From Mental Spiral… To Showing Up As His Best Self

Richard struggled to replicate his gym performance in comps, until a shift in mindset unlocked a consistent, confident version of himself on the mats.

Athlete Snapshot

Name: Richard
Age: 44
Belt: Blue
Achievements: IBJJF Dublin Open Silver, consistent improvements across recent comps
What Was Holding Him Back: Struggling to bring training-room performance into comps, constant pressure to “justify the grind”

💬 Full Testimonial:

What was your absolute biggest challenge prior to doing my coaching sessions?

Not being able to compete in competitions the same way I roll in the gym. I would feel so much pressure to do well which gradually worsened as I kept losing. Feeling pressure to justify the expense, travel, time in gym and family sacrifice.

How did that challenge make you feel?

Frustrated. The longer that it went on, the more stubborn I became. Knowing that there was potentially a breakthrough to getting better results, but not having that answer, or tool at my disposal to unlock that breakthrough felt disheartening at times. I felt that I was continually doing the same thing over and over again and just waiting for a different outcome that was never coming!

What changed after doing the mental performance coaching?

One of the first things was understanding that I was in that position because I was too focussed on the outcome and not the process, which is largely out of my control. Being able to have clarity on the 'why' gave way to building up tools to help me focus on areas I can control such as body language, effort, competitiveness. Focussing on these put me in a very different headspace and results improved after that.

“Until you train your mind, you’re leaving a massive part of your potential untapped.”
What specific results can you share?

Second in Dublin IBJJF and more to come!

What would you say to somebody who is on the fence about joining my coaching?

That you can work tirelessly on your BJJ game in the gym, your nutrition, Strength and Conditioning, all of which can help, but until you train your mind, you’re leaving a massive part of your potential untapped. I learned tools to deal with pressure, to stay focused, and that it wasn't just about winning fights but showing up as your best self.

Describe your previous expectations of mental performance coaching, prior to starting. How did your experience differ?

Before working with Sam I had no idea what to expect and nothing to lose. I knew from the first consultation with Sam he knew exactly where I was mentally, like he had countless times with his clients and that gave me confidence to know that he could help me. Having spent a few months working with Sam I can say that I gained so much more than what I had expected! I learned that mental performance is a practical development that you can action in your daily routine. Much like building up habits you eventually stack up a good foundation that not only helps you perform in BJJ but in life.

Anything else to add?

I'm very glad I approached Sam to work with him one to one, I learned so much!

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