How Jon Jones NEVER Loses

Summary

The video explores what makes Jon Jones a top UFC fighter, suggesting it's not steroids but his ability to enter the 'Flow State'. It discusses how Jones, after dominating in the light heavyweight division, moved to heavyweight to reignite his fear and achieve Flow. Techniques like anchoring, channeling anxiety into excitement, and staying present are highlighted. Jones's pattern recognition and visualization are also key, as he studies opponents extensively to capitalize on their weaknesses during fights, showcasing his mental prowess alongside physical talent.

Takeaways

• 🏆 Jon Jones is considered one of the greatest fighters of all time, with his success attributed to more than just physical prowess.
• 🚫 The script refutes the claim that Jones' success is due to steroid use, emphasizing his skill and mental preparation.
• 🔄 Jones is known for testing positive for Turinabol, which is a banned substance, but the focus is on his legitimate skills and strategies.
• 🌀 The concept of 'Flow State' is central to the discussion, describing a mental state where an athlete performs at their peak, fully immersed and instinctive.
• 🥇 Cody Garbrandt's victory over Dominic Cruz is highlighted as an example of achieving Flow State, but he was unable to replicate it consistently.
• 🤔 Jones' move to the heavyweight division is discussed as a strategic decision to re-introduce challenge and fear, key elements for achieving Flow State.
• 🔗 The technique of 'anchoring' is explained as a method Jones uses to enter Flow State, associating a physical action with the desired mental state.
• 🔥 Jones is noted for transforming anxiety into excitement, a crucial step in entering Flow State as anxiety can inhibit it.
• 🧘‍♂️ The importance of being present and focusing on the moment is emphasized, which is essential for Jones to maintain Flow State during fights.
• 👀 Pattern recognition and deep study of opponents are part of Jones' strategy, allowing him to capitalize on their weaknesses instinctively during fights.

Q & A

What is the significance of Jon Jones testing positive for Turinabol in the context of his career?

The mention of Jon Jones testing positive for Turinabol serves as a point of discussion regarding the controversy and challenges he faced, which is contrasted with his achievements and skills, emphasizing the complexity of evaluating an athlete's legacy.

Why is the term 'Flow State' important in the discussion about Jon Jones?

The 'Flow State' is crucial as it refers to the optimal mental state where an athlete performs at their best, which is attributed as a key factor in Jon Jones's success and is a central theme in analyzing his abilities.

How did Cody Garbrandt's experience of the Flow State during UFC 207 contrast with Jon Jones's ability to enter it?

Cody Garbrandt experienced the Flow State during his fight with Dominic Cruz but was unable to replicate it, suggesting a spontaneous occurrence. In contrast, Jon Jones is portrayed as having mastered entering the Flow State on command, highlighting a difference in mental preparation and control.

What does the 'Flow State' require in terms of challenge level for an athlete?

For an athlete to achieve the Flow State, the challenge must be at the edge of their skill level. If it's too easy, they get bored, and if it's too difficult, they get anxious, indicating a balance is needed for optimal performance.

Why did Jon Jones move from the light heavyweight to the heavyweight division according to the script?

Jon Jones moved to the heavyweight division to reintroduce a level of challenge and fear that was missing in the light heavyweight division, aiming to bring himself back to the optimal Flow State.

What is anchoring, and how does Jon Jones use it to enter the Flow State?

Anchoring is the association of an internal feeling with an external trigger. Jon Jones uses the act of spinning in circles with his arms outstretched as an anchor to consistently enter the Flow State.

How does Jon Jones manage his anxiety to facilitate entering the Flow State?

Jon Jones channels his anxiety into excitement by using positive affirmations and mental re-framing, recognizing that physiologically, anxiety and excitement are similar and can be directed positively.

What role does being present play in achieving the Flow State, as described in the script?

Being present, or focusing on the here and now, is essential for entering the Flow State. Jon Jones emphasizes the importance of living in the moment and embracing the experience to maintain peak performance.

How does Jon Jones use pattern recognition to enhance his performance in the Flow State?

Jon Jones extensively studies his opponents to identify patterns and visualizes fighting them, which strengthens his neural pathways. This allows him to capitalize on their weaknesses instinctively when the opportunity arises during fights.

