[PDF]The Super Mental Training Book

Robert K. Stevenson, N.D.



Copyright © 1990, 2009 by Robert K. Stevenson

All rights reserved.

ISBN: 0-9606252-3-2

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 90-91865

First Printing: September, 1990



Although the author and publisher have exhaustively researched all sources to ensure the accuracy and
completeness of the information contained in this book, we assume no responsibility for errors, inaccuracies,
omissions or any inconsistency herein. Any perceived slights of people or organizations are unintentional.



Cover design: Frank L. Ritchie
Illustrations and text layout: Due Phan
Digital Media Formatting: Scott Olmsted



By the same author:
Backwards Running

How to Draw and Complete Impossible Mazes
The Golden Era of Preventive Medicine




About The Author

Robert K. Stevenson, N.D., researched The Super Mental
Training Book for over 15 years. Formerly an elite level athlete
himself, Dr. Stevenson talked to hundreds of sports champions
and others to discover what mental training strategies worked and
why. His findings, contained in this book, tell you all you need to
know and do to become a consistent winner and achieve your full
athletic potential.



THE

SUPER MENTAL TRAINING

BOOK

Contents

PAGE

FOREWORD. By Paul Scully-Power, D. Sc i

CHAPTER 1. Introduction 1

CHAPTER 2. Tennis: Meditation, Imagery, and Self-hypnosis Attract

Large Draw 17

CHAPTER 3. Boxing: Fighters Favor Hypnosis and Visualization 32

CHAPTER 4. Baseball: Players Score with Mental Training Strategies 43

CHAPTER 5. Professional Athletes: How Self-hypnosis, Imagery,

and Other Mental Techniques Help 61

CHAPTER 6. Track & Field/Long-Distance Running: Records Fall

to Self-hypnosis and Other Mental Disciplines 78

CHAPTER 7. Swimming: Mental Training Leads to

Self-improvement and Victories 95

CHAPTER 8. Weightlifting: Mind Over Matter 109

CHAPTER 9. Amateur Athletes: "Free" Mental Rehearsal Techniques

Lead to Excellence 122

CHAPTER 10. The Soviet Athlete: Are the Reports True? 141

CHAPTER 11. Football: Players Tackle Mental Training 166

CHAPTER 12. Recent Developments in Sports Psychology

and Mental Training 189

CHAPTER 13. Mental Training Into the 21st Century; Conclusion 223

APPENDIX 1. A Coach's Perspective on Mental Training 238

APPENDIX 2. Winning Tennis Through Self-hypnosis 244

SUGGESTED READING. (Includes the author's top recommendations.) 247



Illustrations and Pictures



PAGE

1. Beta waves, as seen on EEG machine 8

2. Alpha waves, as seen on EEG machine 8

3. Picture of Dr. Stevenson, the author, playing tennis under the influence of
autosuggestions 27

4. Picture of Ken Norton shadow boxing, an activity in which he often gave himself
hypnotic suggestions 35

5. Drawing of how a sidehill putt should be visualized, as recommended

by Tom Watson 74

6. Picture of discus champion Lisa Vogelsang engaging in self-hypnosis 80

7. Picture of weight lifter Russ Knipp setting a world record in the press in the

1972 Olympics, thanks in part to self-hypnosis Ill

8. Picture of Kevin McLain, LA. Rams linebacker (1976-79),

performing meditation 168

9. Picture of preparations for the 1985 University of Hawaii football

team's firewalk 180

10. Bar graph showing the results of an experiment on strength performance

conducted by Dr. Unestahl 197

11. Bar graphs showing the performance levels attained by Swedish athletes

skilled in Inner Mental Training 199

12. Gymnastics Feedback Sheet, a form filled out by Cal State Fullerton

gymnasts after every meet 215

13. Graph of Performance vs. Arousal Level — the inverted "U" concept 217

14. Picture of hypnosis user Rod Carew, 7-time American League batting champion 224

15. Questionnaire about SyberVision sent to Coach Gould 232

16. Picture of tennis player Tim Kilker in the autohypnotic state 246



FOREWORD

You are fortunate to have in your hands the most remarkable book ever written about mental
training for athletes. As you no doubt desire to become the best you can be, let me tell you more
about this brilliant masterpiece and the man responsible for it, so that you will better perceive the
enormous benefits potentially in store for you by your continuing to read on.

I have known Dr. Robert K. "Bob" Stevenson for several years, and have followed with keen
interest his progress in the creation of The Super Mental Training Book. Bob's self-appointed task
can only be called monumental. His goals were to: (1) interview as many athletes, coaches, and
sports psychologists as possible, learning first-hand what they are or are not doing in the area of
mental training; (2) study any material — books, articles, audio and videotapes — dealing with
mental training for athletes; (3) synthesize and organize this voluminous information so that
readers of this book can choose from a variety of proven mental rehearsal techniques and
strategies the ones they feel will prove helpful in their situation; and (4) critically examine mental
training for athletes to show what conditions offer the best chances of success for the individual in
given athletic events. These goals, as you will shortly see, were successfully achieved.

