http://www.articletrader.com/ Articles at ArticleTrader en-us http://www.articletrader.com/sports/extreme/taking-it-to-the-extreme-with-mount-everest.html http://www.articletrader.com/sports/extreme/taking-it-to-the-extreme-with-mount-everest.html Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:37:11 -0500
Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world. It attracts hikers and thousands of climbers of varying skill levels every year. Everest is around 29,029 feet high or 8,848 meters. Exhilaration and adventure are set requirements for climbing enthusiasts looking to vacation at Mount Everest. Stepping away from the beaches or camping beside a lake is becoming more popular.

Glaciers envelop the mountain from peak to peak. The mountain is a pyramid shaped horn with three chief ridges which soar to the summit from the north, south and west. The mountain is revered by the people of the Himalayas for power and beauty. Locals also revel in the fact that so many thrill seekers come to the mountain bringing much needed income.

What makes Mount Everest an extreme destination is the altitudes combined with the weather. There's a very small window of opportunity for climbing safety. The months of May through October are the best months to climb the mountain.

Only Serious Climbers Please

It's important to take into account that mountaineering is for serious travelers. Mount Everest is a tremendous adventure for serious thrill seekers. Steep faces, rough rocks, night climbing, ice, wind and snow are all factors when climbing this mountain.

An adventurer will journey from Lukla to Base Camp which is 17,600 feet of trek on the first day. Khumbu Icefall is another 19,500 feet upward, and then comes the Valley of Silence. Finally you will scale Lhoste Face and then onto the Summit. A climber will begin early in the morning and each stop resonates with a sounding effect of triumph.

As an extreme destination Mount Everest offers minute by minute thrills. A traveler seeking to branch out and away from the ordinary will find the world's highest mountain is a thrill seekers dream. It will test your own endurance and will power.

Breathtaking scenery, defying everyday life and a sense of accomplishment await those who wish to trek the highest peak in the world. It truly is a mountain climber's dream accomplishment.

Although one of the rarest adventure sports, mountaineering is one of the best options for an extreme vacation. Climbing Mount Everest is one of the utmost accomplishments of a lifetime. Embracing the intense challenge sets in stone a climbers sense of adventure.

Malta Climbers Set to Climb Mount Everest

In May 2010 three men from Malta will seek to be the first from their country to set their flag atop Mount Everest. Marco Cremona, Robert Gatt, and Gregory Attard are members of Challenge 8000. They are climbing Mount Everest for the aid of the Society of Maltese Asthmatics. They hope to raise social awareness on the air quality in Malta.

How much a cheap Malta flight impacts the environment for example isn't well known at the moment in Malta.

Robert says this about climbing the mountain, "Everest is the summit of what you can achieve, it's the one thing on every mountains climber's mind; the one place they all want to be." Trekking Everest is a dream come true, but a formidable one for any climber.

One must be fit and acclimated to high altitudes and ready for the push of a lifetime. Climbing Mount Everest will place a climber alongside the world's greatest climbers. It's an extreme destination, with an extreme calling for many.

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More details about a Malta are obtainable at yourmalta.com plus for Italy the Rome weather and an Italian map

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/sports/extreme/exteme-sport-to-heli-and-back.html http://www.articletrader.com/sports/extreme/exteme-sport-to-heli-and-back.html Sat, 01 Aug 2009 14:30:42 -0500
Biking for example continues to grow in popularity each year, often attracting a younger audience as it develops. As this younger audience grows, some develop into the adrenaline junkies that make others gasp in fear and amazement.

Cross country biking, stunt riding, bicycle racing and heli-biking are some of the most popular summertime extreme bicycle sports. Several ski and snowboarding resorts offer great opportunities for outdoor sports enthusiasts to continue their enjoyment of the great outdoors year round. Whether it's glacier skiing, ice diving, heli-skiing or heli-biking, you're sure to find something to pique your interest.

