leave behind evidence and that is our performance. We are not so much responsible for what comes into our mind, but we are responsible for how long we allow defeating thoughts to linger. Thoughts can be like an unwanted house guest, you have to kick them out. Doubt, will take away one vertebra at a time until in the end there is no spine at all.

Our thinking, a never ending internal conversation, will always be with us; it is the way our minds work. There will always be "something” on our mind. The question is what is it? You can continue with the volume on 10 that plays only static, confusion, and doubt, or you can get it down to a reasonable level that will allow you manageability. You can rehearse victory or you can court defeat. You can mentally drill winning executions or allow fear to consume you.

I know it is easier said than done. But awareness and a plan of action will work wonders. The plan may be improved self talk, controlled breathing for energy and relaxation, setting practice room goals, performance goals, visualization, or imagery. Get a paper, pen, and write down your strengths and lesser strengths. Learn to use your most powerful weapon available “the mind.” You’re trained for this mission; you have done this many times. No need to cloud up a clear sky.

As the major tournaments approach, many athletes tighten up, hold back, or shut down. They refrain from what has produced victory for them in the past. They stay safe and over-analyze. There is no need for this. If this is the case, then it’s by your own choice. There is no more excuse for this than there is to turn your taxes in late. You know a year ahead of time when your taxes are due. Well, at tournament time, your taxes are also due. Get them in!

I have a message for you; it’s important so listen close. YOU ARE STILL IN CONTROL! What has changed? You are still competing on a cushioned mat, referee, coach in corner, weigh-in policy same all year, opponent-who weighs the same, match length-same , you still have arms, legs, head, etc. My point is nothing has changed except your thinking. And since you're thinking is in your control, you hold the solution. What will you allow to speak loudest, problem or solution, offensive or defensive, confidence or doubt, victory or defeat, open-close, in-out, etc? Remember, you have been good before, you just need to be good again.

You may say, “it’s not that simple!” Yes it is! When you boil it down, it is that simple. It’s either YES or NO. The athlete that can deal with the pressure will triumph. You can’t tell me you change because you drive a few hours to the tournament location. A venue does not change you. Nothing changes except what you allow. Let’s just say you have competed between 500-2000 times. You’re a veteran. Nerves, are OK, you can perform with nerves. Once out there, throw yourself into the moment and you will be fine. No need to fear something you have done so many times and are obviously good at. Do you get nervous when you mow your lawn? Doubtful! I know you have not mowed your lawn 500-2000 times. Listen, your job is to get the ball close to the goal line “training” and tournament time is for you to “run it in.” So, relax you’re good-to-go.

Let’s say I give you a bucket and instruct you to fill it with doubt. I am going to bet the bucket comes back empty. We create fear and doubt in our own private laboratory. This is the only place we can mix up a batch of doubt. However, it’s also the only place we can whip up the solution. Both exist in your mind. They do not live in harmony, so you have to choose who you allow as a tenant. Does it take work? Yea! Is it easy? No! But never confuse difficult with impossible.

What happened last year, four months, or one week ago mean nothing? One minute from now, two hours from now are unwritten, undetermined and a controllable opportunity for you to achieve desired results. You can turn anything around; the light can come on at any time. It may have taken all the previous efforts or mistakes to accumulate, and now the light is on.

You have to be willing to put it all out there, hold nothing back, and compete to win. You’re a focused man who has made a decision. You are alert and will contend until the last second ticks off the clock. Results are going to be greatly determined by your thoughts. In life, we pretty much get what we expect to get. The beauty of this is we can change or adjust in the middle of any situation. If need be, we can “plug in” at the last minute. We have all seen it done.

I know this much, somebody who is not supposed to win, will excel; and someone who is suppose to excel, will falter.

Suggestions for a tournament:

Coming Back After Disappointment

February 22, 2010

There will be many disappointments and losses in life. There is no way around it. Difficult days come unexpectedly – like a flood. The big moments are easy; they take care of themselves, but not so with disappointment. The question is how will you handle disappointment and loss? You will have experiences that seemingly distance you from your dreams. What do you do when something you would never have chosen happens to you?

