At what age did you start wrestling? Why and how did you get involved in the sport?

Age 5. I have always been in wrestling because my dad used to wrestle and was the head wrestling coach at my high school back in the late 1970′s through the 1980′s. He had also helped get a youth club started at my high school. My dad told me that one day I told him I wanted to wrestle so he took me down to youth club.
Were you a natural when you started, or did it take time for you to get good?

I am not sure if I was a natural. It took me time to figure out things and get better just like any kid. One thing I did realize though is that I did not like to lose. I just figured out how to win no matter how good or bad I was. As I got older, I just wrestled and competed hard and won more than I lost. I never won any really big tournament, like a national tournament until my Junior year of college. Then, also with freestyle, I never was the best and did not start to excel until my senior year of high school and then in college. I was always decent at it growing up but began getting a lot better in all positions of freestyle later in my career.You have some pretty good genes in your family! Was it helpful to have two older sisters who would beat on you?

Yeah, I lucked out on the genes I suppose. I mean without them, who knows where I would be today, haha. I am also not sure what this sister thing means, and why everyone brings it up. Just because one of my sisters can bench 425 lbs. and front squat 440 lbs. does not mean they can beat me up. I have actually laid the smackdown on them numerous times. But yes it was helpful having two sisters who THINK they could beat on me. They knew if they messed with the bull, they would get the horns, and I am the bull.

When did you realize you wanted to continue wrestling in College?

Growing up, I did most sports. I liked all sports really; it was fun to do. Wrestling was always my number one, and I liked it the best. I had goals going into high school that I wanted to accomplish, and knew if I accomplished them that I could probably wrestle for a good college. When I got into high school, I only wrestled. My focus was to accomplish those goals and go to college to wrestle and do what I needed to do in order to go to the best college program I could.

I was recruited by Iowa State, Oklahoma State, Iowa, and Nebraska. After I took my recruiting trip to Iowa State and met Coach Cael, I knew that was the place for me. I knew that was the guy that was going to be able to help me the most to accomplish my goals. It was a perfect fit because he wrestled the same weight I ended up wrestling in college, and I would be able to wrestle with him every day. To accomplish my goals, I needed someone like that, and he was the man, and I owe a lot to him. He has brought me a long way and taught me a lot.

Wrestling at Iowa State was awesome! I went to ISU with the number 1 recruiting class in the nation, which was pretty exciting. We had a lot of tough guys on the team and the best coaches in the country. I could not ask for anything better. I loved wrestling in the Hilton Coliseum. Those were always fun duals, wrestling against Iowa because it was always heated, and of course wrestling in the NCAA’s.

College wrestling is awesome and I do miss it because of the intensity and excitement of the wrestlers and fans.

Wrestling for the Sandersons was awesome! These guys know their wrestling and know how to prepare their wrestlers. There were also a couple other guys on staff that were a big part of my success at Iowa State as well. They were Tim Hartung who was there my first two seasons and was one of the toughest guys I have ever wrestled. The other was Casey Cunningham who is one of the strongest guys I have ever wrestled. Coach Cunningham is still one of my coaches now along with Coach Cael and Coach Cody. Wrestling for these guys was something special because they wanted to help you in any way they could. They wanted the best for every one of their wrestlers and wanted them to win just as bad as their wrestlers did. They are top notch guys and very trusting and loyal guys. I could not have asked for better coaches and do not know what I would do without them. They have all played a big role in my career and I could not thank them enough. I have learned from each one of them and still am learning from them. They have so much knowledge, not just in wrestling but also in life as well. They are just all amazing guys and wrestling for them and still wrestling for them is just simply amazing.

Ending my college career as a 2xNCAA Champ was special. Obviously it was not the way I wanted to end it. My goal was to be a 4xNCAA champ. I took 2nd my freshman and sophomore years, so when I finally won my junior year, I was very happy to finally get over the hump. Then ending with another title my senior year just was a great way to go out in college. You cherish every moment in college wrestling because it flies by, and those were two big moments that felt great.

