the rum soaked fist: internal martial arts forum

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clutch_(sports)

many interesting facets to this topic but here's one that caught my eye because we like to talk about pressure testing:

The Yerkes-Dodson Law spurred further research into its direct application in athletics. As a result, Sport psychologist, Yuri L. Hanin, developed the Zone of Optimal Functioning theory, which states, ″In order for an athlete to perform to their highest capability, they must experience their preferred level of anxiety.″

we all know we perform better under a certain level of pressure. clutch performers (who win games in the last few minutes) seem to thrive on that level of pressure/anxiety. why that is doesn't seem to be known.

in IMA boards, we like to talk about "relax" or we like to talk about "pressure" or "resistance" but we should probably always talk about them as some kind of optimal mix. we don't always like to talk about anxiety. it seems to be the opposite of "relax" but "preferred level of anxiety" is probably a more useful concept.

Don't know anything about sports psychology or any other profession psychology. Maybe it's not the seemingly losing side that seem to preform better, maybe it's the winning side that to early think they have the game and from that point slightly lose focus - it ain't over till it's over. Zanshin is a concept important in Japanese martial arts..."In kyūdō, zanshin means the body posture after the loosing of an arrow; the posture is intended to reflect the higher meaning of zanshin, which is a mental aspect maintained before, during, and after an action"....https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zanshin