Compete often, compete easy
“I have always competed way better than I train and I think that’s because of how much I have competed. Plus, I know what it takes to win and it makes it easier for me to do my camps and go in with a good mindset. I prepared myself the best I could and there is nothing more important for an athlete than his mind and confidence.”
Don’t slow down, speed up
“I train harder as a black belt than I ever trained at other belts, because that’s what you need to be successful at this level and when you really push yourself past your limits, you get more confident. I think that’s when I got the in right mindset and everything else fell into place.”
Get used to the struggle
“Competing trains your mind and your body. I think that’s why I am able to control my adrenaline so well at major tournaments. I have gone through the process so many times; the weight cut, the anticipation, testing myself against so many different people.”
Pursue your goals, no matter how long it takes to achieve them
“It’s a personal goal of mine to win the open class at the Worlds, I know it’s possible and I definitely won’t stop trying, but I know it’s difficult with me being a featherweight. Every tournament I am trying to correct details that I think are missing!”
Experience will come. Be patient
“I think the biggest difference was to be more experienced as a black belt. It’s something that you can’t really teach. It just comes with time. Some people mature faster or slower than others and I think having gone through my ACL surgery [in 2014] on my first year as a black belt helped me mature faster.”
