Be a Warrior in the Moment by Coach Eric
“Victorious Warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first then seek to win.”
Sun Tzu
While others listen to “pump up” music at the gym or competitions, I prefer calming music with a meditative beat to calm and focus my mind on the task at hand. Before high school wrestling matches, I had a mix tape playing Pachelbel’s Canon and Beethoven’s Fur Elise on my Walkman. I would upgrade to a portable CD player my senior year. In Iraq, I would listen to Enya’s May It Be and Nora Jones’ Come Away With Me. When I transitioned from the military to civilian life and started coaching wrestling consistently, instead of between deployments and schools, Jack Johnson released his In Between Dreams Album. Even today, I will listen to these calming songs at work, the gym and wrestling events as a reminder to stay calm in the moment. It does not take much for my adrenaline to peak and animate my emotions. It is critically important to control your breathing and operate smoothly when in a heightened or agitated state. Slow is smooth, smooth is fast. I try to be a little better person each day and not repeat the errors of my ways. Albeit it is a struggle some days. I am a work in progress and at least honest with myself in the mirror. Every wrestler should do the same when discovering how to put themselves in a frame of mind that allows them to consistently have a peak performance within a stressful environment.
In wrestling, each individual should have a pre-match routine that “flips the switch” from a friendly, respectful and considerate student-athlete to a Warrior ready and willing to impose their will on an opponent. For me, I am easily excitable and that “switch” is always a hair trigger away from on. During my sophomore year, wrestling confirmed that I was more successful when relaxed with focus. I lost a total of 9 varsity matches throughout my junior and senior years with only 1 JV match lost during my freshman year. My sophomore year, however, was a year of self discovery and self reflection. I was not mentally prepared for varsity level competition in Wisconsin, but fortunately I was coachable. I was the #8 seed going against the #1 at Sectionals, where the top 2 qualify for State. I was told to “do your best,” but no one expected me to throw him twice, pinning him the second time, and advancing to the next round. My opponent took me for granted and was probably already thinking about the next round, while I had let go of my fears, self doubts and was at peace with whatever the outcome was. This way of thinking and perspective in wrestling competition was solidified when I attended Ben Peterson’s Camp of Champs that summer. I entered my Junior year with a new found confidence and pre-match routine.
“Invincibility lies in the defense; the possibility of victory lies in the attack.”
Sun Tzu
My opponents would be jumping around, pacing, listening to some rock music, and staring me down. I found a calm satisfaction with getting eye contact then close my eyes and smile as I sat calmly on the floor, back against the wall and classical music in my ears. Don’t fear me when I am emotionally excited and engaged; fear me when I stop talking and I am calm, quiet and focused. Of my 40-9 record those two seasons, it was the last match I lost during my junior and senior year, at Sectionals, when it mattered to qualify for the State Championships. I changed my pre-match routine by pacing, jumping and listening to Metallica or AC/DC. I thought I needed to be “up” for the challenge by mimicking the level of excitement around me to perform. I let the moment control me and watched wrestlers I beat compete, win and place at the State Championships. As a coach for the past 15 years, it is no longer about my journey, it is about the athlete’s journey. I am here to guide them and influence their focus. They will realize, in time, that coaches are just here to help them. We believe in the life lessons revealed to those who participate in the challenging sport of wrestling. However, our program will go on without those student-athletes, because wrestling is not stopping for those not doing the right thing (inspired by a talk given by Terry Steiner, Head Coach for USA Womens Wrestling).
“People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.”
George Orwell
There are endless ways to prepare for the competitive violence that occurs between two warriors in the circle of a wrestling mat. To develop an effective pre-match routine that puts you in the moment with the proper state of mind focus requires honest self-reflection and consistent preparation; Trust in the process. It is no surprise to me that wrestlers are drawn to service of others. Wrestler turned Firefighter, Michael Collas, is running towards danger to save people and property, while others flee to safety. Wrestler turned Combat Rescue Officer, Brandon Farrell, graduated this past summer to lead Pararescue soldiers into harms way for a single pilot colleague. Wrestler turned Israeli Soldier, Andrew Roome, followed his religious convictions to the other side of the world and his brother, Travis, is currently on his way to an assignment in Japan with the U.S. Air Force. The wrestling affect extends to wrestling team manager turned Registered Nurse, Lauren Jaquess, who cares for others at their most vulnerable moment. The list of wrestlers who chose careers that serve others like military, police officer, firefighter, nursing, and teacher is too long to share here. However, I believe their character was revealed and strengthened through their wrestling experiences. A coach is also a servant. However, I care more about our student-athletes as a person than I do about their athletic ability or outcomes.
“Be formless, shapeless, like water. Now, you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put it in a bottle, it becomes the bottle. You put it into a teacup, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water my friend.” – Bruce Lee