Stunt Riding

Stunt cyclists are often the most recognised because of their time in the air rather than on the ground. In some cases, the longer the cyclist is off of the bike, the more impressive the stunt. Some may stand in the seat or on pegs welded to the rear of the bike. Special bikes are often created just for stunts and the people who love them. Stunts range from simple wheelies to very elaborate tricks, jumps or flips. Some stunts have easy to recognise names like 'no footers,' 'no handers' or 'bar spins.' Other, more elaborate stunts have names like '540', 'X-Up' or various types of 'airing.'

BMX Racing

Motocross racing became popular during the mid to late 1920s. At that time, it consisted of off-road motor bikes ridden on rugged terrain. Bicycle Motocross, or BMX, became popular in the late 1970s and began as youngsters pretending to be their favourite Motocross driver. In today's sporting arenas, BMX means much more than racing bikes. Now riders may specialise in the type of track they prefer to ride.

Heli-Biking

Heli-biking is a newer form of extreme cycling that involves you, your bike, a few snacks and a helicopter. The helicopter takes you to the top of a mountain that is otherwise inaccessible without climbing gear. After you're geared up - you're off! The journey back toward civilisation is often several hours long and requires that you bring your own snacks and drinks. Energy bars and bottled water are usually the food and drink of choice.

Ever wonder what happens at your favourite ski resort during the summer? During the winter, people enjoy heli-skiing in areas like Andorra in the Pyrenees Mountains, Whistler in British Columbia or the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. The same skiers who enjoyed heli-skiing asked the helicopter pilots if they would drop cyclists off at the same place they dropped skiers during the winter. Summertime obviously doesn't allow for great ski conditions, so the activities change. Instead of skiing, adrenaline junkies hop on a helicopter with their bikes and continue their heart-pounding trek down the mountains.

Biking Safety

Safety should always be first and foremost during any biking excursion. Helmets, pads and proper shoes are very important to every cyclist's health and well-being. Just like any other sport, protective clothing and equipment can prevent serious injury or even death. A properly fitting helmet can help make the difference between an enjoyable ride and a trip to the emergency room - taking safety into consideration could mean the difference between enjoyable heli - or hell on earth!

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Information about the ski resorts of Andorra and Austria ski holidays are accessible via yourandorra.com - they also have hotels in Barcelona Spain.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/sports/extreme/isle-of-wight-home-of-british-watersports.html http://www.articletrader.com/sports/extreme/isle-of-wight-home-of-british-watersports.html Thu, 16 Jul 2009 10:29:49 -0500
You might think that these sports are only for the young men and women with spiked, dyed and primped strands of hair, tattoos of every variation and clothes that seem a few sizes too large, but the fact of the matter is, these sports are enjoyed by people from every age group and ability and they are there not only to compete, but to have fun in an almost community atmosphere. When you are tired and need a respite from the competitions, a grassy hilltop overlooking the competitions one can find a myriad of tents that are filled with bars, live bands, tune spinning DJs, stalls and arenas.

If the view out to the ocean is clear of windsurfers and the water is calm and undulating, you can turn your attention to the mountain boarders who are proficient in daredevil style jumps on exceedingly steep ramps. If you wish to look to a smaller version of this sport, you may want to peek into the skate ramp tent, where you can take a respite from the sun. All of these sports are going on simultaneously in every area around, be it on water or land. The commentators are fun and clever and are extremely entertaining in themselves.

If you are tired of being a spectator and would like to get your feet wet either literally or figuratively speaking, most of these sports offer sessions geared for the newcomer. They are always a big draw and it is a wonderful way for the sports to pull in new enthusiasts. You may find yourself in some interesting or embarrassing positions in your attempt to recreate what you have seen throughout the event, but it's all in fun and every one of those participants were new to it at one time or another and will know just exactly what you're going through, they will cajole you through your perceived perils and teach you how to interact with the sport in a more skilled way.