What is the significance of the prefrontal cortex's activity in the context of the Flow State during a fight?

In the Flow State, there is less activity in the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for thinking and decision-making. This allows athletes like Jon Jones to act from their subconscious without conscious thought, leading to faster and more efficient reactions.

How does the script suggest Jon Jones's approach to mental preparation sets him apart from other fighters?

The script suggests that Jon Jones's mastery of entering the Flow State on command, his use of anchoring, management of anxiety, and pattern recognition set him apart. His deep understanding and application of mental techniques are highlighted as his 'true genius' beyond his physical abilities.

Outlines

00:00

🥊 Jon Jones' Path to Mastery: Flow State and Mental Techniques

This paragraph delves into the mental prowess of Jon Jones, a renowned UFC fighter, and how he achieves the 'Flow State', a mental state where one operates at peak performance. It discusses how Jones, after dominating his opponents in the light heavyweight division, moved to the heavyweight division to reignite his competitive edge and experience the Flow State. The paragraph explains the necessity of a challenge at the edge of one's skill level to enter this state. It also outlines Jones' use of 'anchoring', a technique where he associates a specific feeling with an external trigger to enter the Flow State. Furthermore, it touches on how Jones channels his anxiety into excitement, a crucial step as anxiety can hinder the Flow State. Lastly, it emphasizes the importance of being present and using pattern recognition to capitalize on opponents' weaknesses, which Jones does through extensive study and visualization.

05:02

🧠 Unlocking the Power of the Mind: Jon Jones' Mental Strategies

The second paragraph focuses on the mental strategies that Jon Jones employs to excel in his fights. It underscores his meticulous approach to studying opponents, identifying their tendencies, and visualizing how to exploit these in actual combat. The paragraph illustrates how Jones uses visualization to program his subconscious mind, which allows him to react instinctively during fights. It provides examples of how Jones has used pattern recognition to his advantage in past fights, demonstrating his ability to turn perceived weaknesses into opportunities. The paragraph concludes by highlighting the role of the subconscious in decision-making during the Flow State, where Jones' pre-planned strategies are executed without conscious thought, showcasing his exceptional mental acuity and mastery over his craft.

Keywords

💡Flow State

The Flow State refers to a mental state where an individual is fully immersed in an activity, experiencing a heightened focus and complete involvement in the task at hand. It is characterized by a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and success in the process of the activity. In the video, Cody Garbrandt's performance in UFC 207 is highlighted as an example of being in the Flow State, where he instinctively knew what to do at every moment during his fight.

💡Tarina ball

Tarina ball is mentioned in the context of Jon Jones testing positive for it, which is a reference to a banned substance. This term is used to raise questions about the legitimacy of Jon Jones' achievements, suggesting that his success might be attributed to performance-enhancing drugs rather than natural talent or skill.

💡Anchoring

Anchoring is a psychological technique where a person associates an internal feeling with an external trigger to recreate that feeling on command. Jon Jones uses anchoring by associating the feeling of being in the Flow State with spinning in circles with his arms outstretched, which he does to enter the Flow State before a fight.

💡Zone

Being 'in the zone' is similar to the Flow State and refers to a state of optimal performance where an individual is fully focused and confident in their abilities. The video discusses how Jon Jones was in this zone after dominating other fighters, but he sought a new challenge to recapture the excitement and fear that comes with being pushed to the edge of one's abilities.

💡Heavyweight Division

The Heavyweight Division is a weight class in combat sports like the UFC, where fighters are typically the largest and strongest. Jon Jones moved from the Light Heavyweight Division to the Heavyweight Division to seek a more challenging opponent and to reignite the fear and excitement necessary for him to achieve the Flow State.

💡Stipe Miocic

Stipe Miocic is a fighter mentioned in the video as one of Jon Jones' opponents in the Heavyweight Division. The mention of Miocic serves to illustrate the level of competition and challenge that Jones sought in moving up to the Heavyweight Division to maintain his edge and stay in the Flow State.

💡Visualization

Visualization is a technique where an individual mentally rehearses a task or scenario to improve performance. Jon Jones is described as using visualization to study his opponents' tendencies and weaknesses, programming his mind to capitalize on these during fights, which is a key part of his preparation to enter the Flow State.