It was hard on me when he did leave. I also did think about transferring and really wanted to. It ended up not happening, and I finished my career at Iowa State. Right after I graduated and had my graduation ceremony, I took off the next day to move to State College. I could not wait to get out here. It was a tough year without Coach Cael because I was so used to the system and plan they had us on. When you get a new coach, things do change and you have to figure out how to deal with them. The good thing was Coach Cael said if I ever needed anything or to talk that he would always be there for me. That really helped keep me calm throughout my senior year and helped me be able to focus and keep my eye on the goal. Coach Cael is a standout guy, and I owe him everything. I could not wait to get back to wrestling with him and get my training started out in Happy Valley, and it was the best move I could have made. It was a long year my senior year because all I could think was, I am going to win my 2nd NCAA title and graduate then get out to State College where I belong, haha. And here I am.

Actually, it was 5 years. He was a great roommate and easy to get along with. I was bigger than him so basically it made things easier, and I told him what to do all the time, and he listened of course, haha. He was a good roommate though, and we got along really well. He is a great guy and good friend, one of my best friends, and we still keep in touch. He lives about 100 yards from me now, but he is also married and does not have time for me anymore, haha. Nick is a very, very clean kid and washes his hands about a billion times a day. He also has bad circulation in his hands, and that’s why his hands get really dry and cold all the time.

The one thing I learned the most from the World Championships in 2009 was that to win, you have to go score points. Especially in freestyle, if you put points on the board, it makes it a lot easier to win. Weird I know, but that’s’ how it works. Also, it is important just realizing that if you get scored on or taken down that it is not a big deal because you still had to score no matter what to win the match. Also, just staying focused in the match and not getting frustrated. Coach Cael has played a huge role getting me to the next level. Without him, I would not be nearly where I am now. I wrestle with him as much as I can because I know I am not going to wrestle anyone better than him in the world. And wrestling with him keeps me sharp. Also, Coach Cunningham has helped me a ton. He is so good on top that if you can stop him from turning you, you should be able to stop anyone from turning you. He pushes me everyday too which is awesome. And Coach Cody has also played a role in my career. He is so smart as far as training and technique. Just in general, he is a smart dude. I try to learn from all of these guys because they all have different styles that were successful.

It is an honor to be able to represent the United States. I have done it twice now, and it is like nothing else competing for your country. For the Olympics, it will even be more special because it’s the Olympics. I have always wanted to be an Olympic Champion, and that is why once I got to high school, I started to focus on just wrestling. It is just a great honor to be able to do something like this.

I do not really have a best or favorite match because most of the matches you usually remember are the ones you have lost. But winning my first NCAA title was a good feeling knowing I finally got that title and jumping in Coach Cael’s arms.

I plan on staying in wrestling for a while, whether it is competing or some type of coaching role. I like to help the up and comers that will be representing this country some day and feel I have a lot to offer them. After I am done with wrestling, I am not sure what I will do.

I liked everywhere I have lived. I like the west coast probably the most because of the weather. Living in Ames, Iowa was a good time, and I enjoyed my time there. I did not mind living there because I knew what I was there for. I also enjoy living out east in state college as well. It is a great place to be and a great environment. Iowa was definitely the coldest which was not very fun. I have enjoyed all the places I have lived.

I had part of my pinky chopped off when I was little, and it grew back. That’s why they call me Wolverine because I can regenerate. Just how I roll.

Fishing is one thing I love to do when I am not wrestling. It keeps me relaxed, and when you are catching a ton of fish, it’s just an awesome feeling. I also like to golf, even though I am not very good. I just like to try and see how far I can smash the ball. Watching and quoting movies has always been something I like doing. Or just hanging out with friends.

Who would in a fight, a Silverback Gorilla or a Grizzly Bear and why?

