4th in a series on Effortless Effort Nature, by its very essence, is simple. So is greatness in sport. Tao teaches us to follow nature’s law of simplicity. Some of the greatest performances in athletics have come when things are kept extremely simple: simple offenses and defenses, simple routines, simple strategies, simple training programs. Simplicity … More Simplicity
3rd in a series on Effortless Effort Water is soft and yielding. But water will wear away rock, which is rigid and cannot yield. As a rule, whatever is fluid, soft, and yielding will overcome what is rigid and hard. This is another paradox: what is soft, is strong. Most of us really believe that … More Soft is Strong
2nd in a series on Effortless Effort As a young coach I always encouraged my players to think. I would hear other coaches use phrases like: “Use your mind”; “You’re not thinking”; and, “Start focusing”. I naturally assumed these phrases were helpful. After meeting and spending time with the Linetskaya family, I became very interested … More My Introduction to Mushin
1st in a series on Effortless Effort I came across the concept of qi after meeting and working with a very talented Russian girl, Evgenia Linetskaya while traveling. Her dad was her coach and told me she never had an actual tennis coach. He just couldn’t afford the lessons. What started out as a serve … More My Introduction to Qi
I didn’t play tennis until I was 17. At that age, my mom wasn’t going to invest in tennis lessons. I had to learn from reading books and magazines or watching videos and studying skilled players. When I decided to become a coach, I did the same thing, only bigger. I went to the best … More Effortless Effort, A Critical Component to Elite Performance
6th in a series on the psychology of winning Winners in life are set apart from the rest of humanity by one of their most important traits – positive self-direction. They have a game plan for life. They set goals. Winners are people with a definite purpose in life while others wander aimlessly through life … More Positive Self Direction
5th in a series on the psychology of winning Winners expect to win. Self-expectancy is pure and simple optimism. They expect to win for 3 reasons: Desire: They want to win. Control: They know it is themselves who make it happen. Preparation: They are prepared to win. Winners in sports and life expect the best … More Positive Self Expectancy
4th in a series on the Psychology of Winning Motivation is an emotional state. The great physical and mental motivators in life – survival, hunger, thirst, revenge, love – are charged with emotion. Two key emotions dominate human motivation with opposite, but equally effective, results – fear and desire. Fear is the most powerful negative … More Positive Self Motivation
3rd in a series on the psychology of winning Winners make it happen. Losers let it happen. The true meaning of self-control is often misunderstood. Many people interpret self-control as “getting a good grip on yourself”, or “remaining cool under pressure”. Self-control as it relates to the Psychology of Winning is synonymous with self-determination. Winners … More Positive Self Control
2nd in a series on the psychology of winning Positive self- esteem is one of the most important and basic qualities of a winning human being. Self-esteem is that deep down feeling of your own worth. Winners have strong beliefs of self-worth and self-confidence, giving them strong self-esteem. They weren’t necessarily born with these good … More Positive Self Esteem
Rhythm & Flow Tennis 