The real question is will you get it back together? Those who have prepared, are consistent, passionate, driven, resilient, and un-relenting, are the one who gather up the pieces and put humpty back together again. This speaks volumes about the competitor who suffers disappointment or loss, yet, is able to rally the mental troops. You may have to get it back together 30 minutes after a defeat. The gravity of feeling sorry for ourselves wants to pull our head down, we are better to keep it up. You need this; your team needs you. It will be a choice, so make the right one. A habit is on the line; what will it be, quit or persevere?

Falling short does not mean you will never make it; it just may take a little longer. I heard it said that “If you’re in hell, keep walking.” So keep walking! It’s like an injury; yet, you still carry on in spite. This is not physical injury; this is a mental injury. This is about being internally conditioned to give 100% under any circumstance, regardless of how steep the climb.

We have a mysterious reservoir of inner strength that we can call upon. Test it next time a storm hits. You will find the reservoir that many others have found. So, ask yourself the tough question; have you developed your inner resources to come back after disappointment? Are you able to rebound and perform after loss or adversity? Do you throw in the towel or kid yourself that next time you’ll try harder? Don’t risk it!  It’s paramount to fight it out; finish strong as possible and battle until the end. This is crucial for future victory. I am not talking about a gold medal. I am talking about reaching your potential, whatever that is. We owe it to ourselves.

If used right, a defeat can do more for you than victory ever could. Coming back after defeat tells more about you than words ever could. You can still prosper after disappointment. You have it in you; maybe it’s dormant, but it’s in you. Gathering up the mental pieces is all about focus. The good news is focus is something you can control.

We all have pages and chapters of hopelessness in our lives. I often use extremes because we can all relate. The unpleasantries of life that cause ill health, take loved ones – tragic situations that will require us to use that hidden reservoir, or we just wouldn’t make it. How do we expect to handle tough situations that are guaranteed to make their appearance, if we don’t handle the inevitable ‘training sessions?' Your whole life is preparation for these types of trials. You can come back under less than ideal conditions. There is example after example of the defeated coming back for the yellow, red, and blue ribbon.

It’s like a tornado drill, the sirens go off. We bitch “it’s stupid!” and a “waste of time!” Then the day comes that we never expected, a tornado! It’s at that moment, we’re either glad we paid attention or we’re scrambling and regretting our poor attitude on drill day. All it required was a few minutes of our time, which was for our benefit in the first place. A human is made to come through; you’re made to come through. It’s a risk if you walk away from this challenge. Your esteem can forever be scarred. Sometimes, you have to pass through heart-breaking struggle before you arrive. A crisis can be a turning point; it will be in how you frame it. Do you have what it takes to come back after disappointment? I say you do. Will you call upon that hidden reservoir? I think you will.

One of Michelangelo’s masterpieces is a mammoth-size statue of “David.” When he was asked how he could create such a masterpiece, he responded that “David was already in the marble; all he had to do was simply chip away the excess.” I believe this to be true for us as well. I believe we all have the tools to come back from loss or adversity; we just have to chip away the excess.

A Loss Now, A Win Later

February 15, 2010

The important question is “What will you do between now and your next opportunity to succeed?" This is crucial. It’s similar to reviewing film, where you "pay attention to the wobbly wheel." You have to address lesser strengths, firm them up. Working smart is as important as working hard. So, again I say, "address the wobbly wheel." What is it that defeats you? You won’t get better because time passes; this is a big mistake. We think because we are a year are older we are improved. "We are not!" I have seen many digress.

The key will be what you do between performances. Your opportunity to succeed will be here very soon. That is the beauty of our sport; the results can be very different from one competition to the next.

Man! I cannot tell you how important it is to have awareness about yourself. How else will you progress without some type of plan? Write it down boy, write it down. Confront obstacles or weak links, rather than sweep them under the rug. This only buries them temporarily and then they show up at inopportune times. Understand it! Correct it! Move on! Remember "It won't work things out; you are responsible to work things out."