It does not really matter who would win, because I would win this fight.Who was recruiting you out of high school? Did you always have aspirations to wrestle for Coach Cael?You had one of the most successful careers ever for a college wrestler? There have only been a handful of wrestlers to make the finals 4 times. Please talk about wrestling at Iowa State, wrestling for the Sandersons, and talk about what it meant to end your career as a 2x national Champion?Coach Cael left for Penn State right before your senior year. Was it hard when he left and did you think about trying to transfer with him? How did you cope with losing your mentor?You roomed with fellow Resident Athlete, Nick Fanthorpe, for 4 years at Iowa State. How was that? Tell us something about Nick that we don’t know.Last year you placed third at the World Championships which was your first placing at a major world-level tournament. You have made considerable gains in freestyle. Talk about your gains and what has helped you make such a jump and be of the favorites at the Olympic Games this summer.Please talk about representing the U.S. at the Olympic Games in London. What does that mean to you and has that always been a goal of yours?Please tell us about a match that you wrestled that you consider your best or favorite match.What do you see yourself doing after your competitive career is over?You were raised on the west coast, lived your college years in the mid-west, and now reside on the east coast. Which area has been your favorite and which has been your least favorite?Tell us something about Jake Varner that we might not know?What does Jake Varner like to do for fun when not on the wrestling mat?Give me one word to describe your coaches.

Coach Cael-Knowledgeable, trustworthyIf you were to compete professionally in another sport, we all believe it would be the WWE. What would your name be and your secret move?Any last things you would like to say to the NLWC membership?

One common but major mistake in coaching is telling kids
what they are doing wrong instead of focusing on what they are doing
right.  At least 90% of coaches believe their
job is to point out mistakes.  This is
partially true, but anyone can see a mistake.
Most fans in the stands can see a mistake, especially after the fact.  The trick is to focus on what the athlete is
doing well.  Think about yourself, if
someone tells you are doing something poorly, it is deflating.  If someone tells you are doing something
well, you light up inside and you’re motivated to do an even better job.  There is a time and place for criticism but
it needs to be rare and presented properly.   As a parent, focus on what your young
wrestler is doing well and secretly have them working on their weaknesses.   That doesn’t
mean you can’t help your young athlete fix a mistake, just do it delicately and
out of love for them.

—–Original Message—–

From: CFry79@gmail.com [mailto:CFry79@gmail.com]

Sent: Friday, October 07, 2011 9:16 AM

To: Cael Sanderson

Subject: Cael Sanderson | Ask a Question

Results from
form:

name:                  Red Beard

email:                 CFry79@gmail.com

question:              Do you think starting wrestling
at a young age is helpful/important?

Nittany Lion grapplers claim two of conference’s top awards

            UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; June 20, 2011 – The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team was honored by the Big Ten Conference as the Big Ten’s 2010-11 Men’s Team of the Year.  Penn State head coach Cael Sanderson was also tabbed as the 2010-11 Big Ten Men’s Head Coach of the Year.

            The Nittany Lion wrestlers were the 2011 Big Ten Champions, claiming the school’s first ever conference title, in early March in Northwestern and then winning the 2011 NCAA National Championship in Philadelphia on March 17-19 in front of a partisan Penn State crowd at the Wells Fargo Center.  Penn State posted a superb 17-1-1 dual meet record which included both the Virginia Duals title and a co-championship at the Southern Scuffle.  Penn State set a school record with a 6-1-1 Big Ten dual meet as well.  Penn State beat out the Ohio State men’s basketball team and the Wisconsin football team to claim the honor.

            Sanderson’s Lions rode the strong performance of eight national qualifiers including five All-Americans (all of whom finished in the top three and one of which won a national crown).  Sophomore Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.) capped off an historic March run by winning the 184-pound crown as the No. 9 seed.  Wright began March with a Big Ten title as well as Big Ten Championship Most Outstanding Wrestler honors.  Junior Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) became a three-time All-American by advancing to the finals at 149.  Molinaro also won the 149-pound Big Ten title.  Red-shirt freshman David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) capped off a stunning rookie campaign by advancing to the finals at 157 to become a freshman All-American as national runner-up.  Taylor was the Big Ten Wrestler of the Year and Big Ten Freshman of the Year.  Sophomore Andrew Long (Creston, Iowa) rolled to a third place finish at 133 at the NCAA Championships to become a two-time All-American.  Long also won the Big Ten crown.  Red-shirt freshman Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) also rolled to a third place finish at 174 and collected the Gorriaran Award at NCAA’s for most pins in the least time.  Ruth was the Big Ten champion as well.