💡Pattern Recognition

Pattern recognition is the ability to identify regularities or patterns in data or behavior. In the context of the video, Jon Jones uses pattern recognition to analyze his opponents' fighting styles, predicting and countering their moves during fights, which is a skill he has honed to operate effectively in the Flow State.

💡Subconscious

The subconscious mind is the part of the mind that operates below the level of consciousness, influencing our behavior and responses without us being aware of it. The video explains that during the Flow State, actions are driven by the subconscious, allowing Jon Jones to react and perform at his best without conscious thought.

💡Creativity

Creativity is the use of imagination or original ideas to create something. The video states that being in the Flow State can increase creativity by 400 to 700 percent, which is attributed to Jon Jones' ability to perform extraordinary moves and strategies during his fights.

💡Meditation

Meditation is a practice where an individual trains their mind to achieve a state of calmness and mental clarity. Jon Jones is mentioned to have an obsession with meditation, which he uses to enhance his mental strength and prepare himself to enter the Flow State during fights.

Highlights

Jon Jones is considered the greatest of all time in UFC.

Jones tested positive for Turinabol, a banned substance.

Cody Garbrandt's performance against Dominic Cruz and his experience of Flow State.

Flow State allows for instinctive decision-making at the highest level.

Jon Jones moved to the heavyweight division to reignite the challenge and fear factor.

The necessity of a challenge at the edge of one's skill level for Flow State to occur.

Jon Jones uses anchoring to enter the Flow State on command.

Jon Jones channels anxiety into excitement to facilitate Flow State.

Staying present is crucial for entering the Flow State.

Jon Jones engages his senses to stay in the moment during fights.

Flow State increases creativity by 400 to 700 percent.

Jon Jones's pattern recognition and studying opponents' tendencies.

Visualization strengthens neural pathways for instant reaction during fights.

Jon Jones's ability to capitalize on opponents' weaknesses due to his preparation.

The subconscious acts without thinking during the Flow State, making fights look easy.

Jon Jones's genius lies in his understanding of the mind and its power.

Encouragement for viewers to leave a 'bones' emoji if they watched the whole video.

