See you there!
David Webb
Head Coach
The Tokon Academy
Monday, 13 July 2009
Friday, 10 July 2009
"Used by date" Part one
Coaches, instructors, trainers, call them what you will [provided the integrity is there] all have the same goal in mind: To produce someone better than them, someone that is able to supersede any records, achievements that they set during their own competitive days. It is that simple. If this isn’t their prime objective what right have they to be a ‘coach’.
Constantly evolving skill levels over time are the reason why records are broken and new levels of attainment are reached. However, in order for these measurements of time, distance, speed and results to constantly be improved and surpassed we must set and accomplish many short and long term goals along the way, to achieve this the athlete must be stressed and pushed to achieve these goals on a regular basis, both by the coach and by themselves.
…By themselves… It is because of this that only a small proportion of individual involved in sports actually DO achieve, the rest prefer to stick with what they know and are comfortable with. Prescribed, tried and tested routines that do not tax the system too much, convenient patterns of training that keep us safe and help maintain a certain level of fitness that is needed to keep up with the ‘herd’. People do things because they like it, they enjoy the fact that they can get by without too much effort, train and ally themselves with others for nostalgic reasons and complain when they haven’t achieved what champions can.
That’s the difference; champions’ train hard, they are out running when the rest are tucked up in bed. Champions understand vital performance based nutrition and are prepared to sacrifice over the long haul. Champions take everything to another level in pursuit of greatness, constantly striving to be better than the next, better than they were the last time they trained. Always looking for ways and means to better their current training micro and mesocycle.
Do you think Manny Pacquiao handpicks sparring partners so he’ll have an easy time in preparation for an upcoming world title fight? Do you think Lance Armstrong joined his local amateur cycling club in preparation for his 8th Tour de France attempt? How about team GB coxless fours in their prep for Olympic glory in 2000, did they let Steve Redgrave have his seat out of respect? NO! Is the answer to all of these questions – all train their nuts off to be what they are!
Why did Daley Thompson insists on training on his own on Christmas Day while his opponents were at home opening presents with their families? Why does Johnny Wilkinson kick goals on Christmas morning? Because they want to be the best and will do what it takes to achieve this. All these people got where they are because of hard work, sheer bloody mindedness, commitment, drive, ambition and the support of a coach that is adamant he/she will produce the best.
What am I getting at?
Well look at it like this, all of us have limitations in performance, all of us have a peak performance at which we will reach at some point, all of have desire to achieve (it is just buried deeper inside some more than others). This desire and this peak in performance is short lived unless we have constant motivational strategies to enlarge the desire or lengthen the peak- its like a "used by date" that needs reinvigorating all of the time. I bet if all those high achievers mentioned above were left to train with no coach, no feedback, no encouragement and no support network [all of which a coach provides] they would not be where they are now. So in that sense a coach has his or her very own "used by date". Thus, if your coach is not providing you with adequate and correct feedback, constructive criticism, ample encouragement and is not acting as a great support mechanism he or she is passed their "used by date" – move on and don’t be scared to do so.
Look at Ricky Hatton, after his loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. Ricky Hatton immediately looked at himself and his coaching staff. Realising he still had the potential to compete as the world best pound-for-pound boxer he sacked his coach and long time friend Billy Graham and went elsewhere – after working together for years.
If we train with certain individuals because of convenience, if we train under a coach/instructor because we enjoy the training for what it is and if we don’t constantly look for improvement in performance through achievable goals our performance capacity will plateau, training will become monotonous, a lack of competitive appetite will creep in and we will become an ‘also ran’, always the ‘nearly’ man.
But more importantly training with no goals and aspiration or training with those that aren’t going to help you realise goals and aspirations shields you from developing, it places you inside an ivory tower that sooner or later will be shattered.
Constantly evolving skill levels over time are the reason why records are broken and new levels of attainment are reached. However, in order for these measurements of time, distance, speed and results to constantly be improved and surpassed we must set and accomplish many short and long term goals along the way, to achieve this the athlete must be stressed and pushed to achieve these goals on a regular basis, both by the coach and by themselves.…By themselves… It is because of this that only a small proportion of individual involved in sports actually DO achieve, the rest prefer to stick with what they know and are comfortable with. Prescribed, tried and tested routines that do not tax the system too much, convenient patterns of training that keep us safe and help maintain a certain level of fitness that is needed to keep up with the ‘herd’. People do things because they like it, they enjoy the fact that they can get by without too much effort, train and ally themselves with others for nostalgic reasons and complain when they haven’t achieved what champions can.
That’s the difference; champions’ train hard, they are out running when the rest are tucked up in bed. Champions understand vital performance based nutrition and are prepared to sacrifice over the long haul. Champions take everything to another level in pursuit of greatness, constantly striving to be better than the next, better than they were the last time they trained. Always looking for ways and means to better their current training micro and mesocycle.
Do you think Manny Pacquiao handpicks sparring partners so he’ll have an easy time in preparation for an upcoming world title fight? Do you think Lance Armstrong joined his local amateur cycling club in preparation for his 8th Tour de France attempt? How about team GB coxless fours in their prep for Olympic glory in 2000, did they let Steve Redgrave have his seat out of respect? NO! Is the answer to all of these questions – all train their nuts off to be what they are!