            Penn State’s run at NCAA’s was historic for the school and east coast wrestling as well.  The crown was Penn State’s first since 1953; the Nittany Lions become only the sixth team in the nation to win more than one NCAA team title; the 107.5 team points is a Penn State record (and marks the first time PSU scored over 100); the Nittany Lions now have 22 individual champions (among 19 individuals), 7th all-time in the nation; Penn State had five All-Americans for the first time since 1998 (the school record is eight, set in 1987); Penn State had five wrestlers finish in the top three nationally for the first time since 1953; Penn State had three national finalists for the first time since 1999.

            Sanderson’s overall conference Coach of the Year honor is the latest in a long line of accolades won the veteran mentor.  He was named 2011 Big Ten Wrestling Coach of the Year and earned numerous national Coach of the Year awards from various national publications.  Sanderson’s Big Ten Wrestling Coach of the Year honor, combined with his Big 12 Coach of the Year honors won while at Iowa State, makes him the only coach in NCAA history to earn coach of the year laurels from both the Big Ten and Big 12.  Sanderson now sports a 30-7-2 dual meet record at Penn State in two seasons and is 74-17-2 in five years as a head coach.  The 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist has also returned to the competitive arena, winning the 2011 U.S. World Team Trials crown at 84 kg and will head to Istanbul, Turkey, this September for the 2011 World Championships.  Sanderson beat out Ohio State men’s basketball coach Thad Matta and Purdue men’s basketball coach Matt Painter for the honor.

            Penn State is already prepping for the upcoming season.  The season ticket package for the 2011-12 campaign features seven home duals (the Nittany Lion Open is not part of the package and the Intrasquad is free) and costs only $42 for all seats, the same price as last year.  Fans can place new orders for season tickets by calling Joel Diamond at 814-867-2557.  A $5 per order handling fee will be added to new season ticket holders.  Current season ticket holders from last year will receive their renewal notices later this summer and information on single dual tickets will come as the season approaches.  With season ticket sales already brisk, Penn State will be capping the number of total season tickets sold (combining new applications and renewals from last year), so fans wishing to purchase new season tickets are encouraged to do so quickly. 

            All information for purchasing new season tickets is also available online at is www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets/m-wrestl-tickets.html .  Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at www.twitter.com/pennstatepat and on Penn State Wrestling’s facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling. The 2010-11 Penn State Wrestling season has been presented by The Family Clothesline.   The full 2011-12 Penn State Wrestling Schedule is as follows: 

Patrick Donghia

Penn State Wrestling Twitter:  http://twitter.com/pennstatepat

Penn State Wrestling Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling

Assistant Director of Athletics Communication

Ph: 814 865 1757 — email: pad11@psu.edu

Sanderson, who turns 32 this month, qualified for the World Championships in September in Istanbul.

“After last year’s World (Championships) I was just kind of thinking what am I doing this summer?” said Sanderson, who won four matches on Saturday. “I could have been a little more disciplined, a little more focused and I could have just wrestled. There is plenty of time in the day to add a little bit more and I really thought hard about it.

“My job right now is coaching the Penn State wrestling team and that is my top priority next to God and my family. I could go home at the end of the day and try and master (the video game) Call of Duty or be a little more focused and try and wrestle.”

Sanderson got out of wrestling shortly after winning an Olympic gold medal in 2004, following his 159-0 career at Iowa State — the first ever perfect four-year run through college competition. He coached the Nittany Lions to the NCAA title last season.

He was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame on Thursday night.

Herbert, a two-time NCAA champion for Northwestern University, entered the weekend as the top seed after winning the U.S. Open title in April. He won a silver medal at the 2009 World Championships and awaited the Challenge Tournament winner for a best-of-three series.

All day Sanderson showed the ability to scramble and be physical when needed. He gained momentum with each match.

“Early on I hadn’t been in competitive matches like that in a real atmosphere,” Sanderson said. “I think I was forcing stuff, trying a little too hard. It felt more comfortable as the day went on. I had to adjust and add some things to my offense which I expected.”

Sanderson beat 2011 NCAA champion Jon Reader in the Challenge Tournament finals. Reader was recruited and coached by Sanderson at Iowa State.

Sanderson showed he still has the ability to scramble, coming out of a situation with a cradle to pin two-time NCAA champion Chris Pendleton in the second period of the semifinals.

“I don’t think he ever got that far away from (wrestling),” said Bill Zadick, who is on the Team USA coaching staff and won a world championship in freestyle in 2006 when he was 33. “He was always kind of working out, leading in his room.