Be aware of factors that tend to throw you off the beam, reflect and work through it. Identify situations or circumstances that challenge your courage. Confront weakness, fears, and reluctance.

Mistakes/losses are opportunities for growth. They are very important tools to let us know what needs addressing. Analysis is a process to becoming a more effective performer. Self reflection is the school of wisdom. It's paramount importance that you make adjustments. The greatest revelation is that most opponents never adjust. They will continue to behave in the same way, despite apparent inability to get the job done.

Do seasonal losses matter? Yeah! Does the loss have to dictate your results for the rest of the season? No! Let me explain. A marathon is 26 miles. It does not matter who is ahead at the 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 mile mark. You don't even have to be winning until you cross the finish Line. Hence, you could pull away in the last 5 yards to win. Competitions are won in this fashion all the time!

Results do not matter right now, if you’re competing hard, willing to take coaching, address the wobbly wheel, make adjustments, and improve and control what you can, which is basically your attitude and effort. If a football team is behind after the third quarter, is it over? NO! If a baseball team is behind after eight innings, is it over? No!

None of us will ever know the person we can be without loss, pressure, tension, adversity and discipline. Sometimes people think everything is falling apart, it’s no use, they feel hopeless. But in times like these it pays to remember there will always be times like these.

We all have experiences that will seemingly distance us from our goals and dreams. Sometimes we have to pass through heartbreaking struggles before we arrive. Sometimes we need a crisis or hardship that acts as a turning point, and sometimes we just lose. So what! Always remember, you can come from behind and still prevail. "Matches are a marathon" You can have losses and still prevail. "The season is a marathon."

The real difference and only thing that matters is what the athlete does with the loss. The opportunity to succeed will be here very soon. Some athletes fold up tent, make excuses, which only weakens them. Others thrive and rise with defeat; defeat actually makes them better and more effective. What does defeat do to you? Does it shut you down or open you up? How do you handle adversity? It is a question we all have to answer and address in life.

We will be dealt blows that penetrate a lot deeper than any athletic event. Do you just talk or do you do something about it? Talk and excuses are cheap; the supply exceeds demand. Worse than a quitter, is to not even try. Get going! We all mope around to a degree, but enough! Toughen up! Remember, time invested wisely can change things.

So what I am saying is "losses now can be wins later." Defeat is not failure, it’s just delay. The future is, and has always been, up for grabs. Based on what you do will dictate your place in it. So get back to the basics. Maybe you made a mistake but you are not a mistake. You just need to change some behaviors and turn them in for behaviors that will give you the best opportunity to succeed.

Defeats can chip away at your confidence. We all tend to take our self-worth based on our results in life; this is very human. Our capacity for occasional or even frequent defeats can be inseparable from our capacity to reach our goals and experience success.

Defeat is nothing but a little education. What happens a lot of times is we shut-down. Instead of competing to win, we compete not to lose, we protect. This is not a strong recipe to succeed. It's similar to a cat that jumped on a hot stove and burned his tummy. The cat never jumped on a hot stove again but never jumped on a cold one either.

The value of experience is crucial. However, it can be overrated and even harmful if it prevents you from trying again. Understand results can be so different from match to match, "different day...different results." Without a doubt, a loss now can be a win later.

Sprint Through the Finish Line

February 8, 2010

I believe it's always important to finish strong regardless of what the outcome appears to be. I believe it’s important to play through the clock, not in cheapness but in aggressiveness. This is what real competitors do, they are pit bulls. They stay alert, active and use controlled aggressiveness all the way through the whistle, line or clock. When you train this way, you compete this way. I believe it gives you the best opportunity for success. It’s easy to sprint through when we know we’re going to win. What about when defeat is inevitable? Hell! It’s more important! It is a catalyst for future success. This reveals a lot about a person who can stick to it all the way through, to never roll over, and sprint through that finish line. I believe it sends a message to the current and future opponents that you are serious. You want your competition to dread competing against you, regardless of past results. This is a psychological edge that dulls your opponents game while it sharpens yours. All this because you have made it clear that you sprint through every finish line, performance – you battle to the end of every match, run, lift, drill, pitch, play, shot, or throw.