Transcripts

what makes Jon Jones the greatest of all

time is it steroids it's Jon Jones uh

tested positive for Tarina ball illegal

techniques I do put people in the eyes

and it's very illegal uh but I do or

something else we really do paint our

world with our thoughts and our level of

self-belief to find out we must go back

in time December 30th 2016 UFC 207 Cody

garbrandt versus Dominic Cruz Cody

garbratt put on the greatest performance

of his career against Cruz to win the

bantamweight title after the fight he

talked about how he was in Flow State

and instinctively knew what to do at

every moment I have experience at Flow

State but never on that highest stage or

on that level yeah of in depth with my

body and you know and just seeing

everything I could see every punch

however he never recreated that magic

and lost his title shortly after it's

because he never learned how to enter

the Flow State on command Jon Jones

however learned how to do it a long time

ago also called being in the zone during

this Flow State we are operating on a

subconscious level and fully immersed in

what we're doing for flow to occur the

challenge must be at the edge of our

skill level if it's too easy we get

bored if it's too difficult we get

anxious if it's making us stretch flow

has the possibility to occur the reason

I bring this up is because of why Jon

Jones moved from the light heavyweight

division to the heavyweight division the

fear was gone I didn't really I didn't

really fear these guys I just wanted

more I wanted I wanted to be nervous

again I wanted I wanted to have fear

again I think fear is healthy Jones was

in this Zone down here and experiencing

boredom after dominating Legends like

Shogun Machida and DC his later

opponents did not present the same level

of challenge skill wise so to bring

himself back to flow he decided to raise

the challenge and move up to heavyweight

to fight Stipe and ganu or gone now a

more difficult challenge doesn't

guarantee reaching the Flow State the

challenge being at the edge of our skill

level is only one part of the equation

however Jon Jones knows the whole

equation at after being presented with a

challenge at the edge of our skill level

there are triggers we can use to ensure

we enter the Flow State the first

trigger Jones uses is anchoring

anchoring is associating an internal

feeling with an external trigger Jon

Jones has Associated the feeling of flow

with spinning in circles with his arms

outstretched he has done this his entire

career this is 10 years ago this is five

years ago and this is his last fight

with enough practice through anchoring

you can train your mind to associate any

desired feeling with a specific external

trigger Jon Jones uses this external

trigger to enter flow on command next

Jon Jones channels his anxiety into

excitement being nervous is important

you know that

it's a quote that I love I see it all

the time you know there's nothing wrong

with having butterflies as long as you

can get them to fly information

physiologically anxiety and excitement

are the exact same what makes us feel

anxiety or excitement is solely based on

how we feel about it Jon Jones

understands this and convinces himself

during the walkout that he is feeling

excitement because anxiety prevents flow

from happening when he's walking out in

front of tens of thousands of screaming

fans there's a flood of emotions

adrenaline and nerves Jon Jones gets his

butterflies in formation by telling

himself positive affirmations at this

moment to channel this energy into

excitement and not anxiety

[Music]

oh yeah

oh yeah

oh yeah

and the last thing Jon Jones does to

enter the flow state is stay as present

as possible and I'm just going to be

embracing the moment you know whether

people are booing or cheering I know

that a lot of people are here to see me

and um I'm just gonna live in my moment

living my destiny and just uh try to

just soak as much in and enjoy as much

of it as I can being truly in the moment

focusing on the here and now that is the

only way to enter flow if you're worried

about what could happen or thinking

about what has happened it's impossible

to be at your best right now John stays

in the Moment by engaging his senses and

constantly bringing himself back to

Center even mid-fight when he sits on

his stool he centers himself in the

present moments what I try to do is try

to close my eyes and I focus on the

water I focus on

there are focus on the Beauty and the

fresh air

between thinking about all these

beautiful thoughts

I find myself the cover this Focus

brings him back to the moment it ensures

that if he has slipped out of the Flow

State he can get right back into it and

fight at his best most creative self it

has been found that flow increases

creativity by 400 to 700 percent which

explains why Jon Jones does Jon Jones

things he is the president and he is the

future and he might be the greatest

talent that we've ever seen in the UFC

and the last thing Jon Jones does to get

into the flow state is pattern

recognition Jones is obsessed with

studying other Fighters Tendencies and

weaknesses I study everybody extensively

and then I come up with their patterns I

figure out the way they Flinch I figure

out their first favorite punch their

second favorite punch their their

favorite combinations their setups to

their takedowns when they clinch what

side of the head's going to be literally

everything I know everything about every

opponent he studies them and visualizes

fighting them hundreds if not thousands

of times I became obsessed with the

power of the Mind meditation

visualization and just realizing how

powerful our minds actually are during

these visualizations he programs how he

will capitalize on their weaknesses over

and over again the brain cannot tell the

difference of visualization from reality

so these neural pathways are

strengthened with each repetition so

when the moment comes and the

opportunity presents itself pattern

recognition kicks in and he capitalizes

instantly the most obvious example of

this was his most recent fight with on

God has a tendency from Southpaw to

overthrow his left straight here you can

see him overthrow it ingano didn't

capitalize the next time he throws it

you can see him overthrow it again this

time inganu tries to throw a hook off

the break Jon Jones saw this and

visualized what he would do a thousand

times which is slipped to the outside

clinch and use this opportunity to take

gun down which is why when the moment

came in the fight it was instinctive

from Jon

all right

immediately that is absolutely huge the

next weakness Jones song Gone is that

when he's taken down he often tries to

wrestle up while leaving his neck

exposed you can see here gone's neck is

exposed but in ganu is not confident in

his submission game and doesn't go for

the guillotine Jon Jones saw this and

undoubtedly visualized cranking a

guillotine over and over and over which

is why when God did exactly that

[Applause]

the prefrontal cortex of our brain is

responsible for thinking and decision

making in flow there's less activity in

this area and we act from our

subconscious without thinking to us the

fight looked unbelievably easy for Jones

but it's because he programmed his

subconscious with the instructions many

times and in the Flow State it simply

acted on the instructions

instantaneously when the opportunities

presented themselves Jon Jones is

undoubtedly A Gifted athlete who works

very hard but his true genius which is

often overlooked is his understanding of

the Mind hey thank you for checking out

the video if you made it all the way to

the end please leave a bones Emoji down

below so I know who watches all the way

through and if you want to learn more

about how Elite Fighters think check out

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