“That first match, first time getting down to weight is tough. Wrestling is a tough physical sport and Cael showed that he’s still got that toughness.”

Sanderson’s experience should help the U.S. team in Istanbul. Three of the seven athletes heading to Turkey will be competing in their first World Championship.

“He is going to bring that work ethic and focus to a young group of guys,” Zadick said. “It’s really going to be a positive for the team in that environment.”

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

While at the World Team Trials I heard a few different coaches and athletes talking about how the athlete needs to be more “selfish” if they hope to win at the international level.  The idea of being “selfish” is a pet-peeve of mine. This is a common idea among elite level athletes and one that I totally disagree with.  Being “selfish” is not the right word or idea if you want to be the best you can be.  Being “selfish” is a very negative term with negative and limiting consequences.

 Let’s consider the definition of selfish:  looking after own desires; concerned with your own interests, needs, and wishes while ignoring those of others.  Showing that personal needs and wishes are thought to be more important than those of other people. 

Does that type of attitude sound like what it takes to reach your greatest potential?!  No way! 

 “Selfishness is really self-destruction in slow motion.”  -Neal Maxwell

Selfishness is basically the root of all sin and unhappiness.  The scriptures speak over and over again on the evils of selfishness.  Selfishness is not happiness and will never bring happiness. 

So how can anyone ever use the term in referring to anything positive?  You can’t.  How can an athlete (or anyone else) reach their greatest potential with an attitude fixed on asking  “what’s in it for me?”  It will not work.  There are no exceptions to the laws of God.

If a person in any field wants to reach their maximum potential they have to be disciplined, not selfish.

Being disciplined means that you get done what needs to be done.  Difficult or not, you do it.  There is plenty of time in the day to get the important things done.  You must be a team player.  My experience with athletes that think they need to be “selfish” is that they don’t want to help other members of the team because they feel like it will take away from their own mission.  False!  Everything is about them and their strength is limited.  The more you focus on yourself, the smaller you become and the larger your own problems become.   When you are told you need to be “selfish” you get the wrong idea.  

Being “selfish” doesn’t work.  Being selfish won’t work for you, and surely won’t work for your employer, or the team.   

You’ll get what you give.  If you bring value to an organization or team, you’ll feel better about yourself.  You will see life in a more positive light.  You go further in your own individual career 10 out of 10 times if you are a team player.  Plus, you’ll be able to keep your job…haha.  

If you want to see how great you can become, be disciplined.  Prioritize your life.  Do all the little and difficult things that it takes to make progress.  Being disciplined means that you eliminate actions, habits, and thoughts that hold you back from making progress.  Take no short cuts.   

Ok, that’s my two cents. 

Coach Cunningham wears short shorts.

But it was never the bruising and banging that got to Sanderson, six years removed from his Olympic gold medal and nine years away from completing his reign as an unbeaten collegian for Iowa State at 159-0. No, to be honest, it was the itching.

“It was always in the back of my mind how hard it was to stay away from the challenge of competing,” says Sanderson, 10 days shy of his 32nd birthday. “That feeling never goes away. I’m not sure it ever will.”

With little fanfare, Sanderson has been adding the sessions and losing the weight. In the back of his mind, the mornings wrestling with his collegians always had a dual purpose.

“I was doing everything to fire them up,” he said by phone Wednesday night. “But actually they were firing me up.” On Thursday he plans to make it official. One of the greatest U.S. wrestlers in history will announce his intentions to aim for a spot on the 2012 Olympic team.

It will be a busy weekend for Sanderson, who will be inducted into the Wrestling Hall of Fame on Thursday and will wrestle up to seven matches at the U.S. World Team Trials in Oklahoma City on Saturday. Should Sanderson win his 185½-pound weight class, he’ll represent the U.S. at the world championships in Istanbul in September. If he earns a medal at worlds this year, he will gain a spot in the finals at the Olympic trials in Iowa City next year.

“I want to start moving up the ladder,” he says.

Those who know Sanderson, as publicity-averse as a star can get, know he is not in this for the ink. He has told his family, his wrestlers, a few friends, his staff at Penn State and stayed clear of everyone else before speaking with SI. As much as he has opened up and become more detailed in his answers as a coach, the sight of Sanderson, stone-faced, lock-jawed and purposeful, is a more comfortable posture than the man in the suit who now willingly shakes hands with alumni and donors.

