Ep #121 Kayaking Is 95% Mental: Bryan Kirk on Nerves and Flow

How do you settle your nerves when the pressure is on and everyone is watching?

In this episode of The Discomfort Zone Podcast, Bryan Kirk, a former member US Freestyle Kayak Team member and Worlds medalist who has taken social media by storm with his old school boats and tricks, claims that once a paddler has the skill set, performance is 95 percent about keeping the mind under control. 

He walks us through the visualization and breathing practices he has used for two decades, and shares the story of how his performance fell apart at one of the most important competitions of his life. What he took from that day changed how he has approached pressure ever since. 

If you've  ever trained hard, prepared well, and then watched your mind come apart the moment it counted, this one is for you.

In this episode, Anna and Bryan explore:

• Why your mind is your biggest limiting factor, not your skill
• The awareness and breathing sequence Bryan uses before anything that scares him
• Hard moves in easy water for the mind, and why mental training deserves the same hours as skills training
• The strategy that allows him to throw down linked cartwheels at age 47 without getting hurt 

Whether you're chasing your first reliable roll, coming back from an injury, or figuring out how to keep paddling for the next thirty years, this conversation will provide you with strategy and training tips.

🎧 Listen now, and start working your mental agility on and off the water.