I was recently asked how one should train their psyche for martial arts.  It seems like a weird question… Train your psyche??  Upon further reflection though, it’s actually a very astute question.

Psyche is defined as the totality of the human mind, conscious and unconscious.  So training it must be essential.  How then do we do it?

The basic meaning of the Greek word ψυχή (psūkhē) was “life” in the sense of “breath”, formed from the verb ψύχω (psukhō, “to blow”). Derived meanings included “spirit”, “soul”, “ghost”, and ultimately “self” in the sense of “conscious personality” or “psyche”.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psyche_(psychology)

Generally when martial artists talk about training the psyche, they speak in terms of mental toughness.  How your threshold of pain equals your threshold of performance and things like that.  Here’s another way to train the psyche that is a little bit different…

Train Your Psyche

When you practice your martial art, whether in solo training or with your training partners, picture yourself as a giant, like Paul Freakin’ Bunyan, standing taller than the tallest trees.  Have a feeling that your enormous stature confers a comparable sense of self confidence, super human strength, titan like power, and a strength of will that you can accomplish anything.  Balance it out with a supreme sense of benevolence like a warrior-protector.

Stand tall.  Breathe deeply.  Relax, yet remain full of energy and intent.  Assume a completely nonchalant facial expression like nothing in the world can perturb you.  In Japanese, this is Fudoshin – immovable heart.

Embody the characteristics you want to possess.  This changing of your physiology, focus, and belief  is the quickest way to change your state.  Then the question becomes, how long can you maintain it?  Practice well.