“I’d like this to be under the radar, the way it always has been,” he says, “even though I know it won’t be possible soon. For me the question is: Did I honestly do enough with the ability I was born with? I don’t think God cares if I win one gold medal or two; I think He gave us this ability and did I do everything I could with what I was given? That desire to compete, to fight for something, to rise to a challenge, I’m not sure it goes away. My window is short now. I want to take this as far as I can.”

Sanderson actually made a mini-comeback in March when he fulfilled a promise to his team. If they won the Big Ten title, he told them, he would wrestle at a qualifying event at SUNY-Brockport in March. Of course Sanderson blitzed the field in the 211-pound class, but that was just a nod to his wrestlers at Penn State. Wasn’t it?

“It was something else in my mind,” he says, “but I didn’t really say much about it.”

In fact Sanderson was taking his own temperature, seeing if he might be able to parlay his knowledge and residual fitness into a serious return.

“I know other people sometime make comebacks that don’t go that well,” he says. I don’t want to be like that. It’s the competitor in me. I can’t even picture or imagine not winning.”

Though Sanderson qualified at the 211-pound class, he decided to cut weight to in order to avoid wrestling against Jake Varner, a two-time NCAA champ from Iowa State and close friend.

“Jake is number one at his weight and he’s like a brother to me,” Sanderson says. “I don’t want to be trying to take his spot away.”

Still, moving down in weight is no easy feat. Whereas there were 10 weight classes when Sanderson coached at the NCAAs, there are just seven at the Olympic and world levels, meaning Sanderson must drop back to his old competition weight 185½ pounds from the 211 he carried during most of the season. He will also face a strong field that includes Quentin Wright, the only Nittany Lion who won an individual title at the NCAAs this year.

“I don’t really know where I am physically and I won’t until I face that first hard test,” he says. “Then I need to just be in there training, because that’s what it takes.”

And for now it’s the only way to stop the itching.

From: Pat Donghia <pad11@psu.edu>
Date: Apr 3, 2011 6:33 PM
Subject: VIDEO BLAST! Relive our magical 2011 Big Ten and NCAA Championship runs!

The video we put together for today’s awards banquet is yours, too!  Watch, Enjoy!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weNoHX7y_kI

“Said the big white rooster, ‘Gosh all hemlock; things are really tough,

Seems that worms are getting scarcer and I cannot find enough;

What’s become of all those fat ones is a mystery to me;

There were thousands through the rosy spell but now where can they be?’

The little red hen who heard him didn’t grumble or complain,

She had gone through lots of dry spells, she had lived through floods of rain;

So she flew up on the grindstone and she gave her claws a whet,

As she said: ‘I’ve never seen the time there were no worms to get.’

She picked a new and undug spot—the earth was hard and firm,

The big white rooster jeered, ‘New ground! That’s no place for a worm.”

“The little red hen just spread her feet, she dug both fast and free,

‘I must go to the worms,’ she said, ‘the worms won’t come to me.’

“The rooster vainly spent his day, through habit, by the ways

Where fat worms have passed in squads, back in the rainy days.

When night fall found him supperless, he growled in accents rough,

‘I’m hungry as a fowl can be—conditions sure are tough.’

He turned then to the little red hen and said, ‘It’s worse with you,

‘For you’re not only hungry but you must be tired, too.

‘I rested while I watched for worms so I feel fairly perk,

‘But how are you? Without worms, too? And after all that work.’

“The little red hen hopped to her perch and dropped her eyes to sleep,

And murmured in a drowsy tone, ‘Young man, hear this and weep,

I’m full of worms and happy, for I’ve dined both long and well,

The worms are there as always—but I had to dig like heck.’

“Oh, here and there, white roosters still are holding sales positions,

They cannot do much business now, because of poor conditions,

But soon as things get right again, they’ll sell a hundred firms—

Meanwhile the little red hens are out a-gobbling up the worms.” 