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This article was written on behalf of Gurnard Pines a Isle of Wight Holiday Parks perfect for taking Isle of Wight Holidays.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/sports/extreme/the-new-adventure-holiday-coasteering.html http://www.articletrader.com/sports/extreme/the-new-adventure-holiday-coasteering.html Wed, 15 Jul 2009 06:05:16 -0500
Because of the framework of rocks about the shore, level of difficulty can be tailored to the skill level and strength of the participant, it can be as mild or as wild as you wish it to be. While this is not a dangerous sport, it can reward you with superficial cuts, scrapes and grazes. Following the safety guidelines will assure you a minimal amount of this type of memorabilia. It is a wet sport so be assured at one time or another, you are going to get wet, so you'll want to bring old trainers and socks or wet suit boots, you may also want to bring a towel and swimming togs. Part of the fun of the adventure is throwing yourself into the waves below, swimming around some of the more inhospitable rocky areas and then climbing back up into the more inviting rock outcroppings.

There is a lot of teamwork involved in this sport, everyone will be helping each other and encouraging each other to rise up to the various challenges. It's a wonderful way to make new friends that can last a lifetime. There are caves to enter, jumps to make, there are even small foot paths that you can run down to get to your next challenge.

This can be a very tiring venture and you will want to take it easy, don't push yourself beyond what you can do just because someone else is doing it. Go at your own pace, take only the challenges you feel comfortable with taking on, and don't start with the longest hardest adventure available. It's all about having fun, communing with nature breathing the fresh air, exercising your body and enjoying the friendship of a group of hearty adventurers such as yourself.

There are six different venues to choose from depending on the weather conditions. All venues are on the west coast of Anglesey, in the Trearddur Bay area.
To make your trip even more enjoyable, there are many hotels and locations to stay at, including self catering properties.


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This article was written on behalf of Celtic Haven Wales Holiday Cottage which make ideal accommodation for a Short Break Wales

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/sports/extreme/ways-to-explore-softball-pitching.html http://www.articletrader.com/sports/extreme/ways-to-explore-softball-pitching.html Wed, 08 Jul 2009 05:31:58 -0500
One way to improve pitching skills is to use leather pitching targets. This will help softball pitchers to speedily and permanently overcome training obstacles. Since this method displays the exact point of impact of every pitch thrown against it, players and coaches can easily study the inconsistencies and subtle mechanical problems. Thus, any pitcher gets the opportunity to look at his or her delivery, explore the limits of personal softball pitching ability and apply correctives.

You will find plenty of softball pitching machines available in the market that deliver technically sound and consistent pitches providing batters the opportunity to develop effective and consistent swing. Practice sessions also become more efficient if you have a pitching machine that ideally fits your skill level and the type of game you want to play. There are different pitching machines that use different types of balls. Some use standard-size baseballs, softballs, or both while others use specialized baseball-sized or softball-sized pitching machine balls.

A beginner's machine gently tosses balls at regular intervals and at low fixed speeds. Kids can practice their batting drills with ease and these machines are portable. For safe and reliable youth league pitches opt for a single-motor machine that has a maximum pitch speed of 60 mph or more. Some models may have castor wheels for portability while others can fit into a moveable cart. Before buying a cart-compatible model, make sure the machine comes with the cart. College students and professionals may want fast pitches and variety. Choose a machine with pitch speeds of 90 mph or more, two wheels, dual motors, and a lot of pitching options. Keep weight and portability factor in mind if you need to move it around. Most machines can throw left, right, curveballs, fastballs, and sliders. Models that have a 360-degree swivel head even allow you to toss to different parts of a field without moving the machine.

Study the machine's item listings and find out how many balls a machine can hold. If you do not mind regularly refilling the ball carriage or have a ball boy when you practice, you need not worry about this capacity. Select a feeder-compatible pitching machine and additional feeder if you plan to spend a lot of time practicing alone. Small feeders usually hold 16 softballs and larger feeders can hold up to 80 balls. Players who plan to use the pitching machine solo should also look for a model that supports or includes an inline switch.

Pitching machines can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars for a basic portable machine to a few thousand dollars for a heavyweight machine. You must be willing to pay even more for a highly-portable pitching machine with additional features. It is only to be expected that that a pitching machines packed with features will cost more than models with fewer features. Since you will need to buy only one pitching machine, look for the features and portability you suit you best. While you shop for a pitching machine, do not forget to buy balls to feed your new machine as well as a bat, gloves, helmet, and a cage to keep your balls securely within.

