The mind is a powerful thing to waste.
The mental game. It’s an important concept in any athletic endeavor, yet most onlookers tend to focus more on the physical aspect of the sport. It’s not their fault really. They’re called onlookers for a reason aren’t they, so they can watch in amazement as high level athlete perform feats they could only dream of. In that time of being an observer you’re really only going to focus on what an athlete does with their body, whether it’s a boxer, running back, a basketball player, or a bodybuilder, paying closer attention to the physical form is only natural. But it’s not the physical prowess that brings them to the table, at least not only the physical, but their mindsets as well. The mind can be a powerful tool if utilized correctly.
So what’s all this talk about the mind set anyways? Well, bodybuilding is as much about the mental game as the physical. Not simply in terms of food prep or monitoring their macro nutrition. We’re talking about the psychology of competition, the mind set that can crush an opponent before they even choose to get on stage. Arnold Schwarzenegger was a master of it, able to toy with fellow competitors to the point that their performances ended up being lackluster on stage.
Take for instance Arnold’s chief rival during the 1975 Mr. Olympia competition Lou Ferrigno. Lou was blessed with the right genetics and had the diligent work ethic that could’ve easily made him a champion. There was only one problem; he was up against Arnold who was pretty much an unbeatable entity at that point. Arnold had Lou beaten from the start and nothing highlighted his psychological edge than the breakfast scene from Pumping Iron.
Hit up page two to watch Arnold’s on stage psychological warfare.
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