Imagery/Visualization

There is a key to the imagery or visualization you use in karate. The next quote from Dr. Maxwell Maltz, M.D. tells you what I allude to in the first sentence.

"Experimental and clinical psychologists have proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that the human nervous system cannot tell the difference between an "actual" experience and an experience "imagined vividly and in detail."

The key to this imagery is "vivid and in detail." Vivid is one producing powerful feelings or strong, clear images in the mind. It is evoking lifelike images within the mind. This goes hand-n-hand with jiko no hanashi no geijutsu or the art of self talk. Both talk and imagery influence the bodies reaction with intensely experienced as if you actually experienced the talk and/or imagery.

Seems pretty simple yet it is most difficult. I feel this is why imagery is used with other realty based training methods to achieve results. There is a book written that may give greater details on how to foster and practice vivid and in detail imagery.

Psycho-Cybernetics by Dr. Maxwell.