Many competitions are won and lost in closing seconds. There are many scenarios to this. However, it’s simply – one lets up while the other perseveres. One moves forward while the other retreats. One improves while the other holds or protects. One hunts while the other is hunted. One endures while the other withdraws. One refuses to yield while the other steps aside.

Keep your mental hands on the wheel! If you were on an icy road you would keep your hands on the wheel. Your awareness would be heightened; reflexes and reactions intact, and you’re mentally present. You would never take your hands or eyes off the road in these potential disaster situations. To lose a match in closing seconds is a disaster. What happened? Well, I think you took your hands off the wheel. My suggestion, keep your mental hands on your mental wheel. To take them off in crucial situations is a punishable crime. It’s not paid with money. It’s paid with something much more important. It’s paid with a denial to advance.

Always finish strong, regardless how many seconds remain on the clock. Always finish firm and uncompromising. Make it hard on whoever comes up against you. Always make opponents play hard and expend energy. Even if you do not win, leave an impression.

I’ve witnessed several competitions where an athlete or team led early then either lost or barely won. They sat on their leads, failed to continue competing, abandoned focus and sometimes their effort. Never allow a beaten opponent to resurrect themselves in triumph over you

It takes months and years to prepare for a match, but seconds to lose one. Always keep the door open with your foe. Ideally, you want competition to dread you, instead of looking forward to you.

You may get knocked down during a race. So what! Get back up! Sometimes we have to continue to run a race we already lost. Whether you finish 1st or 17th, battle to the end of every performance. If you fall short it does not mean you’ll never make it. Your opportunity to succeed will be here again soon.

Success is never certain and failure is never final. So, how do you finish strong? It will be in your preparation.

To only wrestle attentive for five out of the seven minutes is not enough. I have seen where athletes were in charge for 6:50 seconds and it was not enough. I have even seen where 6:58 was not enough. That two-second “open window” was enough for the opposition. The message is clear – sprint through the finish line.
 
Practice Room Habits

February 1, 2010

Habits will play a major part in your success or lack of. Practice room habits will be exposed. What are those habits? It depends on the individual. Some are apparent, others go unnoticed and are never addressed.

Are you a Practice room felon, weight room felon, competition felon, lifestyle felon, student felon? If you answered yes, you will be exposed on game or grade day. You will be denied the right to advance.

Never allow easy points in practice or competition. Slug it out and make your opponent earn, work, and exhaust himself to score points on you. Demanding your opponent work for points makes him expend energy and question his ability to score. This is what you want. Make opponents work for points, if they score at all, requires an attitude. The attitude is one with emotion, and focus. When you render easy points, you become soft, limp, ineffective and develop hollow spots. Demanding opponents struggle for points, you become strong, effective, and solid all the way through. So athletes, never! never! give easy points under any circumstance.

You need a standard to live by that never calls in sick or slips out early. It’s not a “sometime” thing, applied only when you’re feeling good. It’s every time you train and compete. You don’t even have to think about it, it’s who you are.

It does you little good to continuously choose partners that you can dominate or that your skills are superb to. Choose partners that challenge and push you. There may be days closer to competition or late in the year when it’s more important for you to execute and score points. But for the most part, day to day, choose a partner that will make you struggle and contend for mastery. This is part of developing your mental might as well. Ask yourself the honest question: Do you gravitate or shy away from training sessions or partners that challenge or make you work hard? If it’s yes, address it. There is always time to change. Begin this change the very next time training session.