-author unknown

by Ernest Emerson

02/22/2011

Have you ever seen two boxers staring each other down in the center of the ring before the fight?  Why do you think they do this?  Simply, they are trying to psychologically intimidate each other.  Two simple psychological statements are being made.  One is “I’m not scared of you,” and the other is, “I’m going to kick your ass!”  This action, in easy, seeable, and understandable terms defines the classic “psyching out your opponent,” that we’ve all heard of at some point in our life.

That example is a very easy way to illustrate the psychological interaction of human behavior, between two individuals engaged in or about to engage in combat.  However, there’s a lot more going on than the eye can see and in real combat the stakes are not whose hand is raised at the end but who ends up in a coffin.

As I’ve discussed all along, the vital if not primary role the mind plays in surviving a life threatening encounter, now we’ll take a look at what role it plays during combat itself.

The apex predator in North America is the male grizzly bear.  It’s 800 pounds of tooth claw and muscle.  It can kill a 700 pound elk with one blow and it fears no other species of animal.

Yet there is one animal that can and will kill a male grizzly.  What animal could that be?  A 400 pound female grizzly.  How could that possibly be?  The male outweighs her by 400 pounds and is bigger, meaner, and stronger.  I’ll answer the question and the answer is this; When the female is defending her young.  As you know, in the wild, males will often kill the offspring sired by other males in order to drive the females into estrus so they can pass on their progeny and genes.

How can the female kill a bear that dwarfs it in size?  There are several major dynamics at work and these, in total, give the female the advantage that she needs.  These are; She will fight to kill the male grizzly (Purpose and Intent).  She has no regard for her own safety (Loss of Self).  And, she will fight to the death (Ferocious Resolve).

I want to look at these three separate but necessary parts of the whole as they relate to combat, their effects on you, their effects on the opponent and why they are necessary for your survival when you are confronted with the harsh realities of a violent encounter.

We’ll start with Purpose and Intent.  Using the female grizzly as our model, if she is attacked by a male grizzly over territory, food, or any reason excluding protecting her young, the male grizzly would easily subdue her, drive her away or kill her.  Perhaps he is a serial killer grizzly and she was to become his latest victim.  

What is difference?  Same bears, same fight – but no purpose.  The difference is plain to see.  She didn’t have anything to fight for.  There was no purpose to fight.  She did not want to hurt or kill the male grizzly – no Intent.  She could always get other food or move to another territory.  So in this case the male grizzly dominates the other bear both physically and psychologically.  Just as with humans, after all we are still animals, there must be a purpose to fight, a cause, or a reason, or you’re heart just won’t be in it.  This purpose, whether it is to protect children, loved ones, partners, teammates, or the soldier next to you is a vital element of, survival against the odds.  This purpose can also be driven by less tangible but sometimes just as important reasons such as religion, justice, patriotism or moral righteousness.  

Sometimes it’s just plain self preservation.  Whatever that reason is, there must be a reason.
In regard to Intent, there must be a goal.  And that Intent must be to meet force of violence by responding with Overwhelming Force of Violence.  If you must fight you have to fight to win.  From the very onset.  Whenever I’ve worked with the Brits they were always talking about the switch.  Are you switched on?  Switch on – switch off – developing your switch, etc, etc.

I came to realize that what they meant was, in simple terms of a fight, your switch better be turned on or you’re gonna lose.  Switched on can also mean being aware of your surroundings, your environment and many other things but I’m not discussing those other meanings right now.  And, if you enter into the fight, any fight without the Intent to kill if necessary, then you may not get that option after you’ve been stabbed several times, shot or beaten with a pipe.  Here’s where most attorney types and a lot of Law Enforcement people say, “Hey, wait a minute.  You can’t tell people to go out and kill someone just because they’ve said, ‘F..k you I’m gonna kick your ass!’”  So let me just say this once again, the premise of this series of articles is “Surviving The Deadly Attack.”  Maybe it would be better to describe my point in more benign terms.  The female grizzly enters the fight to protect her young at full blood lust rage knowing that if she has to she will kill the male grizzly to protect her young.  Even more benign is this.  Picture this and you’ll know the difference I’m describing.  Walk over to your stereo and turn it on.  Now adjust the volume, turn it up so you can hear it.  Or… walk over to the stereo turn the volume up to full blast and then hit the on switch.  That is the difference I am talking about.  Against true, raw, naked violence you don’t have the option of turning up the volume, ramping up to fight off an attacker during the attack.  You need to hit them at full volume and then turn the volume down as is warranted both morally and legally as the dynamics change.  You’ve got to switch on at full volume until the threat is neutralized.  Sometimes just “putting up your dukes,” stops a fight before it starts as long as you are ready to go “all the way.”  If that is your intent, the opponent will get the message – psychologically.  It speaks loud and clear without a word being said.

