How intense are you? When I hear this or anything like it, my answer is, "It really depends." I think this is the answer everyone should have. I was thinking this morning about the differences between my personality on the platform and my personality off the platform.
At my first meet, my girlfriend and my parents told me how I looked like I was going to murder the bar when I went for my first squat attempt. This was pretty funny to hear the first time. I'm a pretty easy going, usually have a smile on my face, always laughing about something or joking kind of guy. I think the importance of flipping this switch really started to show when I started training with I-FAST co-owner Mike Robertson. Mike has a pretty specific order in which he approaches the bar. He has a really specific breathing pattern that over the years I think has been telling his body, "Hey, get your shit together, because I'm not missing this weight!" In this time, my approach to each attempt has been much more consistent, which in turn, has been giving me more consistent training sessions.
Sometimes intensity comes from a breathing pattern like MR. It could come from stomping your feet, one certain song, or a combination of both. For me, it really isn't the music (although I do like it REALLY loud and heavy) it starts with the bark. I wouldn't call it a signature bark, but you know I'm taking something serious when you hear it. My little sister Lisa actually laughed the first time she heard it at my last meet. You can hear it in the video, at the time I didn't think it was funny because I was having a bad meet, but now, I think it's pretty stinkin funny. Don't mind that I missed it =)
A huge reason I think getting into the right mental state now before attempts is because you never know what can happen under the bar. With the weights being as heavy as they are becoming, and with the added factor of gear, taking a set without the same intensity that I would approach a heavier set isn't an option. In the video you can see what I mean by keeping the intensity the same as the session goes.
What would I like you to take from this? I think the big thing would be to stay consistent. Not every training session is going to be the best. Go with the punches and approach each attempt with the same, intensity and mindset as the last. You really can't expect to hit PR's if you approach 495lbs with the same mindset as 315.
I would love to hear some responses on what your pre-lift rituals if you will consist of. Is it always the same? Does it change depending on what lift you are performing?
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I never get as psyched up in the gym as I do in competition. In the gym I usually just stay focused and quiet. I do sometimes speed my breathing up.
ReplyDeleteIn meets, I use ammonia on my second and third attempts. First attempts are always just to keep me in the meet so I don't really need to get all jacked up for those. The ammonia, combined with a Chad-Aichs-style foghorn yell, constitute my method of ramping up my intensity.
Great article!