It’s not so much about winning the practice, as I have seen some of the best get it put to them in practice, as much as it’s about fighting, battling, refusing to surrender and never bowing down to any man in practice or competition. I am not talking about being dirty and cheap. I am talking about zeal and mindset that raises the levels of all involved. I have seen too many training sessions that lack effort, heart, fight, and personal pride. This will haunt you and rear its head during crucial times. That’s a fact!

Your foundation has to be able to weather hard storms because there will be hurricanes and monsoons and if you’re not prepared, you will be cleared out in a hurry.

Practice Room
Every one of these examples are within your control. Those with no standard in their practice room habits, never get to build confidence. When corners are cut one is never prepared and the cycle continues with excuses, undesirable performance and loss. Also when practice room habits are compromised, you affect your team. It’s like a huge trampoline, movement by one is felt by all. And no one has the right to affect a team this way. So be wise, challenge yourself and acquire a one-way ticket out of your comfort zone. Whatever you decide will show up in competition. There is danger in delay, so it cannot wait until you feel like it.

Get busy, and the right feelings will make their appearance. This sport requires you to be tough, being tough never needs life’s crutches. Hard work and toughness will always give you two legs to stand on and if you’re going to win in this sport you need both legs. It’s a mental war between immediate comfort and what’s best for preparation and long term. Taking the easy road may win today’s battle; the hard road will win the war.

Pull The Trigger

January 25, 2010

This metaphor is excellent and easy to relate to. Picture this, you have the target in your sights, the rifle is cocked, and you have a clear shot. You could not have drawn it up any better. Your finger is on the trigger, but nothing happens. You won’t pull the trigger; you have missed your shot. The target has moved.

This is not what you train for; you train to score points. In life and athletics the window of opportunity is brief. You cannot score without some risk. Hell! You can’t do anything without some risk.

I tell you with absolute conviction that waiting is a trap! Think about this, you have trained, rehearsed and physically pulled the trigger several thousand times. I bet you have not done anything as much as you have done this. The fact is you’re a well oiled machine. It’s nothing physical. It's clearly a mental link in the chain that needs adjusting.

Competing like you’re walking around on a mine field will not get your hand raised. I would have to say it's fear of not succeeding or hitting your target. We all go through it to one degree or another. The fact about fear is that it will keep you where you are; it can paralyze you. It's not about eliminating fear; it’s about acting in spite of fear.

You have to ask yourself each day, did I win the battle with myself today? It's a trouble spot that can be eliminated as soon as you act. You cannot hit the target if you don't pull the trigger. You surely can reason that your odds go up tremendously by actually firing a shot.

The good news is you can change the very next time out. You may think that it will take time to make the change, I say nonsense! You can decide to pull the trigger as soon as your answer changes from "no" to "yes!" And if you miss, so what! Monday still follows Sunday, night still follows day, Jan still follows Dec. Nothing much changes, but you have. You dared to attain the blue ribbon.

This may seem like little consolation if you don't hit your target. Trust your coaches; it’s paramount for later victory. Through the annals of history, the victory most always goes to the aggressor. I am not talking about recklessness; I am talking about increasing your opportunity for success. A Billy club in a police mans holster will do him no good, he has to actually take it out to club somebody. Stumbling blocks…Solutions.

Confront

January 25, 2010

We tend to flee from what is uncomfortable. Use "fatigue" "fear" or "risk" as the culprits. We strengthen what we avoid. They will show up again; usually at the most inconvenient or uninvited time. Yeah, you feel temporary relief when you avoid these monsters. But it's more often a costly hand in life’s casino.

We kid our self’s that we will later gain command over fatigue, risk, and fear. We say that when we reach fatigue, fear, or risk tomorrow in practice, we will fight then. We say that on game day we will slug it out and rise to the occasion. I would say that the odds are not in our favor.

Give yourself the best opportunity for success; especially when it's within your control. You have to face foes like fatigue, fear, and risk. They are tough thugs; and will bully you if you allow it. You're a prisoner as long as you avoid.

