Winning Mental Coach

Kate Sylvester - Captain of Australia Kendo National team in World championship in Japan

 

I had decided that my last World Kendo Championships, as a competitor

would be the 16th WKC which was held in May, 2015 at the Nippon Budokan

in Tokyo, Japan. For this campaign I was a competitor, team captain and a

coach. As I knew this was my last WKC I desperately wanted to achieve my

peak performance. This was my last chance to achieve my competitive

dream. I needed to achieve this as I had sacrificed and committed 16 years

of my life to competitive kendo and I wanted to feel it was worth it. Aside

from the pressure of being my last campaign, the additional challenges

included coaching an inexperienced team and performing in front of several

thousands of people, national television and respected Kendo teachers at

the World’s Kendo Mecca, the Nippon Budokan. I was concerned that whilst

competing I would feel overly self-conscious and under-perform. The pressure

was enormous. The risk of disappointment was a devastating thought.

 

I have competed at 6 World Kendo Championships (WKC) over the past 16 years and had never achieved my ultimate peak performance. At every WKC I was at my physical peak, however most often I did not reach my optimum mental peak or ‘flow state’.  I had great aspirations to achieve a medal, however there was a missing link that was preventing me from success. I have always felt an inner belief that I had the potential to be successful, as did those around me but I could not break through. My coach often said to me ‘get out of your own way’ and ‘let go’ but I never really understood what this meant. I was trying my best to ‘let go’ but I could not.

 

In the past I occasionally and accidentally experienced ‘flow state’ during competition. I treasured these moments as the sense of freedom and empowerment felt superb. I had experienced this ‘flow state’ during the WKC on one occasion against the Japanese team captain. However, my ‘flow state’ almost took me by surprise and although our match ended in a draw, in hindsight I could have won the match. I could have made history. However, I was satisfied from the feeling I experienced during that match as it was a reward in itself.

 

To achieve my dream at the 2015 WKC, I knew I needed to do all I possibly could and something different. I knew I needed to work out how to ‘let go’ for me to feel satisfied to retire. I was personally concerned that if I did not achieve my best performance it would affect me for years to come. Prior to the 2015 WKC I sought mental training and counseling in preparation for each competition, however it did not lead to achieving my ultimate peak performance.  For the 2015 WKC, my last campaign, rather than winning a medal, I wanted to reach my personal peak and experience ‘flow state’. I would measure my success on whether or not I would finally experience my ‘true self’.

 

I first heard about the concept of hypnotherapy for performance during a conversation with a university professor in sports psychology. I became curious, ‘this may be answer’ I thought to myself. Initially I was a little apprehensive as I was concerned that this type of therapy would lead to someone else controlling me or perhaps doing some kind of psychological damage. However, I knew I needed to take the risk, go beyond my comfort zone and go into ‘unknown’ territory to achieve my dream. When I first met with Dung I felt comfortable soon into our first meeting. I felt he was present and that he had an in-depth understanding on the mechanics of psychology and sports performance. Most importantly, I felt Dung was present, genuine and authentically focused on helping me to achieve my dream. Dung reached beneath the surface to help me understand  what exactly I wanted to achieve and why. Due to the trust I felt during our sessions I shared many personal truths with Dung which helped me to understand myself and what was preventing me from ‘letting go’.  What emerged during those sessions helped me to heal within myself, forgive and ‘let go’ of beliefs that no longer benefitted me. The most important outcome was that I learnt how to reconnect with myself and realize that I was already an accomplished person. I was already whole. Dung guided me to reconnect with myself which was deeply empowering. Dung taught me some techniques I could take with me to the 2015 WKC. These techniques were extremely beneficial as they kept me connected and strong within myself. As a result of Dung’s therapy and the techniques he taught me, I had the best match of my life at the 2015 WKC. During that match I felt whole and an unbreakable determination. I displayed my best kendo and scored a clean point. I felt very proud of myself. After the match I had many teachers congratulate me on my performance. To receive this feedback was an indescribable honor. After the match I cried for some time as I felt I had finally done it, I had finally ‘let go’.

 

Not only did Dung’s guidance help me to perform at my best, it helped me to be a better leader and a better coach. Apart from experiencing my ‘true self’, I also received feedback from the team members that I was the best leader I had ever been. I felt a deep satisfaction after the championships. I felt happy to retire from competitive kendo after that performance, most importantly I had connected to my ‘true self’ which would endure beyond the WKC.  Since the WKC I have applied Dung’s techniques to other areas in my life which included completing my PhD.  I have also been appointed the National Team coach for 2018 World Kendo Championships which will be held in Korea. I am the first female to be appointed National Coach in Australia during the 48 year history of the World Kendo Championships. I whole heartedly believe Dung’s method of sports psychology has helped me to achieve my dream and the techniques and truths I learnt during our sessions will serve me (and others) for many years to come.

- Kate Sylvester -