“In shadow-boxing you practice self-expression with no inhibiting factors. You form a general, flexible mental map. There is a carry over in your muscles, nerves and brain from practice to the actual situation.” – Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz

Shadow boxing can be interpreted as “shadow boxing as applied to everyday living.” Every time I want to learn something new, I remind myself to apply the technology found in shadow boxing, or mental rehearsal (or my personal favorite, active visualization).

I’ve used it for martial arts, work, home renovation projects, skateboarding, travel, fatherhood, and generally to be a more effective and useful person in the world. Like most of this stuff, by stuff I mean martial arts, the higher principles eventually apply to our every day issues. An idea that initially allows us to progress in terms of fighting skill later can be applied with a healing focus, then you can use it for both as needed.

Michael Billings