The Mental Trap That Creates the Yips w/ Jason Kuhn

The "yips" represent involuntary muscle contractions triggered by a subconscious perception of threat rather than a lack of mental toughness. This performance-inhibiting condition often stems from a codependent relationship between an athlete's identity and their success, creating a high-pressure environment that causes the nervous system to prioritize protection over execution. Overcoming these physical freezes requires a systematic "dry fire" approach, where athletes isolate specific movements and perform them in low-threat environments to retrain the brain. By removing targets and focusing on granular cues, performers can heal the neural wound and gradually re-expose themselves to competitive pressure. Jason Kuhn, a former Navy SEAL and performance coach, emphasizes that athletes must decouple their self-worth from their performance, allowing them to confront the fear of failure directly rather than avoiding the very moments that trigger their physical symptoms.