The only measuremnt device on the market that quickly tells you if you ARE in focus or NOT.
The FocusBand will assist both the student and coach build consistent, repetitive and reliable mental routines designed specifically to reduce performance anxiety, enabling you to trust your technical training, while your focus of attention is on the target.
The key to developing a strong mental game is recognizing where your focus of attention is throughout your routines.
HOW IT WORKS:
General The FocusBand has three wireless sensors that transmits brain activity back to a PC for analysis and Bio feedback training. The FocusBand has been designed for the ruggedness of out-door sports including golf.
Real-Time The system is real-time so that if you blink, you will see the blink meter instantly follow you eye lids. Similarly if you scrunch your face up the Face Tension graphs will rise upwards.The same applies to Focus, Anxiety & Mushin. Real Time is important as we need to see & measure brain activity during their pre-shot routine and right up to the point of execution.
The FocusBand will train you to master two critical areas that maybe stopping you from reaching your winning potential.
1. The Zone: You get into the Zone when you are induced into switching from the left brain into using the right brain.
Using the FocusBand you can detect the offending mental states that are preventing you from being induced into the zone. Implicit drills using the FocusBand biofeedback are then performed to rectify the problem.
2. Choking: Choking is the failure of the athlete to perform up to their acquired level of skill and ability under pressure.
Using the Focusband we address choking under pressure by developing implicit, highly automated mental preshot routines that require little conscious effort, so that performance is not interfered with by technical, physiological or emotional over-thinking.
What is the FocusBand used for
The FocusBand is used to locate "blockages" the athlete has when about to execute, especially under pressure condition.In golf it is used to monitor the golfers Pre-shot routine, we then implement a series of Bio-feedback drills to attain an ideal state of mind in which golfers can perform to their optimum ability.The FocusBand is NOT obtrusive as we only measure data and it is self-regulating, that is, only you will understand what is happening with your mind
FocusBand Philosophy
The FocusBand has moved away from the conventional methods sports psychologist use for assisting athletes.We have used intelligent application of ancient Asian principals to design and validate our methodology. After all the Chinese Monks have mastered this for centuries whereas the modern psychologist really are only just scratching the surface of how the mind works.We believe our approach is more results orientated, less confusing and frustrating for the athlete and coach, and the info can be quantified.
Henry demonstrates how to get into the mushin state using FocusBand audio bio-feedback.
This unique graph was created to enable the coach & student to observe at a glance what is actually happening mentally, during a golf swing. In this example if you just follow the Focus line (green) you will see that the only time the athlete was in Focus was during the visualization period. Once he commenced his Pre-Shot his Focus widened
So what does this mean ?
If you are not focussed, your conscious mind is susceptable to being easily distracted & interrupted which will overide the present task you are performing. In golf this could translate to deciding to think about the looming hazard as you start the back swing !
OK so how do we fix this ?
This is where the Biofeedback training with the Focus Band is invaluable training tool to overcome this obstacle.
The Focus Band uses Bar-Graphs to present the data back to the student.
There is an option to alter the degree of difficulty or Threshold to accomodate the different skill levels.
Once your skill improves and the display drops below the horizontal threshold line, the colour of the graph will change and an audible tone will sound to inform you that you are now in an ideal state
Anxiety
The Focus Band uses Bar-Graphs to present the data back to the student.
There is an option to alter the degree of difficulty or Threshold to accomodate the different skill levels.
Once your skill improves and the display drops below the horizontal threshold line, the colour of the graph will change and an audible tone will sound to inform you that you are now in an ideal state.
Muscle Tension
The Focus Band uses Bar-Graphs to present the data back to the student. There is an option to alter the degree of difficulty or Threshold to accomodate the different skill levels.
Once your skill improves and the display drops below the horizontal threshold line, the colour of the graph will change and an audible tone will sound to inform you that you are now in an ideal state.
The Focus band is made out of lightweight yet durable plastic. To this we have added a modified sun-visor to improve the aesthetics. (The peak of the sun visor has been purposely removed to avoid the user fiddling with the peak and disrupting the sensor readings).
Hygiene: The plastic makes it easy to manage sweat etc. With the supplied antiseptic swipes, all you need to do after each use is give the plastic a light clean.
A USB charger and two re-chargeable AAA batteries come with the system. As one battery will last approx 6 hours of continual use, the other battery can be on charge.
Warranty: 12 months on all hardware excluding the batteries, return to depot, user damage not included.
Support : 12 months telephone support via Skype and Team Viewer
Updates: Free software updates for 12 months, thereafter an annual maintenance fee.
Durability: The unit is very sturdy and durable and can take drops onto a concrete floor with out causing damage.
WaterProof: The electronic unit is well concealed in a neoprene satchel to withstand a light shower,or enough time for the user to get out of the rain.
Summary: The Focus Band has been ruggerized for the harsh out door conditions expected when playing sport.
PC Requirements: The FocusBand software can run on any PC bought in the last 2-3 years. There are no special video or memory requirements. It can also run on a NetBook. You may require and external amplifier/speaker when using the FocusBand on the golf course so as the student can hear the relevant tones from a distance.
What is Mushin?
MUSHIN: Composed of two Kanji
MU = nothingness; none; ain't; nothing; nil; not
SHIN = heart; mind; spirit
Mushin literally means innocence. It refers to the state of mind where one does not assume anything but is open and prepared for anything - which is vital for combat.
Mushin is a state of mind that is achieved by very harsh and strategic training and programming of martial science techniques. It is where the training takes over and the physical movements no longer require any thought yet it is much more than mere reflex.
Much like a very accomplished musician that no longer reads the music, he closes his eyes and just plays from the heart / mind/ soul with spirit born only through endless hours of diligent, methodical, and mechanical practice - he just lets it go. He plays by "FEEL" not by thought or movement the same way a very skilled martial science fighter"feels" his space, his opponents movements and connects directly to that feeling which allows him to fight unrestrained by thought, or technique.
The Mushin fighter does not try to read his opponents movements, he BECOMES his opponent and those movements allowing him to perform flawlessly. The actions simply flow in precise harmony with what ever is happening which of course is an advantage over a calculating opponent.
Mushin is NOT meditation nor can it be attained through meditation. Note that -Mushin cannot be attained through martial arts practice. Mushin occurs when Shinbu and Junbu align perfectly. Mu (Mukusu) also means to lose something and this would be - losing ones bad habits, losing ones mind (not the crazy way), losing ones restrictions, inhibitions, fears, etc.
The modern phrase you see often - No Fear - is apart of the meaning of Mushin. Mushin (Nakenashi) can mean - a very small amount which goes with the saying - from a little, one can know a lot, less is more etc. It means exactly what Sogo stresses, a very little amount of biomechanical movements can be used in endless ways (like musical notes - 8 notes= endless possibilities) so it means that complex things are no-minded down tothe most base simplistic things and applied cross platform to all things -Musashi said "The way can be found in all things". I say, all things can be found in the "WAY".
That way is the martial science of Sogobujutsu.Everyone has experienced the Mushin state unconsciously at various times but the ideal is to develop the state so that it can be induced anytime and for extended periods. Very few are able to achieve this. Most of those that have,are not really aware that they do it. They simply do it when necessary like one would blink or breath.
Mushin is a form of enlightenment but not the type that is associated with the fancy philosophical nonsense. Mushin (Mu-i) can mean - unintentional and that is powerful because you want your abilities to be intentionally unintentional. This can only be forged through the most severe of martial science / Sogo programming and training. When you achieve Mushin, you literally won't mind.............
