Professional fighters know how intense the psychological battle is – Many will tell you it’s 90% mental. Here are seven little-known facts about elite athletes and their Fight Mindset.
#7. Mike Tyson was hypnotized prior to fighting. Cus D’Amato had Mike Tyson hypnotized up to three times a day prior to his fights, by the late John Halpin. Tyson was hypnotized to achieve states of emotionlessness, and accomplish total aggression. One early piece of advice that Cus gave Tyson: “Your mind is not your friend, Mike. I hope you know that. You have to fight with your mind. Control it. Put it in its place. You have to control your emotions, and learn to impose your will on the reality you want to create.” Hypnosis was an especially effective way for Tyson to create changes in his fight mindset.
Quote Source: Undisputed Truth, by Larry Sioman
#6. Ingemar Johannson used specialized fight mindset and hypnosis training before winning the heavyweight boxing title against Floyd Patterson in 1959.
Source: Hidden Depths: The Story of Hypnosis, Page 339
http://books.google.com/books?isbn=1135403678
#5. Cus D’Amato gave demonstration on hypnosis before the boxing commission in 1962, as he was concerned Sonny Liston may be hypnotized to become immune to pain in his fight against Floyd Patterson. A valid concern considering Ingmar Johannson utilized hypnosis to beat Floyd Patterson and win the heavyweight championship three years earlier. The video of Cus D’Amato’s full presentation on hypnosis was recently released by the Boxing Hall of Fame.
URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-iMx8jK4NM
Video Title: Mike Tyson Mentor Cus D’amato gives HYPNOTISM Demonstration Before Liston Fight
#4: The man who beat Muhammad Ali and broke his jaw, Ken Norton, was hypnotized prior to beating Ali on March 31, 1973. He handed Ali his second loss ever. Norton had won his first 15 professional fights. But after getting knocked out by Jose Luis Garcia on July 2nd. 1970 in Los Angeles, Norton’s backers urged him to see a hypnotist. The hypnotist, known as Michael Dean, said “I kept telling Ken that the difference between success and failure isn’t big at all. It’s only one-millionth of an inch.”
Source: Toledo Blade – Apr 2, 1973
#3. Tyson’s trainer, Cus D’Amato, used the services of a hypnotherapist for over 20 years, including the lead up to the Tyson-Spinks fight in 1989. High profile trainers Joey fariello and Teddy Atlas also send their boxers to a hypnotherapist, John Halpin, to build an exceptional fight mindset.
Source: Bad Intentions: The Mike Tyson story by Peter Heller
#2: Chael Sonnen believed Hypnosis was a major turning point in his fight career. He worked with Ed Versteeg, and believed that with hypnosis, his fight mindset became a competitive edge.
“I hate talking about this because this was a real secret. This was a real turning point for me was when I went in, worked on sports psychology and got hypnotized. I was never the same. I was never the same in practice, my attitude was different. Controlling my diet, being disciplined, falling asleep, the way I approached battle, the way I approached the second round. Everything changed, and it changed to the point where, I hate to say what I just said and now it’s too late because I felt like it was my secret. I discovered something and I don’t want other people to know. I will write about it someday in a book, I will talk about it you know, when I’m retired, but I’m not going to tell anybody because it’s competitive edge.”
Source: Joe Rogan Experience Podcast #216
#1: Hypnosis and Fight Mindset techniques have made major advancements in recent years, specifically in the systems and results of “The Fight Hypnotist” Joshua Manuel, the world’s leading fight mindset expert.
His systems have been improving hand speed, erasing pre-fight freakouts, increasing accuracy, and breaking through mental blocks and limiting beliefs at an entirely new level. His advanced systems are currently in use by elite fighters in the UFC, ONE Championships, Bellator, Invicta FC, and ADCC competition. You can see a number of his fighter’s results at FightMindset.Com and in this video below:
“The Fight Hypnotist™” Joshua Manuel’s Client Testimonials
MANSHER “MUNCH” KHERA ADCC COMPETITOR BJJ BLACK BELT
“Working with Joshua really touched on so many of the pressures of the sport that we are in and he helped teach me how to overcome it and be confident in my daily routine thus making it much easier for me to go out and perform my best on the big day.”
JOSH EMMETT ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP
“Fighting is more mental then physical. As a fighter I’m always looking for different ways to improve my game. After finding Josh Manuel and doing several sessions with him I have not only been able to strengthen my mental edge which gives me an upper hand on my opponents, but I have also been able to use his techniques to improve injures and enhance healing.”
MATT BROWN ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP
“As many of you know I am a huge advocate of mental training. I’ve read many books, talked to many psychologists and many fighters about training the mind. Honestly no one has strengthened my mind as much as Josh at [Fight Mindset] has. This is not some paid promotion or false testimony. If you’re a fighter or just want to improve your life in any manner check this guy out. I personally guarantee positive results.”
BASHIR AHMAD ONE CHAMPIONSHIP
“Josh is an expert in his industry. Just one session with him was worth the hours, if not days of reading about and listening to books and CD’s on Hypnosis, mental training and visualization. If you are serious about being the best that you can be, and taking your game and maybe even your life to the next level, take the time to work with Josh!”
“THE MUAY THAI GUY” SEAN FAGAN PRO MUAY THAI FIGHTER ASTORIA, NY
“Josh took notes on exactly where I was, when walking me through the visualization he specifically used the same type of vocabulary that I use when guiding me through the process.
Initially, we simulated a training session, feeling the exhaustion, but having to push through it. It has helped me to get more reps in without injuring my body, as well as tremendously improving my focus and output in training.”
SIJARA EUBANKS ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP
“Working with Joshua has been great. I’ve loved adding hypnosis to my existing mental training regime. The sessions with Joshua have certainly helped to improve my martial arts and physical training, I’m getting more out of my time and seeing the real life results in the fight. I highly recommend using the Fight Hypnotist for any fighter or athlete.”