The Super Mental Training Book came about because Bob Stevenson possesses a unique
background. He is, first of all, a competitive athlete in several sports. He has participated in the
National Outdoor Racquetball Championships, California Handball Championships, dozens of
tennis tournaments in the "Open" and "B" divisions, as well as many long-distance races and
track meets. Dr. Stevenson played varsity tennis at California State University, Fullerton, and is
the author of several books, including "The Golden Era of Preventive Medicine" and "Backwards
Running." Of his four college degrees, his doctorate is in Naturopathy (the science of healing
without drugs or surgery), and his Master's is in Social Science. He has had, in short, constant
exposure to the athletic world, and this, combined with his expertise in health and psychology, has
formed the foundation for The Super Mental Training Book. Applying his in-depth knowledge of
mental rehearsal techniques, Dr. Stevenson taught self-hypnosis to more than 20 athletes during
the mid-1970s. Most of them produced outstanding athletic performances while using
self-hypnosis — some setting national records in the process. This positive outcome fueled the
author's desire to write a mental training book to which professional and weekend athletes alike
could turn for guidance and motivation. Dr. Stevenson reasoned that such a book needed to be
more than an academic treatment of one mental rehearsal technique after another (what typically
is encountered in other sports psychology type books). He believed that the reader would be most
influenced by testimonials of known athletes. Certainly the words and stories of Jack Nicklaus,
Wade Boggs, Martina Navratilova, and other sports champions, citing their successful experiences
with mental training, would prove more useful and inspirational than any presentation of
theoretical concepts. Furthermore, by bringing the experience of such stars into a personal frame
of reference, it would let even the most casual athlete realize the potential of such techniques. This
approach added years to Dr. Stevenson's project. The result is, however, what I believe to be a
magnificent product of genius and perseverance.

I strongly recommend The Super Mental Training Book to anyone interested in active sports.
You wish to improve, I'm sure. In this book you will learn how the application of various mental
training strategies have brought championships, records, and greatness to many athletes. More
important, though, is to learn how you yourself can profit from these easy-to-use methods. Once
this realization is clear, act upon it. For your athletic performances, and life, will then attain a new
level of accomplishment and satisfaction.

Paul Scully-Power, D. Sc.
Space Shuttle Payload Specialist
Mission 41-G, October, 1984



MENTAL TRAINING STRATEGIES TIME LINE
(INTRODUCTION)





Attending Mental
Training Workshops

(Few athletes and coaches do
this therebv allowine astute


T
R

A
I

N
I

N
G

P

E

R


opponents who do participate
in these to gain a mental edge
come the competition; see
Kurt Krueger's experience)


Being Your Own
Mental Coach

(Dr. Kroger says that auto-
suggestions are much more


I


D


meaningful to a person than
suggestions "given to him
by someone else," such as a
coach/sports psychologist)






D C

Y U O
* P M
b P
T T E
p T

A l
\t T T

Y H I

E O
N

N
G N


Autosuggestions
(Should be done every day, and

p^npririll v on thp ifimp Hav von


compete, the suggestions being
fresh and tailor-made; periodic
reinforcement beneficial, says
Dr. Kroger)


C


M
T P
H E
E T




I

T
I


N





Mental Training Sessions

(Naruse taught 125 Japanese Olympians self-hypno-
sis, resulting in increased confidence and improved
performances; the author promotes regular practice of
self-hypnosis, visualization, or other mental disci-
plines of interest, estimating that 95% of all athletes
do not engage in mental training; Dr. Kroger advo-
cates 6 short self-hypnosis sessions per day; lactic
acid level usually falls during mental training)



Avoidance of Drugs,
Marijuana

(Hypnotist Pat Collins requires her students to stay off
pot, having found that drug users rarely master self-
hypnosis, because they do not practice; Dr. Reedy
notes that Oakland Raiders who were "regular users
were usually gone by the end of the year," their moti-
vation having disintegrated; Cleveland Browns coach
Sam Rutigliano saw drug-using players lose their
discipline)



Applying the Instant

Self-hypnosis

Capability

(If necessary, one can
give himself reinforcing
autosuggestions during
time outs and breaks in
the action)