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Nisha is a Copywriter of baseball pitching target. She written many articles in various topics.For more information visit:softball pitching techniques.contact she at malar.article@gmail.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/sports/extreme/a-in-depth-look-at-belt-systems.html http://www.articletrader.com/sports/extreme/a-in-depth-look-at-belt-systems.html Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:04:48 -0500
The use of belt colors in martial arts is not some thing new. In fact, it is an old practice, dating back hundreds of years. Belts and their use in martial arts actually started by a man known as Jigoro Kano. He is the creator of the style known as Kodokan Judo. Kano started out using only white and black belts to signify the rank of his style of martial arts, which is Kodokan Judo. His reasons for using belts were to specify which students could compete in different technique in Judo. For example, those with white belts could only practice basic throws and guards where the black will complete the throws and guards at a more advance level.

Shortly after Kano introduced his idea of using belts, He then introduces more belt colors so as to segregate his student to many different levels. This makes things easier for him to manage where he can assign his higher level student to train the lower level student. These belts systems soon travel to other part of the world. Over the years, it became a great way of telling what level a student had in his martial arts style - just by the look of his belt color. The few martial arts styles which use the belts systems include Taekwondo, Karate and etc.

The Belts systems of Judo:

From: White - Yellow - Orange - Green - Blue - Brown - Black

The Belts systems of Taekwondo:

From: White - Advanced White - Junior Yellow - Advanced Junior Yellow - Yellow - Advanced Yellow - Junior Green - Advanced Junior Green - Green - Advanced Green - Junior Blue - Advanced Junior Blue - Blue - Advanced Blue - Junior Red - Advanced Junior Red - Red - Advanced Red I - Advanced Red II - Black

The Belts systems of Karate:

From: White - Yellow - Orange - Green - Blue - Brown - Black

The only problem with using the belts system to signify ranking and levels is the fact that different school may have different requirements. Even though both schools teaches the same style of martial arts but their ranking system and requirements may be different from the other school. In such case, to get a certain ranking may be totally different. This can cause confusion in ranks and level of competency, especially if a black belt from one school is not as well versed in that style as a black belt from another school. Although most schools stick to the same criteria but there are schools who choose to be a little different and incorporate their own unique system as well. However, this problem has been rectify by the introduction the individual martial arts council. The council will unify the use of color.

Although most martial arts styles like Judo, Karate and etc use belts to signify rank and level, there are some other martial arts such as Muay Thai, Krav Maga and Boxing that don't use belts at all. One of the main reason that these style does not use belts is they do not wear "Gi", and also some are not a sports martial arts. Example: Krav Maga. Pitfighting is another martial arts style that does not use any belts either. This style are more for self defense and protection system that you learn to protect yourself - although they differ from the traditional sense of martial arts, they are still a great style of martial arts.

All things aside, belts system are a great innovation to martial arts world. They do give students an objective to aim for, and a goal to keep practicing till they reach a higher level. Most students of any styles of martial arts aim to get the black belt which is the highest level of competency, and is the most prestige belt in that particular style of martial arts. A black belt takes up to many years of practice to archives, as the student has to go through many lower ranked color belts before having an opportunity to try and earn Highest level belt - The Black Belt.

You can find our more of Martial Arts here: Martial Art Training

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Lamy has been a practitioner of various types of martial arts. He created a websites dedicate to the World of Martial Arts...and he always trying out new style of Martial Arts.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/sports/extreme/the-evolution-of-the-ghillie-suit-from-jute-suit-to-synthetics.html http://www.articletrader.com/sports/extreme/the-evolution-of-the-ghillie-suit-from-jute-suit-to-synthetics.html Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:56:35 -0500
Not too many years ago, a ghillie suit was a really heavy, hot, and cumbersome piece of equipment that required a tough man to appreciate. They usually weighed ten pounds or more and were hot as blazes. It seemed like bugs could get in but bugs couldn't get out. I never heard of anybody getting torched in one, but they were definitely flammable and one never forgot that fact. For the most part they were difficult to get into and just as difficult to get out of.

