Simone Biles, Gregory Bull, Associated Press

Simone Biles and her mental strength made news with her recent withdrawal from competition at the Olympics. Many were disappointed, not only because as fans they wouldn’t get to see her perform but also because of what it meant for team USA’s gold medal prospects. Many others lauded her decision to heed her mental health and step back, refusing to force herself to compete in what seemed to be a dangerous situation. While I’m in no position to judge, I’ll say I personally think she made the right decision. There are plenty of examples of athletes over the last few decades who felt compelled to continue under dangerous circumstances and ultimately paid the price with severe and even career-ending injuries. While one can say that the risk is always there, we can’t possibly know the factors that Ms Biles or other athletes face when they make these decisions.

I want to discuss the mental aspect of peak physical performance and relate it to our own practice and lives. The truth is, athletes at the very top of their sport often have incredible mental strength. It is only when the seemingly perfect veneer of rock solid focus and determination cracks that we even start to discuss it. We expected Tiger Woods to be perfect because he had been for so long. When we put a human being on a pedestal, the higher and narrower it gets, the more likely they will topple off. 

Determination

In my opinion, the main difference between a great athlete and a world champion is mental strength. While there are many people with the physical skills to be a world class athlete, there are only a few that can continue training and performing at such a high level to make it to the very top. This determination or strength of will is the first aspect of mental strength that we want to cultivate. While it is unlikely any of us will become world champion martial artists, we can all learn to perform at a much higher level than we currently are at both in the dojo and in everyday life. With determination, we keep going through losses and challenges and come out stronger on the other side. Anyone who is able to compete in multiple Olympics or at the highest level of their sport (or any career really) surely has incredible determination; to think that any such athlete lacks determination is silly, though they may choose to set it aside at any point for their health, family or some other reason.

Focus

The second equally important aspect of mental strength that anyone at the very highest level must have is single-pointed focus. This is basically what we refer to in Martial Arts as mushin or no-mind. When we spar in Kung Fu or free grapple in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, there is no room for thoughts of winning or losing, no time to second guess. In that moment, we must set aside our analytical mind and ego in order to let our body flow (and our consciousness with it). If an NBA player stands on the free throw line with game 7 of the championship literally on the line, they must be totally focused. While there are many people who can make that shot over and over again during practice, how many can make it with millions of people watching, the insane noise of the stadium and the hopes of their whole team and all their fans weighing on them? Focus and the ability to let go of all distractions is of vital importance. If we are able to be in the moment with nothing but the object of our focus, as if we are the NBA player and the only things that exist for us are the ball and the basket, we can achieve incredible things.

Mental strength and self-care

Again, when we see an athlete like Simone Biles falter, it is such a big deal precisely because she has been perfect for so long. She certainly has an incredible ability to focus, yet she also knows when it isn’t there for her in that moment. We want to cultivate these mental strengths of determination and focus, and we must have the balance and presence of mind to know when we aren’t in the right space to perform. If you come to class all stressed from your day, bow onto the mats, take a deep breath and let it go. If we bow in to spar and you notice that your mind is still racing and you may hurt your partner or yourself, it may be time to bow out for the time being. Go back to meditation, cultivate mental strength and come back again the next day.

Time will tell if these athletes that take a step back at the highest point of their career eventually regret their decision, or if they recognize it as the right choice. Either way, we must all recognize the incredible mental strength it takes to endure the constant pressure to perform and succeed. We should cultivate it in our own lives, as well as the ability to recognize when we need to rest and take care of ourselves.