Working with combat sports athletes, to snowboarders and even motorcycle racers, Joey took some time to chat with me about all things cognitive. We cover what the mental performance component for combat athletes looks like, how to enjoy running if you currently hate it, and the key differences between the approach and avoidance mindsets.
Joey works with a host of professional strikers and mixed martial artists at Elevation Fight Team, Denver Colorado and received his MA in Sport and Performance Psychology from the University of Denver, Denver in June 2016.
Timecodes
00:22 Why Joey decided to take up wrestling as a youngster and how it prepared him to play lots of other sports in terms of motor competency
06:20 The selection process of youth in sport, how grappling gives kids confidence physically and mentally, and how puberty provides a dividing line for sport selection
12:00 Why Joey decided to join the Marines and what his mindset was towards signing up Roger Bannister
16:30 The selection process Joey went through for the Marines in the USA, how he trained for it and why it is structured in a certain way ASVAB
21:45 Breaking down new recruits, mentally – fact or myth?
26:10 Joey talks about how he got through his tour to Afghanistan, and where performance psychology came in to play
30:00 Performance psychology in the Military
32:05 Joey’s approach to being a Renaissance man / Polymath, self-sufficiency and being of use to others. Georges Herberts
35:50 Breaking down a new skill in order to learn it and perform it properly, creating environments where it is OK to fail and finding the humour in your mistakes.
39:45 The Action-oriented approach to problem solving
41:30 The next skill on Joey’s renaissance list.
43:10 The art of making space in your life for other things to shine through, Josh Waitzkin – The Art of Learning The Midnight Gospel Episode 6 – “Vultures with Honor” starring David Nichtern https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mid…
44:35 Why Joey decided to get in to BJJ later in life
47:15 What Joey found difficult about grappling and the adjustments he made along the way
49:55 Where wrestling ends, jiujitsu begins, and jiujitsu changes when you’re getting punched in the face.
52:30 Running long distances and how those who don’t enjoy it can reframe their approach to actually enjoy the process
1:00:07 Who are Elevation Fight Team, and why do they have such a reputation and heritage behind them.
1:02:30 What performance psychology is and how it applies to sport and other areas of life Cory Sandhagen (UFC) Neil Magny (UFC) Drew Dober (UFC)
1:12:29 What you can control vs what you can’t control, and the approach vs avoidance mental model Battle Grapple Promotion (UK)
1:18:20 Similarities of working with board sports athletes and fighters
1:20:20 The importance of practicing to creating new mental habits, dominant responses vs desired patterns Bruce Lee – Formlessness, Form, Formlessness
1:25:11 Joey’s approach to using meditation techniques based on people’s type of brain activity, and creating space to observe one’s thoughts Waking Up App
1:29:30 How balance can be used a method of achieving a state of focus, observation of one’s thoughts and as a metaphor for performance psychology
Kuzushi Principle
1:38:15 Pressure is artificial but the task is still the same, attention is the most important piece
1:40:42 Joey’s approach to using triggers / anchors to reignite memory in high pressure situations Justin Gaethje
Trevor Wittman
1:46:44 How you can work with Joey
Instagram Fritzr523
Email Joseph.R.Fritz @ gmail . com
The MoveMind podcast explores all things body and brain; hosting a variety of experts, coaches, high achievers and pioneers to give you the tools for a personal, holistic upgrade.
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