Today's ghillie suit is made from synthetic fiber that produces a suit that rarely weighs more than five pounds. They slip on and off just like your street clothes and most are bug proof. There is no longer a fire hazard with the synthetic fiber and that contributes greatly to ones peace of mind. The old suits were difficult if not impossible to clean and were therefore forced to reside in the garage or an outbuilding with other undesirable stuff. The new suits can be hosed off or, in some cases, tossed into the washing machine. They can now hang in right between the tuxedo and ballgown.

The very best of the new suits are two piece affairs that are built to last a lifetime. They are lighter than ever and come in a wide variety of colors and sizes. You get to pick from 4 different ghillie colors, six different colors of the BDUs the ghillie is built on, and they come in a dozen sizes. To top that off you can opt for pockets!

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Ghillies and Stuff
Camping Tents

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/sports/extreme/set-up-backyard-to-the-baseball-field.html http://www.articletrader.com/sports/extreme/set-up-backyard-to-the-baseball-field.html Wed, 24 Jun 2009 05:00:47 -0500
Thoroughly examine your backyard for a space that is rectangular or round in shape. Obviously the bigger the space you can provide, the better will be the baseball field. It will be helpful if you can identify a place in your backyard that is even and without many obstructions, such as rocks, plants or trees. Obtain an approximate measurement of the area you have using measurement tape. This will help you decide the scale of your field. As you are aware, the average baseball field center wall is 400 feet from home plate. If your yard measures 200 feet, you will be required to cut the rest of the measurements in half to build your backyard baseball field.

side-view-pitchingpadUse a protractor and position your home plate in a way that you can read a 90 degree angle as if it were the base of a diamond. The playing area between first base and third base needs to be a perfect right angle of ninety degrees. After marking that spot, using a rope roll it out the length of your backyard on each 90 degree angle. These are essentially your foul lines. If your baseball field is say 200 feet as presumed earlier, then your bases will be at 45 feet. Mark 45 feet from home plate along each rope, using your tape. These are the first and third base respectively. Again using your protractor measure 90 degrees from first and third base, so that the angle is facing out where second base would be. Take more rope and lead from first and third base, on that 90 degree angle until it crosses. This is second base. Finally measure the distance between home plate and second base and in the middle is where you should mark the pitching grip. The only measurement that has to be scrupulously exact is the Little League 46 foot distance from plate to pitchers mound. This is essential for a batter to learn correct timing. All other base placement is arbitrary but it will be nice if you can match the Little League distances as far as possible.

The next step is to cut the grass. In the Major Leagues, there is a difference between the length of the grass in the infield and in the outfield. If you wish your baseball field to be near to the original, then cut the infield grass one inch and the outfield at two inches. This will separate the two and give the field a more realistic appearance. With the aid of your ropes for straight lines, spray paint every place you have marked. This will become the outline of your field. You should also spray paint the foul lines, base paths and pitcher's mound. Appropriately place your bases which you can find cheaply at any sporting goods stores. You have now completed your own backyard baseball field.

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Nisha is a Copywriter of baseball pitching target. She written many articles in various topics.For more information visit:softball pitching techniques.contact she at malar.article@gmail.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/sports/extreme/the-game-plan-a%80-approach-to-mental-preparation.html http://www.articletrader.com/sports/extreme/the-game-plan-a%80-approach-to-mental-preparation.html Mon, 22 Jun 2009 04:19:01 -0500 It is never a good idea to enter into ring with the intention of "going with the flow of things." You cannot walk into a game and expect it to flow in your favor. You have to give some thought to specifics in terms of how you want to play your game and manner in which you will handle your opponent. In the absence of a game plan, all your moves will be a reaction to your opponent's moves. Do you want to merely react all the time or do you want to play your best moves? Your chances of winning a game increase when you plan moves and use those at which you are most skilled.

Here's a likely scenario of what might happen if you don't have a game plan for your grappling or combat-athletics bouts:
• Your opponent may have a good open guard, and you may have problems with it since you did not anticipate it at all
• Your opponent may launch an attack and try to dominate the game at a very early stage of the match
• You may or may not be able to think up a strategy on the spur of the moment to tackle your opponent's holds until its too late and the round is almost over
• When you finally find your momentum and initiate a submission, time may be up!