The second aspect of the fight between the minds is this.  The Japanese Samurai called it “The loss of Self.”  What this means is that in order to fight, really fight with everything that you have, with no hesitation or holding back, you can have no regard for injury or harm to yourself.  Why was this important to the Samurai?  Because when two opponents are fighting each other in mortal combat with razor sharp swords that will cut a man in half, there can be no hesitation, second guessing or fear of being cut or injured.  “He who hesitates is lost,” is absolutely true in terms of mortal combat.  Many times we have been regaled with stories of soldiers who fought on against the enemy against incredible odds and serious injuries that any one alone would be enough to disable someone under “normal” conditions.  If you’ve ever had the opportunity to hear or talk to any of those individuals you will find that they had “ceased to exist” in those moments and that there was only the enemy to defeat, that everything in their being was channeled to defeating or killing the enemy.  There was nothing held back, it was pure focus and determination at the cost of all other considerations.  There was NO FEAR!  Mind you, I’m not talking about courage here.  That is something that is also necessary.  And many times that courage is fueled by Purpose as we discussed earlier.  

However, what I’m talking about here is a state of mind.  A psychological phenomenon.  It is also part of what enables the Grandmother to pick the car up, off of her Grandson.  There is no, “I can’t pick up the car.”  There is no, “It’s too heavy for me.”  There is no I or me.  There is only, “PICK UP THE CAR!”  I call this the Superman moment.  We all have it, you may have never used it, but you’ve gotta believe it exists.

The third and very vital component of the battle of the wills is this.  I will fight to the death, Ferocious Resolve.  When the female grizzly is defending her young she will fight to the death to protect them, willfully sacrificing herself to save her babies.  This is the never give up – never surrender state of being that gives you the resolve and the ferociousness of a cornered deadly animal.  Somehow the Male Grizzly knows this and it has an effect.  It’s not seeable it’s not physical, but it’s feelable.  The male grizzly feels it and it gives the female a huge psychological advantage over the male.  The knowledge that you will fight to the death is a powerful potion.  For some, (most) people they will never know if they would or if they could.  I guess that proves that our laws, our system and our individual morals and ethics are in good working order.  Which is a good thing.

However there are people – very bad people in our midst that intend to do us harm, and given the right circumstances they will perpetrate their evil deed.  You might be one of the lucky one whose path is never crossed by such evil and if so, consider yourself lucky.

But for the Warrior, those who see danger where others are oblivious, there is no doubt about the question; Will I fight to the death?  They already know the answer.

In a conventional confrontation, in the brief seconds prior to the first strike or blow, the battle of the minds has already begun and the battle of the wills is already engaged.  In the case of a surprise attack or ambush, the battle of the minds begins simultaneous to the physical engagement but it is still taking place throughout the encounter.

In any case, if all other things are equal, (size strength and skill) then the combatant with the psychological edge will usually win the battle, and in a lot cases where the opponent has the edge in strength size and skills, the combatant with the strongest resolve, the greatest force of will can still win the fight even against “the odds.”

When your opponent senses that he is up against a true Warrior, one who is projecting the following; I’m fighting for a righteous purpose.  I’ll kill you if I have to.  I don’t care what happens to me and I will fight to the death.  Then your opponent knows immediately the price he is about to pay for his mistake.  And the moment he senses that, and knows that he is up against a 10 foot tall fire breathing dragon, his resolve will crumble and you will prevail.  In so many cases the battle of the minds determines the outcome of the battle of the fists.  You must be armed and prepared to fight on both fronts to be the winner.  Just remember never to neglect one, for the other.

Go where your competition won’t go.  Do the things that your competition won’t do.  Do the little things that your competition overlooks.  Be great.  Someone is going to be…why not you!?!