In part one I learned a suprising thing: that “freezing” is actually very important for performing well and making good decisions under high pressure! In part-2 we go further and I learned that what I called Freeze is actually a state of Fright. Or even better, call it choking under pressure like in sport, so […]

Did you know that “freezing” is actually very important for performing well and making good decisions under high pressure? I did not. Did you know that what we often mean by freeze is not freeze but ‘fright’? And that as first responder trainers we should better speak about choking under pressure instead of freezing! I

“Feel the fear and do it anyway,” deeply resonates with me as I have to deal with being naturally fearful and performance anxiety. Kim “KC” Campbell’s powerful mantra, “Feel the fear and do it anyway,” takes center stage. Who is Kim? She’s not just anyone—she’s a retired US Air Force colonel, a combat pilot, and

Opeens zag ik het zo helder als nooit tevoren. In een binnenkort te verschijnen podcast spreken Marc Pollen en ik openhartig over wat ons drijft. Waarom hebben we onszelf tot het uiterste gedreven en gezocht naar de diepste grenzen van ons kunnen en begrip? Plotseling begreep ik het: motivatie kan voortkomen uit zowel groei als

What can be improved in police training? And what role can scenario-based training play in this? What is scenario based training and what not? Do you need to practice skills before scenario training and is scenario training something you do at the end of a training day? What demands does scenario based training place on

What is choking under pressure? How to deal with your thoughts under performance pressure? What is better: emotion or problem focused coping? Listen to the second part of my conversation with Dr Adam Nicholls, professor of psychology at the University of Hull. Before you think he is only doing research: Adam is also an accomplished

Do you want to know what mental toughness is? And how we as trainers can teach it to our students and first responders? Do you want to know how to develop Challenge instead of Threat States in your students? And what is the relation between personality traits and developing mental skills? What are mental skills

There come’s a time that the roles will be reversed. Over the past 40 years, I have had many role models that I looked up to. Who saved me from a violent and unsafe childhood. I looked up to those men who became my rock and my shoulder. Karate sensei’s van Hurck, budo master Chris

There is much and justifiable focus on breathing techniques aimed at self-regulation. Think tactical breathing, extended exhalation, physiological sighing, 1 breath reset and so on. But what about breathing during the ‘fight’? Did you ever tried to grapple on the mat or on the street with a wrong breathing pattern? Chances are you were out

Is performance perhaps an overlooked part of prevention of mental health problems? What is the difference between performance psychology and mental health? What is the best way to implement a mental skill training program in your unit and organisation? What an important topics again in this conversation with experienced soldier and researcher Christian Ytterbol! In