Tough

Choking

Fear is something everyone must deal with when facing adversity but some do not handle well. Some people choke, which means they let their negative emotions take control and their performance level decreases. Choking is not as bad as quitting, making excuses, getting angry, or using negativism; at least the person keeps trying and has not quit.

When your emotions gain unconscious control of your actions rather than your brain retaining its conscious control, you choke. Sometimes, even professional athletes choke. Toughness means coping with choking rather than trying to stop it when it occurs.

When choking occurs, the brain is sending negative commands to the body and the body is taking action in response to those commands by releasing hormones, adrenaline, etc. Once these chemical processes are in progress, the brain cannot consciously prevent their affects. Therefore, once a choke is in progress, you have no control over it until it has run its course. The best way to deal with choking is to take actions to prevent it.

Confidence helps prevent choking; if you feel insecure, you may choke. High motivation helps prevent choking; the more you want something, the less your chance of choking. If you think about choking, you will probably choke. A tough martial artist is one who will not let a choke stop him or her. When choking, a tough martial artist will not tank or get angry; he or she will continue to fight as best he or she can while trying to overcome the choke.