It is like a kid in school who everybody picks on until one day he fights back. I learned this first hand. There was a kid in 7th grade named R. Everybody picked on him; so did I. I don’t even know why I did; I probably wanted to fit in. One day in the lunch line I was giving R grief. He superman punched me on my jaw. Let’s just say that R had no more grief from me. But he had to stand up, or he would have kept on getting picked on.

You chose a tough and inconvenient sport. Improvement is not only necessary, but available on a daily basis. Small steps are hard to individually quantify, yet collectively they will yield real progress.

The Chinese have a plant that takes four years to mature. It's a labor intensive plant; it has to be tended to daily. It only reaches four feet at the three years and eleven month period. But the last thirty days it will go from four to ninety feet. We all know it was not the last thirty days that made it happen. It was the previous three years and eleven months. Early on there was little progress; then the plant took off. So you may not see or feel the progress every day. But over time the ground work is happening if effort and attitudes are right.

A 10% improvement in challenging fatigue, risk, or fear, would be enough for some to be an NCAA champion, and others to All-American. Shying away from fatigue, risk or fear, must be challenged. You can deliver a huge blow in your favor with awareness "human-owl," effort, and attitude. There are already enough head-stones in the grave yard of missed opportunities.
Everything Counts

January 18, 2010

Yes, everything counts when you set out for the destination of greatness. It’s not a crowded place; maybe you have been there before? If you have I bet you want to go back.

What do you do when no one is watching, looking, or would ever find out. What do you do when find yourself in these situations? These are the times when greatness is made. These are the times it pays to read a few more pages, crack off a few more reps, or refrain from something that pays off in the now, but sabotages the later. You can be sure the later will come. And the later will either be a day you fear or have been waiting for your whole life. Yes, everything counts.

The takedown you give up because you’re fatigued or just did not feel like fighting… counts. That class you skipped because you were not going to do anything that day… counts. That negative attitude you took when a more optimistic attitude was available… counts. The whispering to your friends “I don’t really care anyway”… counts. You better care! You’re representing team and yourself. The self that does not care is un-appealing in any arena.

All of these opportunities you have to win the battle with yourself counts. These are just a few daily examples that add up. Everything counts when excellence is the goal. And if you really want to succeed at a high level in anything, you will need excellence. Hats off to the man who takes risks and necessary steps to achieve greatness, he is loading the dice in his favor. This is no dress rehearsal; it’s a live audience.

If the University of Iowa or Oklahoma State team were sitting along the wall of your room, how much effort would you give then? Would you tank it with all of those eyes on you? Or how about the people who respect you and that you respect, what kind of effort would you give then? You don’t need eyes on you to know that everything counts. Believe it because it makes sense to “Give yourself the best opportunity to succeed”. There has to be personal pride. There has to be something within you that you just know you want to go forward, so you do. And on this path you discovered that obstacles are challenges that reveal new visions once beyond them

How can a man roll over and not give full effort, how can a man not fight back? It is crucial to fight back; you’re born and obligated to fight back. It is in you, it goes back thousands of years. You don’t have to learn how to fight if you have personal pride, if you care. The fighting will come out. You won’t wait for the last sprint to go hard; you will go hard on the first one, and every one in between. You may not be the fastest, but you can run the hardest. Everything counts. Seconds wasted early-on often make the difference later. We often need back earlier wasted time, but we don’t get it back. We can make it up, but it’s a risk, and we want to eliminate as much risk as possible.

It is the little things that make a substantial difference over time. Since we learn and act on habits that are detrimental to us, does it not stand to reason that we also can build, over time, actions that also help us move forward. Ask yourself sometime if you were going into battle and had to choose your team of fighters, who are you going to choose and what is it about them? And in the heart of hearts would others choose you?

I am not talking about talent, because you wake up in your life with talent. You know we all get found out anyway, so it does not matter what we say; what does matter is making everything count. I am not talking about being fake or an idiot. I am not talking about making mistakes, winning or losing. I am talking about while you are here for this very short period of time measured in minutes, hours, days, weeks, and years, that you make all opportunities to advance count. It is very wise to give a great deal of thought to the quality of your days. The thinking that “it really does not matter” to “it really does matter” will be the biggest difference in your life, all by just removing the “not.”