A framework for developing the game plan is outlined next.

1. Size up your opponent and Develop a Strategy -
• Analyze the history of the opponent's performance in terms of wins or losses and skills or weak-points displayed in previous matches
• Try to recall and bring to fore any tactics that your opponent uses, so that you can build a strategy to neutralize it

2. Develop Strategies
It is essential to develop an opposing strategy prior to a game. If you merely size up the opponent, then you are only half way there. Strategies define the manner in which you plan your line-of-attack and the tactics that you will employ to unsettle your opponent. Your strategies will differ in accord with your opponent as no one is alike.

Steps for developing the strategies
A. Issues

Play to your plus points
Your strategy should revolve around what you do best, your strengths and the plus points in your skills. Analyze the styles that you are good at and select those that you believe will be effective against your opponent.

Beware of your vulnerabilities
An honest appraisal of your strengths and weaknesses will put things in perspective in your own mind as to what you can do and cannot do on the mat. You should also put in more practice behind problem situations so that you don't find yourself powerless in an actual encounter.

Know your opponent's weak point
Strategize your counter moves or even initiate your moves based on what you know of your opponent.

Be flexible and develop alternative strategies
Every encounter is different and, even if you are playing the same opponent again, you must be able to change strategies to throw your opponent off balance. There are a couple of techniques for this:

1. "If Statements"
This is a problem-solution method. When you use "If Statements" you paint a picture of a circumstance or a problem that you may encounter in the ring and then arrive at different solutions to tackle it.
2. Modifying your approach - Revise or reframe
This technique requires you to evaluate your moves studying order to determine whether or not you can change your emphasis in any way; increase/decrease your emphasis on hand or leg or body movements in a way that makes the move more powerful.

B. Tactics - Plan tactics to make your strategy workable. When you plan your tactics, you get into the realm of mind games. You get in to details like:
• The pace at which you want to move
• The manner in which you plan to carry out
• The level of aggressiveness that is necessary at the start, in the middle, and toward the end of a bout
• When to use your most powerful move
This is the stuff that tactics are made of in a strategy.

C. Mental Preparation Techniques - The techniques that you can apply to practice your game and fine-tune your strategy are simulation, visualization, viewing video recordings, and computer simulation.

Simulation
Simulation is a technique in which you create a situation as close as possible to what you are likely to encounter in the ring. Simulation attempts to recreate the stresses under which you perform in a match. It is a method used in practice situations to imitate the real thing and hone your performance. It is a way to familiarize yourself with the experience in a real bout.


Simulation exercises
a) Get used to external sources of strain/stress
• Noise: The commentator's voice and constant yelling and screaming from spectators, and in general, the racket at a grappling or combat-athletics event can be quite nerve-racking and downright distracting. To get to used to the noise level, use audio recordings of matches to simulate your game during practice. This will help you prepare for these sounds.
• Presence of spectators: Allow an audience into your practice area to get used to people being around the ring.
• Unknown Venue: The rings for grappling and combat athletics are different. So it helps to play at the actual venue during training to acclimatize yourself to the space, dimensions, and feel of the venue.
• Weather: Training in extreme weather conditions is a big help when you actually encounter it in a competition. There cab be days when the heat has gone through the roof s well as days when temperatures are at sub-zero levels. The temperature may not be regulated at all the venues in which you play. So you may be exposed to extremes at some of them. Often times, matches in brazil are held outside in extremely hot conditions.

b) Simulate physical stress:
Recreating a match situation also has another far-reaching advantage. You will be exposed to a certain amount of physical wear and tear akin to a real match. While playing out scenarios, you usually experience almost the same level of physical distress as in a real encounter. So you have the additional benefit of experiencing a real adrenaline rush as well and can use the feeling of strength and power (caused by the adrenaline) to learn how to defend yourself and counter-attack.

c) Deal with exhaustion:
Practice and push yourself to your limits when you are tired and feeling fatigued. This is exactly what will happen to you in an actual match. You have to learn to maintain your alertness and concentration even when you are exhausted and low on energy.

d) Play beyond the time limit:
Extending the time limit is another way to push the envelope and exert both your body and your mental faculties. Continue to fight for a longer period than strictly necessary. By practicing beyond the time limit, you will learn to operate at higher levels of stamina and mental energy.


