training for toughness

[evilgenius]

I've been training for about a year and I've reached a plateau where I don't work as hard or as far as I want to in a session. Are there habits I can form or mental cues I can invoke to push me past that pain threshold and achieve a finish with which I can feel content? It always feels like I should've finished stronger or hit more crisply but instead dogged out on the conditioning drills.

[Ghost]

you need to work on your fitness, you should probably now how to by now, the only person that can make you do it is yourself, if you dont want to do it i cant make you.
you need to train outside of the gym, running, conditioning rep work etc.

and eat a healthy diet

[evilgenius]

I guess I wasn't too clear. I wanted to know what techniques people used psychologically when they hit a wall or plateau physically to help them overcome and transcend said wall (which could be speed, strength, conditioning, technique, etc. --any metric of performance could apply). Right now, I want to push harder on conditioning.

[Tom Yum]

Have someone kicking your ass and motivating you while you're doing it; A good mix of negative and positive reinforcement. This doesn't work for everyone; seems to work better for males than females.

Tonight, I've got one of our group's fastest runners set up to push us on our speed. I'll probably throw up at the end; perhaps a few others will too.

Are you pushing yourself to your limit or are you just going through the motions?

[the tick]

I guess I wasn't too clear.

You still aren't.

[sportmuaythai]

I guess I wasn't too clear. I wanted to know what techniques people used psychologically when they hit a wall or plateau physically to help them overcome and transcend said wall (which could be speed, strength, conditioning, technique, etc. --any metric of performance could apply). Right now, I want to push harder on conditioning.

I guess you're clear enough for me. However, what I use may not be applicable for you. I get my inspiration mostly from my trainers. Of course you need to know your limitation and not burn yourself out. Normally, I stick to one regular trainer. When I feel stale and my trainer cannot help me, I change to another. Then after a couple of months, I go back to my original trainer. The camp where I train has lots of trainers, so I can do this. I tip my trainers well, so each try his best to retain me lol.

[Ghost]

mental toughness is brought about by hard training and have trainers that push you to the limit... and a bit beyond not necessarily every session but often enough. mental toughness is like anything else its an adaptation, so you to adapt you have to be put in a hard situation, just as you get fitter by training hard.

[Guest]

I train with the concept that there are three types of conditioning – Physical, Mental and Emotional. Physical is down to the basics, cardiovascular and muscular endurance etc – these need to be trained hard as everyone has said. When you feel yourself physically starting to struggle then your mental conditioning has to be there, the presence of mind, determination and focus to stay cool and carry on with the job at hand. You will then reach a stage where your mind starts to doubt and wants to quit, at that point in my opinion your emotional conditioning has to carry you to that next level. Emotional conditioning is different for everyone, its all about the buttons you can push in yourself to hit that last 10%. As Tom and a number of the guys have said, it is absolutely invaluable to have a good trainer, or buddy, who knows how to push those buttons and take you over the edge.

From what you have described its difficult to know which one you are lacking. I personally meet a lot of guys who say “oh my mind just wasn’t there”, when I actually look at them and think no mate, you just need to be in better shape. Then there are very fit guys who just don’t have the fire in the belly to push that last 10%. Its all a very personal subject, which is why some of the guys have found your question unclear…….and why I have waffled on! But I hope this has offered something.

[ChangNoi]

I guess you're clear enough for me. However, what I use may not be applicable for you. I get my inspiration mostly from my trainers. Of course you need to know your limitation and not burn yourself out. Normally, I stick to one regular trainer. When I feel stale and my trainer cannot help me, I change to another. Then after a couple of months, I go back to my original trainer. The camp where I train has lots of trainers, so I can do this. I tip my trainers well, so each try his best to retain me lol.

Sportmuaythai - Can I ask where you train in BKK?

[fire cobra]

Sportmuaythai - Can I ask where you train in BKK?

Hi Changnoi,

just in case Sportmuay doesnt see your post i know he trains at Fairtex camp in BKK,and knows the legendry Apidej Sit Hiran.

[Voltage]

I recommend watching awesome martial arts vids on YouTube just before you leave for training. Watching 10 minutes of inspirational videos of martials artists much better than yourself is a great way to overcome self doubt.

For example, watching someone perform a 540 kick with speed, power, height and style breaks down any self doubt that I can do a jumping back kick.

The example above is just for acrobatic inspiration, but there are plenty of videos that can sell you on power, confidence, speed, and expertise.

Give it a shot, it works for me.

[ChangNoi]

Thanks - fire cobra. I will be in BKK for about 4 days later in the month, though I would love to train at Bangplee it is quite aways from where where I staying. I am looking to do a few drop ins while there, Sportmuaythai has always had insightfull posts so I thought I would ask...

Thanks again... Changnoi

[fire cobra]

Your welcome Changnoi,where in Bkk will you be staying?,i may know of a camp nearby.

[sportmuaythai]

Sportmuaythai - Can I ask where you train in BKK?

I wasn't going to say where I train, for fear of free advertising. However, there are several good camps with many trainers all over Thailand. fire cobra can reccommend them, since he has much more experience with them than I have. He can also possibly tell of camps to avoid as well lol. When you talk to fire cobra, let him know the budget you have, type of camp you prefer, and province of your destination. Training would not be much different. It's the location, food and accommodation amenities that usually make cost higher. If you're serious about training muaythai, you'll probably not be disappointed.

[rickyparis]

I guess I wasn't too clear. I wanted to know what techniques people used psychologically when they hit a wall or plateau physically to help them overcome and transcend said wall (which could be speed, strength, conditioning, technique, etc. --any metric of performance could apply). Right now, I want to push harder on conditioning.

Easy, train train hard, and then harder,when you feel that you just can´t keep going, dont listen to your senses, after that cool down , and find a good way to relax meditation works and it´s cheaper than beer.