It is the staying with it a little longer when you want to close up shop. I mean so many of us wait to feel an ideal way before we act. It is fighting it out; it is remaining at full effort regardless of how things look or seem to be going. This is where you build your mental and physical house on a solid foundation. This is where confidence can soar. Yeah, without a doubt, everything counts.

Taking Action

January 11, 2010

We spend so much time training physically, which is what we signed up for in this sport. But we often overlook the value of training mentally.

By the time March rolls around, the difference in your results will not be because you suffer from lack of conditioning, strength or skills. All things equal – and by March all will be equal – the difference will be your attitude / confidence level. It is what will make the difference; it will win matches. But you have to work at it.

It is wise to use every opportunity you can to give yourself the best opportunity to succeed. This means you have to pay attention, you have to be vigilant, much like an owl, a human owl. It is not what you can do, it’s what you do.

Living on the offense gives you a much greater control over the outcome. It is a serious miscalculation to fabricate excuses and wait for what you feel is a “perfect time,” waiting until you feel all the pieces perfectly fit together. The perfect moment will never arrive. There will always be one more piece of the puzzle that has to fall into place before we take action. The perfect moment comes about as often as winning the lottery. You have to be bold and sometimes bite off more than you are sure you can chew. One example I think of where this applies, is being offensive, forcing yourself to go underneath and score points”

There is an essay titled “The Station.” It is a mythical train of life rolling down the tracks of the future. The people on the train believe that just around the bend will be “The Station.” When they arrive, there will be a moment of panacea where everything in their lives will be in perfect order, all their troubles and doubts vanish, and they take action. But there is one big problem, there is no station.

They say the best day to take action is today. It is not so much about this being the first day of the rest of your life, but what if it’s the last day? The candle is burning and so is your time. So my point is to take action, be it on the mat, in the classroom, or resisting those mental constrictions that hold you back.

Action will dismantle those restrictions. It will not be easy, but never confuse hard with impossible. A classic way to sabotage your plan is to needlessly delay its execution. A warrior lives by acting, not by thinking about acting. I think our sport is about as close to warrior as you can get.

Putting on a Minnesota singlet somewhat obligates you to take action. I am not talking about being reckless and rolling the dice. But let’s face it; the guy who takes action, “pulls the trigger,” has a lot more say over his results than the guy who waits, than the guy who rides the mythical train waiting for the nonexistent station.

About Mark Schwab

Mark Schwab spent nine years as assistant coach at the University of Minnesota, helping the program to seven top-three finishes and two NCAA championships. He has served as head coach at North Iowa Area Community College and Buena Vista as well as assistant coach at Purdue and Northern Iowa, his college alma mater.

While competing at UNI, Schwab posted a 49-9 record in his initial season, the most wins by a true freshman in NCAA history, and placed fifth in the 1986 NCAA Division I championships. In 1987, he won the bronze medal in the Tiblissi Tournament in Russia. He trained for the 1988 U.S. Olympic team during his redshirt year at UNI as well and won a bronze medal for the U.S. team at the World Cup event in Ulan Bator, Mongolia. A knee injury and a staph infection combined to keep Schwab off the mats for more than a year, but Schwab finished his career with the Panthers on a positive note as a senior, placing sixth nationally in 1990 after winning the 118-pound title at the NCAA West Regionals and earning Most Outstanding Wrestler honors.

Schwab’s prep wrestling career was nearly flawless as he won 106 of 107 matches and earned four state titles for Osage High while earning three Junior National Freestyle titles and a Greco-Roman national championship. Schwab is a member of the Iowa High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame, the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame and the Glen Brand Hall of Fame.

Schwab received a Masters degree from the University of Minnesota in 2003. He is currently working with the Golden Gophers while achieving a Sport Psychology emphasis on his existing Masters. He can be reached at schwa085@umn.edu.