Visualization
Visualization is a technique that uses mental images to recreate a game situation. Through visualization a grappler or combat athlete can create mental pictures of the moves he or she plans to make and also visualize responses to the opponent's tactics. It builds imagery into your thought processes to recreate an entire scenario in your mind. It can be a potent tool that can be complement your practice sessions and simulation exercises. Through visualization you actually get to practice in your mind on your own time.

Developing your visualization skills
Visualization is really quite easy to understand and practice. It's much like doing math in your head. You call images onto your mental screen - images of yourself playing an opponent, the styles that you plan to use, the manner in which you will break out of an opponent's grip, and so on.
When you visualize, you get to see your moves before you actually perform them. Many writers make a distinction between visualization and imagery. The difference is actually very subtle. Imagery is considered to be a little more vivid than visualization, and a person who practices imagery is able to incorporate sound, smell and touch in the mental images.
Through mental visualization you are mentally getting acquainted with the form that the actual encounter may take. The pressure and trauma of the encounter is considerably reduced if your visualization conditions your mind on what to expect and this conditioning prevents going blank and freezing in tough situations.

View Video Recordings
When you are unable to visualize all moves, a good alternative is to view the many videos available. There are instructional videos as well as videos of matches played by legends in grappling. Watching the moves is a form of memorization of techniques and styles: it helps you immensely in your mental preparation, especially when you are in the process of thinking through and strategizing your game plan.

Computer Simulation
Video games are available that have a built-in computerized grappling/combat-athletics system that provides the various move options. This is not kid stuff, but an interesting way to gauge the styles that you will automatically use when you face a particular situation on the mat. In a way, it is a memory enhancer that tests your ability to call on the best moves relevant to a particular situation.

3. Focus
Focus is actually extremely crucial in maintaining good mental form and is of vital importance if you want your plan to work. Focus is multidimensional and encompasses several factors that go into the mental framework of the "complete" sports professional.
Focus is the ability to converge your mental processes into thoughts that further your chances in a game and diminish the unnecessary surface noise (irrelevant thoughts) that fills the mind. The mental processes that can help you with your game revolve around certain traits and behaviors. Everything from attitude to ego to motivation and discipline come under the purview of Focus.



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Lloyd Irvin is a martial arts coach, competitor and a businessman. He graduated from Bowie state university. He holds the rank of 7th degree black belt in Thai Jitsu, 2nd degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, 5th degree black belt in combat sombo and 1st degree black belt in judo. He is a Multiple Time National Judo Champion, a Multiple Time National Sombo Champion and after coming out of a three-year retirement he recently became the 2005 Brazilian Jiu Jitsu World Champion. In 2002 he was named The United States Judo Federation International Coach of the year. Also in 2004 he was named the NAGA North American Grappling Associations Instructor of the Year as well as The Grapplers Quest 2004 Instructor of the Year. Lloyd's coaching experience includes having taught many different law enforcement and military agencies including the Secret Service, FBI, NAVY SEALS, DEA, SWAT and Bounty Hunters.

http://www.lloydirvin.com
http://www.lloydirvinlive.com


Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/sports/extreme/unfolding-mental-preparation-a%80-setting-goals.html http://www.articletrader.com/sports/extreme/unfolding-mental-preparation-a%80-setting-goals.html Mon, 22 Jun 2009 04:12:00 -0500 Long-Term Goals: These are ling-range in nature and cover 5 - 10 years of your grappling or combat-athletic career.
Medium-Term Goals: These are what you envisage for yourself in the next two years. Medium-term goals put into perspective the tournaments and matches that you have to work towards during the next couple of years. Specifics include the levels at which you plan to fight and the weight segments within which you wish to compete.
Short-Term Goals: These are the plans you make every few months and the achievement targets you set for yourself in the short-term. You list out specific matches that you plan to enter during the next 3-6 months and work out a specific schedule of activities in your preparations for these matches.

