Peak Performance Training:mental conditioning,

sport & athletic excellence

sport & athleticpeak performance training

flexibility

gracestyle

technique

strength

speed

Sequence of topics today

1. Peak Performance Training

2. Peak Performance Zone

3. Neurofeedback

4. The brain deconstructed

5. Brainwaves

6. Conclusion

peak performance training

Traditional Performance Psychology Tools:…Relaxation, Goal Setting, Visualization, Self-Talk… …Lecture. Listen. La-La Land… …Back to court/field…Can mental strength really be achieved?

Questions we could be asking:

• Can we “design” new training protocols for the athlete’sbrain?

• Can we “bypass” old, weak brain performance states; and“install” new, powerful brain circuits?

• Can we “entrain” elements of a peak performance state, tolive & train in the zone; then perform on the court & field?

What does “Mental Peak PerformanceTraining” mean in the context of athleticism?

• Training the attention network to sustain focused attention

• Training focus and alertness to meet heavy physical demand

• Training to keep focus up while keeping arousal/stress down

• Finding the best focus/arousal/attention balance for individuals

• Identifying individual brain “likes” that are optimal for specific sports

• Performing these “likes” consciously despite environmentalstressors, noise and distractions.

• Learning to recognise your peak performance zone

PPT via Mental Toughness – Commitment, Confidence, Composure, Consistency & Concentration

Brain & Mind Self Awareness Check List(T = True, F = False)

1. I am usually eager to perform.

2. I am free of anger, anxiety and stress when I face new challenges at work.

3. My pre-performance stress is not a problem.

4. My moods are not affected by my competitiveness and need to excel.

5. I get enough sleep.

6. My sport and life are in balance.

7. My ability to concentrate over extended periods is generally good.

8. I am happy improving my sport performance one day at a time.

(Each “True” answer scores 1 point. Scores of 6 or lower indicates you are probably not able to enter your PP zone)7

peak performance zone

Winning…• Success occurs when an individual’s performance is high

enough, within the individual’s performance range zone.

• Being at the top of your range should be the goal intraining for peak performance.

• Winning is a side effect of peak performance within yourzone.

• Increasing the “top of your range zone” happens over timeas you continue peak performance training

The Peak Performance Zone• The “Zone” involves a mental state, which includes motivation, attention, focus, centeredness,

energized relaxation, and awareness. These are trained and balanced throughneurofeedback

• Additional necessary factors include physical and mental health, appropriate rest, nutrition,relaxation, and freedom from distress

• Neurofeedback helps you to recognise when you are in the “Zone”

• Once the “Zone” is experienced you won’t forget it. Knowledge of it assists inorganising yourself towards getting back into it

• Think of the “Zone” as a balanced mid-point of extremes. On one extreme is very lowactivation such as during sleepy-relaxation with low motivation, which leads to minimalperformance. On the other extreme is extreme arousal, such as during excessive driveand stress, which impairs performance. Finding your balance point leads to the “Zone”

• The “Zone” is an activated, prepared, fully focused state of relaxed, energised,motivated consciousness, in which all other interfering issues disappear.

neurofeedback

Background: Neurofeedback and what it doesTwo Components:

• methodology of operant conditioning which changes one’s emotional and mind states and improves performance, and the ability to get “into the zone”

• equipment that monitors and measures the electrical activity ofthe brain and trains the brain to be readily available to life’srequirements

Why Neurofeedback Works(Operant Conditioning)

• Brain can change with assistance directed byrewards: light, movement, and sound

• Brain assists in finding best/better approach usingthe newly built brain pathways

• Brain will remain in new state as it “feels better”• Brain is continually used, maintaining “new skill”

“Hey, this is like I am disk-cleaning & defragmenting

my brain”

THENNeurofeedback up to 5 years ago

NOW

the brain deconstructed

Why the

technology

works…the

brain is

accurately

mapped!

THE potential

CEO of the BRAIN…

The Frontal Lobe• makes choices & decisions

• focuses & maintains attention

on-task

• controls emotions & impulses

• maintains purpose

Are you connected to you brain?

Are you THE CEO of it?

Real Time Brainwave Acquisition

Real Time Brainwave Acquisition

Signal Cleaning and Processing(Artifacts)

Signal Cleaning and Processing(Artifacts)

Specific target extraction (Software/Hardware)

Specific target extraction (Software/Hardware)

Brainwave Decoding based on Training Protocol

Frequencies

Brainwave Decoding based on Training Protocol

Frequencies

Real Time Feedback

(≤45 ms) (+ve & -ve

(Entraining & Reinforcement

of Hebb Synapse)

Real Time Feedback

(≤45 ms) (+ve & -ve

(Entraining & Reinforcement

of Hebb Synapse)

The

Neurofeedback

process

brainwaves

BEFORE, Brain Output - Unstable

Alpha – Stressed and Unfocused

Beta – Erratic Attention and Stressed

High Beta – Excited, Irritable & Stressed

High Beta – Patient and powerful support

for High Order Thinking

Alpha – Relaxed and Focused Creativity

Beta – Calm, Active problem solving

AFTER, Brain Output – Stable

Before & After

Peak Performance

Training

Activities that correspond to various brainwave states(should you choose not to train with neurofeedback):

• Delta: get some deep, uninterrupted sleep• Theta: sustain the period before falling asleep• Alpha: deep breathing (Yoga), connect to your body (Yoga again)• SMR: play an individual sport such as squash, badminton• Low Beta: read a non-fiction book (Economist) attentively (speed-

read eye-movements), juggle• High Beta: hike in the dark…note your response to sudden

unknown sounds! Make yourself panic, obsess, get furious• Gamma: do puzzles, play mazes, memory games

conclusion

What are the athletic-life implications for Brain Peak Performance Training?

• Optimal performance in training develops through attention to coaching & self-discipline, which should lead to a lot of enjoyable hard work

• The training process & growth gradually leads to the growth of your athletic personality

• Only your know how satisfied you are with your athletic development. Athletic dissatisfaction, can lead to greater self- awareness if addressed, or if ignored lead to impaired performance

• Knowing about, and believing in yourself in relationship to your sport is very important.

• Self-acceptance supports satisfaction with powerful athletic performance in your zone

Organisations using Neurofeedback for Physical Peak Performance Training…

• US Special Forces and Navy Seals training• United States Olympic Training Center• Singapore Olympic Sports Council• Football clubs AC Milan, Real Madrid, Chelsea• Wingate Institute of Sports & Physical Education, Israel• Australian Special Forces• All Formula 1 teams• West Point Military Academy• NASA astronaut training center

Expected outcomes:• athletes have the warrior mind-set, mental

toughness

• Able to consciously enter peak performance zones

• Have total confidence, focus & concentration on

skills execution in-performance

Our expertise & offerings:• training athletes enter personal peak performance zones

• helping athletes control performance anxiety and stress

• achieving right attitude, winning before the game is played