INTRODUCTION

Golf legend Jack Nicklaus says, "Form a positive picture in your mind of how the ball must
behave to drop into the hole, then stick to your plan as you set up to and stroke the ball."
Meanwhile, another great golf champion, Tom Watson, declares that "the most important aspect
of any shot is to visualize what you want to do before you address the ball and swing." Ken
Norton, former world heavyweight boxing champion, once observed, "By the time I get to the
fight everything is embedded in my subconscious. Then, if an opportunity presents itself during
the fight, it's an automatic reflex." Tennis's Martina Navratilova informs us, "Especially if I've
got a grudge match, or I want to prove something, win something big, I will go to sleep imagining
what I am going to do. I try to envision the kind of points I want to be playing, the feeling of
euphoria after the win, everything." Men's tennis champion, Ivan Lendl, by contrast, remarks that
"I practice to music because it gives you rhythm and inspires you to play your best. I have
speakers in the trees and on my practice court, and I seem to play my best matches when one of
my favorite songs sticks in my mind." One of baseball's premiere hitters, George Brett, recalls
what he did while recovering from an injury during the 1980 season: "I'd sit on the bench and
visualize myself at the plate. I must have batted 600 times in my mind."

What are all these sports superstars talking about? They are, of course, referring to mental
training strategies — strategies which have helped each achieve his or her full athletic potential.
Over the years many top athletes have used self-hypnosis, visualization, meditation, music, and
other mental rehearsal techniques to dramatically improve their athletic performance. The re-
sulting outstanding performances have often led to world records and championships. You read
about the world records and money won by these athletes, but little is said about their mental
training regimens. Yet, as far as most athletes are concerned, this is the story which should be
reported. For the mass of evidence clearly indicates that self-hypnosis, visualization, and other
mental disciplines can help the average athlete, top athlete — any athlete — achieve his potential;
and realizing one's full potential is the logical, ultimate goal.

In this book I am going to tell you about the mental training strategies used by scores of sports
champions, including the Soviet Olympic athletes, and their successes (and occasional failures)
while employing these techniques. I am going to report this behind-the-scenes story in greater
detail than ever before attempted, noting at times the mistakes and blunders some have made in
seeking mental training's benefits. You will see that there are simple mental procedures you can
easily learn and practice which will substantially improve your game, as well as help you in
everyday life. Especially if you are a junior athlete, you can use these procedures to transform
your emotional outbursts into precision victories; you will play with confidence and total
concentration, and make things rough for your opponent. For coaches, the bottom line is that the
mental techniques discussed here, when properly implemented, will enable your players to win
more often.

You will learn that the "best" mental discipline is the one you feel most comfortable in
practicing, and which generates the greatest positive results for you. Some athletes swear by self-
hypnosis, some like visualization, others favor meditation, and so on. Every person is different,
and possesses his own preferences and inclinations. So, choose from the dozens of mental
procedures presented in this book one or more you feel might help you, and see what happens.
Before you embark on this course of action, though, you might wish to profit from a clearer
understanding of the role mental training now plays in sports. The balance of this chapter offers a
useful context with which to view mental training, describes some of its features, and highlights
an effective and powerful mental rehearsal technique.



THE SUPER MENTAL TRAINING BOOK



Pioneering Work on the Use of Hypnosis by Athletes

In 1972, a book was published which has virtually gone unnoticed: The Use of Hypnosis in
Athletics, by Dr. Wilfred M. Mitchell. The book is one of those pioneering efforts which contains
virtues and deficiencies in equal measure. I shall not review all the book's contents, but will give
you some idea of what it is about. Dr. Mitchell lists three purposes of his book: (1) "to bring into
the open forum of public discussion" the topic of the use of hypnosis in athletics; (2) to report the
findings of a survey Dr. Mitchell sent to high schools, junior colleges, colleges, and universities in
the U.S. and Canada. The survey, conducted in 1969, mainly tried to determine how much and
how often athletes in these schools used hypnosis; and (3) "to contribute an opening statement in
the discussion of the use of hypnosis in athletics by approving its use when done intelligently''
These purposes are laudable, but Dr. Mitchell's book hardly created a ripple. One major reason
for this was that the book could be obtained only by ordering it from the Department of
Psychology, University of the Pacific, an obscure marketing concern to say the least. It is not
surprising, therefore, that hardly anyone knows the book exists.

Dr. Mitchell obtained his information from a questionnaire. He sent the form to 1641 colleges
and universities across the country. A disappointing total of 422 schools replied. Of these only 76
reported instances where some of their athletes had used hypnosis. Furthermore, it is not known
who filled out the questionnaire — the Athletic Director's secretary, a part-time coach, the athlete
himself — we simply do not know. Obviously, it is important that affected athletes directly
participate in any such questionnaire project.

It seems that the only meaningful way to reasonably estimate how many athletes use hypnosis,
visualization, and similar mental rehearsal techniques, and how often they practice these tech-
niques, is to talk to the athlete himself! No matter how perfectly designed, a questionnaire sent to
an athletic department probably does not get any farther than the Athletic Director's secretary.
Tracking down the athlete and talking to him does require a lot of effort, but it is by far the most
rewarding way to research the subject.

For the last 15 years, I have talked to hundreds of athletes. The overwhelming majority of
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