Your long term goals revolve around your ambitions, aspirations, and dreams. It is your vision for yourself and the manner in which you hope your grappling or combat-athletic career will progress in the coming years. Your preparation has to start now, both mentally and physically, if you want to compete for a national or world title in few years. Learning and skill development go through a gradual progression in eventually preparing you for the cherished big fights.
Medium-term goals require that you constantly assess what is happening within the grappling and combat-athletics fraternities, look for opportunities, evaluate the competition in terms of wins and loses, and so on.
Short-term goals, given their immediacy, will require planning the exact dates when you should practice, train, and get yourself physically and mentally ready. The fitness regimen that you should follow: your diet program: your mental preparation and the coaching sessions that you plan to attend all fall into place when you do the planning to achieve your short-term goals.

Performance-Based Goal Setting
Another approach to goal setting is based on your assessment of your performance in preceding matches. This requires that you and your coach make an objective identification of weak areas or deficiencies in your performance and go about finding ways to improve your skills in those areas. These deficiencies could be in technique or in mental skills. For instance, you and your coach may find that poor concentration significantly reduces your performance during a bout.
You basically have to identify those aspects of your preparation that need enhancement to deliver peak performance. When you identify your weak points, you have to set specific objectives to address these weak areas in your performance. Since this type of goal setting is performance related, players feel motivated enough to see it through and overcome the deficiencies in their performance. What emerges is a performance-based mental skills training program, whereby the goals that have been set can be measured over time. When you master the techniques in which you were deficient, your confidence levels also receive a boost.
How Do You Go About Setting Goals?
Here's a five-step guideline:
1. Determine your commitment to grappling combat-athletics - Are you here for only a few years and a few belts? Do you want to make a long-term career out of this? Is this just a hobby? Are you interested in competing because your friends and peer group pursue it?
You have to figure out where you fit in as far as commitment to the game goes. Your goals and preparation levels will vary depending on your commitment to the game.

2. Decide on the level that you want to reach - Express goals positively and as precisely as you possibly can in terms of tournaments, titles, championships, weight levels, etc. Write them down. Keep them in front of you.

3. Set Realistic Goals - Your goals have to be achievable. They can be inspirational, but certainly not impractical. Have big goals for the long run but in the short-term take small steps. Goals have to be realistic and practical, so that you have some control over how to go about achieving them. Attempting matches and levels that you do not have a realistic chance of winning (given your skills and preparation at a given point) is a real waste of time and effort. You have to avoid the tendency to attempt too much too soon. Here's a small tip in setting realistic goals - pick out the names of some grapplers and combat athletes who have made it big and trace their career track. See how they progressed in their careers and choices they made in their journey to the top. As you study this, it will give some insights into planning your career and setting realistic goals for yourself. You will also find that major wins don't happen everyday. It takes ample preparation time for any player to win major title.

4. Identify skills and performance requirements - Understand the skills that you have to acquire at the different stages to succeed and effectively reach your goals. Also, recognize the level of performance that will be needed at the different stages of your grappling and combat athletics career.

5. Prioritize matches and tournaments - Assuming that you have set some realistic goals for yourself to achieve, you must then direct your attention to the most important matches and tournaments, where making your mark would mean a great deal to your career. When you prioritize and thereafter win at important events, it will be a big boost to your confidence and self-image.



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Lloyd Irvin is a martial arts coach, competitor and a businessman. He graduated from Bowie state university. He holds the rank of 7th degree black belt in Thai Jitsu, 2nd degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, 5th degree black belt in combat sombo and 1st degree black belt in judo. He is a Multiple Time National Judo Champion, a Multiple Time National Sombo Champion and after coming out of a three-year retirement he recently became the 2005 Brazilian Jiu Jitsu World Champion. In 2002 he was named The United States Judo Federation International Coach of the year. Also in 2004 he was named the NAGA North American Grappling Associations Instructor of the Year as well as The Grapplers Quest 2004 Instructor of the Year. Lloyd's coaching experience includes having taught many different law enforcement and military agencies including the Secret Service, FBI, NAVY SEALS, DEA, SWAT and Bounty Hunters.

http://www.lloydirvin.com
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