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Writer's pictureEmmanuel Manolakakis

Freedom and Tension


There is a relationship between emotional and physical states, especially where performance and action are involved.  Freedom, tension and fear are interconnected, impacting performance in personal interactions or athletic endeavours.  The key to optimal performance is accessing a state of flow facilitated by feeling free in your mind, body and spirit.   


Freedom and Tension

At its core, freedom represents a state of mental and physical relaxation where you can act fluidly and intuitively.  When free, you’re not bogged down by self-imposed constraints or external pressures. This freedom allows you to respond to situations naturally and effectively. 

Conversely, tension is a sign that something is amiss. In sports or high-stakes situations, tension often signals that you’re not fully in control or overthinking your actions. It can stem from a fear of failure, a lack of confidence or an attempt to force outcomes. When your body or mind is tense, your actions are less precise and ineffective because you're not operating from a place of relaxation and calm.

I will only take someone down when I feel free in martial arts.  I will not take someone down when I feel tense.  Any tension is connected to fear.  If you’re tense, your body might not be in the right position.  Or you feel like you need to add something extra, like when someone pulls a gun because they feel like they don’t have enough strength otherwise.  In sports, you can tell when an athlete forces a play.  When they do that, it never goes well.  



Freedom and Tension
Emmanuel Training at FightClub


Fear is a Source of Tension

Fear is a powerful emotion that can create and exacerbate tension. You can feel it in your body as physical tightness.  You can see it in your actions (or the actions of others) as hesitation or, conversely, overcompensation. 

For example, if you’re afraid of getting injured or failing, your body might tense up, leading to awkward or ineffective movements that cause you to become injured.  In sports, this might mean a basketball player afraid of missing a shot might rush or change their shooting form, making them more likely to miss.

Fear can lead people to overreact or overcompensate, such as using excessive force or taking extreme measures. This is akin to someone pulling a gun in a knife fight.  They feel inadequate, so they overreact to the threat.  In sports, it might look like an athlete trying too hard to make an impressive play, often leading to mistakes.


Flow State and Optimal Performance

As popularized by psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi, flow is a state where you’re fully immersed in the activity at hand, operating easily and without self-consciousness. In flow, actions are executed effortlessly, and there’s a harmonious balance between skill and challenge. A lack of tension characterizes this state; you’re free from fear, your movements are natural, and you’re fully engaged without overthinking, and a natural response, meaning you respond based on instinct and training rather than forced effort.  Athletes and performers often describe this state as “being in the zone”, when things seem to happen automatically.  


Practical Implications

To minimize tension and fear, preparation is key. This means training consistently in martial arts and sports until your skills become second nature. In personal interactions or high-pressure situations, it means understanding your strengths and limitations so you can act confidently.


Techniques such as mindfulness, meditation, and breathing exercises can help manage fear and reduce tension. These practices help in staying present and maintaining a state of mental freedom.


Trusting the process and relying on your training and instincts rather than overthinking can help you stay free to operate effectively. Faith enables you to move beyond fear and tension, entering a state of flow where actions are executed with clarity and precision.


The relationship between freedom, tension, and fear is crucial for optimal performance. Freedom allows for fluid, effective actions, while tension and fear disrupt this state, leading to less effective outcomes. Achieving and maintaining flow requires overcoming these barriers and acting from a place of ease and confidence.

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