Tennis Improvement Memo 546. Even on days when things don't go well, you are growing—Justine Henin's direct advice on living a life that is "sometimes uncomfortable"
Yoshinobu Yamamoto wasn't a star from the very beginning either. He started as a 4th-round draft pick, virtually unknown. Justine Henin also says, "Sometimes, step out of your comfort zone."Even if things don't go well today, there's no need to panic. Days when you don't see results are part of the growth process. Between challenge and comfort, you just need to grow in your own way.
▶When you don't see results, that's exactly when you are sowing the seeds of learning
It seems Justine Henin, who was visiting Japan, gave exclusive interviews in various places.
Among them, this article was particularly helpful to me.
I will learn from it while sharing excerpts.
▶Even a "warm bath" needs a cold plunge to refresh once in a while
My coach, Carlos Rodriguez, had a policy that 'staying in your comfort zone for too long is not good,' and he guided me well.
This is a "recommendation to step out of your comfort zone sometimes" (Related article: "Tennis (life) that sometimes steps out of the 'comfort zone.' Then, it becomes even more comfortable!").
It would be nice if you could always play tennis comfortably, but if you mix in some play that isn't, you might have surprising realizations that go beyond the usual.
The daily life equivalent of this is the "experiment of doing something different once a day" (Related article: "Life changes with an experiment of doing 'something different' once a day").
For example, if you usually put on your left sock first, try putting on your right one first.
If you keep this in mind, you will become creative about what to try.
It's no exaggeration to say that a spirit of challenge will also be cultivated.
▶Staying in a cold plunge forever will surely give you a cold
However, Henin also advises the following.
But this is just my case, and I don't think it applies to everyone. That is why it is important to accurately grasp your own situation, including your physical and mental growth process and future capacity.
It doesn't mean you should make everything uncomfortable.
If you do that, your safety and peace of mind will be threatened, and you will become filled with stress.
That is why it is "sometimes".
▶There is no such thing as "effort that didn't pay off"
I played nine matches in two weeks, but the points I gained were as good as nothing. Honestly, I felt, 'I fought so hard, but it was all for nothing.' But that's not the case. I had actually gained a great asset called experience.
This is the same as the story of Thomas Edison searching for a light bulb filament.
The fact that the light bulb didn't light up was not a failure, but a 'new discovery' of unsuitable materials (related article 'Success Experiences Prepared for You vs. Failure Experiences Through Trial and Error').
Accumulate that experience as much and as quickly as possible.
Then, in accordance with the 'Amidakuji (Ghost Leg) Theory' of the cerebellar motor mechanism, a brain circuit will be formed that will not make mistakes again and will allow you to play reflexively (related article ''4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4' vs. '32 Wrinkles!'').
In short, this is the path to becoming an advanced tennis player.
Advanced players do not play while thinking or being conscious of things like 'do this,' 'do that,' or 'I'm going to do this.'
Rather, if you are conscious of it, you will stay at that level forever.
Let me quote Henin's reflection again.
I felt, 'I fought so hard, but it was all for nothing.' But that's not the case. I had actually gained a great asset called experience.
There is not a single person in this world who is not making an effort (related article 'There is no one who isn't making an effort').
▶ Don't blame yourself for being nervous
First, consider that being nervous is natural. Instead of resisting nervousness, I think you should accept it as a wonderful thing. Pete Sampras (a legend who boasts 14 Grand Slam titles) once said, 'Anyone who says they don't get nervous is a liar,' and I think he's right.
I talked about accepting nervousness here.
Just like 'the more you think you shouldn't eat, the more you want to eat,' the more you resist being nervous, the more nervous you become.
This is the 'Law of Reversed Effort'.
Because you are nervous, your body is prepared to be taut and ready to move, right? (related article 'Nervousness is a sign that you are 'Ready'').
The reason you can't move when you wake up is because you are still lazily dozing off (laughs).
▶ Refine spatial awareness with shadow swings
Thirty minutes before a match, do shadow tennis while imagining your ideal self. Attack with a forehand, hit cross-court, develop the play down the line, and finally come to the net to finish with a volley!
For average players to utilize shadow tennis without hitting a ball, as you pointed out previously, working to eliminate gaps in spatial awareness is most effective first (Related article: (Shouldn't the silver bat) be used in practice swings as a means to improve spatial awareness? ).
Even for a simple movement like raising both arms horizontally, we found that we couldn't do it accurately, as they would end up too high or too low (Related article: The image of 'spatial awareness' wavers).
Let alone in tennis play!
Even though you have the image of hitting a high volley or smash on a vertical plane, there is a possibility that it is actually an upward-facing or downward-facing plane in reality.
If this spatial awareness deviates from reality, no matter how well-timed your swing is, the ball will not land in the court.
In fact, the better you time your swing, the more the ball will go out the back or hit the net (if you mistime it, it might go in by a fluke...).
Therefore, first, correct that with shadow swings.
▶ Being the same person whether you are 'winning' or 'struggling'
Also, regarding match shadows, I think it is useful to visualize three patterns: when you are winning, when you are losing, and when it is a close match (Related article: You can maintain 'concentration endurance' by mitigating the 'shock' received when at a disadvantage).
We tend to want to imagine only when we are winning, but real matches are not like that (bitter smile).
The keyword is 'as always'.
Whether winning, losing, or competing, play calmly as the same person.
▶ Yoshinobu Yamamoto's 'as always' is the culmination of trial and error
'As always' becomes even more effective precisely because you have increased your experience through the 'experiments different from usual' mentioned earlier.
When you do this, you develop a 'tolerance' for mistakes, with an attitude like, 'It's an experiment, so it can't be helped if I fail'.
If you make a mistake, like Henin, you will be surprised to find yourself actually happy, thinking, 'I actually gained a great asset called experience!'.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto tries javelin throwing practice that is different from his usual routine and makes many mistakes, which is precisely why he can achieve his 'as always' pitching (Related article: Yoshinobu Yamamoto 'as always'. He does not 'create' a calm mind even in the MLB World Series).
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