Why did Daley Thompson insists on training on his own on Christmas Day while his opponents were at home opening presents with their families? Why does Johnny Wilkinson kick goals on Christmas morning? Because they want to be the best and will do what it takes to achieve this. All these people got where they are because of hard work, sheer bloody mindedness, commitment, drive, ambition and the support of a coach that is adamant he/she will produce the best.
What am I getting at?
Well look at it like this, all of us have limitations in performance, all of us have a peak performance at which we will reach at some point, all of have desire to achieve (it is just buried deeper inside some more than others). This desire and this peak in performance is short lived unless we have constant motivational strategies to enlarge the desire or lengthen the peak- its like a "used by date" that needs reinvigorating all of the time. I bet if all those high achievers mentioned above were left to train with no coach, no feedback, no encouragement and no support network [all of which a coach provides] they would not be where they are now. So in that sense a coach has his or her very own "used by date". Thus, if your coach is not providing you with adequate and correct feedback, constructive criticism, ample encouragement and is not acting as a great support mechanism he or she is passed their "used by date" – move on and don’t be scared to do so.Look at Ricky Hatton, after his loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. Ricky Hatton immediately looked at himself and his coaching staff. Realising he still had the potential to compete as the world best pound-for-pound boxer he sacked his coach and long time friend Billy Graham and went elsewhere – after working together for years.
If we train with certain individuals because of convenience, if we train under a coach/instructor because we enjoy the training for what it is and if we don’t constantly look for improvement in performance through achievable goals our performance capacity will plateau, training will become monotonous, a lack of competitive appetite will creep in and we will become an ‘also ran’, always the ‘nearly’ man.
But more importantly training with no goals and aspiration or training with those that aren’t going to help you realise goals and aspirations shields you from developing, it places you inside an ivory tower that sooner or later will be shattered.
Always look to better yourself, better your peers, better your sparring partners, better your instructor or coach and when you have surpassed you instructor or coach move on, why stay with them for nostalgic reasoning like so many do. Look elsewhere, employ a beginner’s mentality and start a fresh or your used by date will be on top of you before you know it. Sooner or later you will better your new instructor or coach and be on the path to greatness.
In part two we'll address goals, aspirations and motivational strategies for those that do not have a 'coach' or do most of their work alone. Until then,
Train intelligently,
David Webb
Head Coach
The Tokon Academy
Tuesday, 7 July 2009
7th July 2005
Four years ago today fifty-two people died after suicide bombers detonated backpacks on board three Underground trains and a bus. Most of us seem to forget what that day was like, take a few minutes to remember those that aren't here with us today as a result.
Thursday, 2 July 2009
Tokon Academy new black belts
Congratualtions to the 9 juniors who had their first session together as bonafide junior Dan grades on Wednesday. It was the hottest session of the year so far but well worth seeing you all with your well deserved black belts - the fun starts now!
Tokon Academy Karate programme black belts: (top row, left to right) George Costin, Noah Humphreys, Sam Price, Russ Smeaton, Sophie Allister, Rian Smeaton, Georgia DeBranco-Chessum. (bottom row, left to right) Ben Jiggins, Ben Tuck, Dave Dedman, Dave Webb, Adam Weeks, Thomas Dedman (Ross Mackenzie not pictured).
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Monday, 29 June 2009
"Man in the Arena"
"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."
What a great quote!
-Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919)
"Citizenship in a Republic,"Speech at the Sorbonne, Paris, April 23, 1910
Inspirational figures #2 & #3
The last time I wrote about an 'Inspirational Figure' on this blog I looked way back to the 1950's and 60's and used the NFL great Vince Lombardi as my subject. Lombardi was someone I stumbled across whilst I had a few minutes spare at home and was browsing aimlessly on the net, I was so taken by his story and its comparison to a modern day Sir Alex Ferguson decided to put it on here.
For my second blog on the subject of inspirational figures I have brought the subject more up to date and have decided to offer you two individuals. The first I saw a long time ago when someone posted a clip of the guy in question on the old SFUK.net (Submission Fighting UK - now defunct) this guy simply blew me away with his drive and committment to develop and compete regardless of his limitations. The second is a figure who has been in the news quite recently in fact and again is someone else that has dismissed his own limitations and simply 'got on with it' all whilst raised shed loads of money for others that are in the same predicament as himself. Enjoy!
Inspirational figure #2:
Kyle Maynard - born with a rare disorder called congenital amputation
Kyle Maynard - born with a rare disorder called congenital amputation
Inspirational figure #3:
Major Phil Packer - former military policeman injured serving in Iraq
So the next time you're wake up for the early morning run that you've planned the night before only to find it's a little too cold or raining a little too much for your liking or when you complain that all your mates are out having a laugh while your stuck in the gym or dojo... Shut up! Just get on with it...
Train intelligently!
David Webb
Head Coach
The Tokon Academy
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