Getting Into the Zone

Being detached from the outcome and just going with the flow is called "being in the zone." To get into the zone and achieve flow, a task has to be challenging but the athlete needs the level of skill to meet the challenge. It does not matter the skill level of the athlete as long as the challenge and level of skill are in balance.

During flow, action and awareness merge so that the body and mind function as one. To achieve flow, the athlete needs clear goals, unambiguous feedback, concentration on the task at hand, and a sense of control over the event. The experience of flow involves the loss of self-consciousness and transformation of time. Flow is intrinsically rewarding in itself, and so fighters seek to achieve it since it brings them a good feeling.