Budo Mental Training
Since 2007, I have been working professionally as a mental coach and educational consultant. So far, I have not encountered a single deficiency, problem, or weakness in my clients that I have not struggled with myself. This allows us to meet naturally, without judgment, and with an attitude of humility, cooperation, and compassion. This relationship of openness and trust allows you to dare to be honest with me, which is the foundation of our entire collaboration.
Physical strength is defined as the body’s ability to function under physical stress. The heavier the load we can handle, the stronger we are. I relate in the same way to mental strength. The higher the level of mental stress we can handle with maintained balance and self-control, the stronger we are mentally.
Both physical and mental strength are developed through regular, long-term, and systematic training.
Through Budo Mental Training, your self-awareness and your ability to handle strong emotions such as anger, fear, and negativity will increase. You will develop your ability to maintain focus under pressure through three basic skills: Tension control, Breathing control, and Attention control. Your chances of performing well will increase in proportion to your freedom from the fear of failure.
We have frequent check-ins and follow-up on training together so that your mental training becomes a natural and integrated part of your everyday life, both on and off your specific performance arena. The principles work best when we no longer need to think about them, when they have become our “second nature”.
My manager Rickard and I often discussed the mental aspects of racing and their significance, especially as one ascends the ranks to categories like Formula 3 and Formula 1. He generously shared his experiences from his racing days, highlighting how he tackled the mental challenges, which provided me with valuable insights. Yet, my curiosity drove me to seek further understanding. Achieving your absolute best on the racing track involves a substantial mental component, and at times I felt a crucial piece was missing. Thanks to Igor’s training, I’ve been able to identify that piece much more easily than before. I now feel I can focus more effectively and achieve my flow state. The initial phase of our training regimen has granted me better control over my emotions during competition, and I’ve also developed increased confidence and motivation in my work.
I wholeheartedly recommend Igor; he is both personable and professional. While I had some understanding of mental training before, I have learned an incredible amount through our collaboration, and I look forward to gaining even more knowledge in the future.
What immediately struck me about Igor was his professional approach and attitude towards his role within the Swedish Judo Federation’s national team programme. He quickly grasped our situation and identified what we needed to advance the development of our national team athletes.
Igor conveys his insights and knowledge in a clear and effective manner, making it accessible to everyone, regardless of age or prior experience. His contributions have been highly valued by everyone in our organisation, and his expertise has left a lasting impact; we view him as an integral part of our journey towards achieving success on the world stage in judo.
I chose to collaborate with Igor because I wanted to grow as a person and gain a deeper understanding of myself, both in sports and in everyday life. I aimed to learn how to manage challenges through mental strength. My work and training with him have provided immense value; I have learned to navigate difficult situations more effectively, think and reflect differently, and achieved a calmer mindset that allows me to make clearer decisions, all of which benefit my performance in golf.
I wholeheartedly recommend Igor to others, as I have gained so much from our collaboration. I have evolved and discovered so much more about myself in a way that I believe everyone should experience.
I do hereby confirm that Mr. Igor Ardoris has been employed as Mental Coach for the Men´s National Team of the Faroe Islands Football Association since 2020.
Since Mr. Ardoris first joined the FSF in 2020as mental Coach, he has proved to be an excellent staff member – diligent and innovative.
During this period, we have seen a huge development among the players, that have been eager to develop ”the mental skill”, thanks to Mr. Ardoris professionalism.
Following this brief report, I would like to give to Mr,. Ardoris my best reference and recommendation.
Best Regards,
I came out of a challenging season filled with injuries, and nothing went as planned. My mum gave me the book Strong Inside, and I read it in one go. After finishing it, I reached out to Igor. Before we started working together, I felt a constant tension in my body, letting my emotions dictate everything and absorbing everything around me, which created an inner stress as I always wanted to push myself to the limit in training.
I had many obligations and a strong desire to ski quickly, but the more I wanted it and the more I felt I had to, the tenser I became, which negatively affected my performance. After a few months of collaboration, I have never felt so energised during pre-season, as I can focus my energy on the right things. I feel relaxed and confident in my plan to become the best version of myself and an exceptional cross-country skier.
I no longer allow my emotions to dictate my decisions, and my ego no longer takes precedence. My shoulders have dropped significantly, perhaps a bit exaggerated, but it certainly feels that way, and I ski much more relaxed now, leading to tremendous improvements in my technique. Above all, cross-country skiing, both in competition and practice, has never been so enjoyable as it is now. Thank you!
For a musician or singer striving for musical freedom and authentic expression, it is essential to have a sharp, flexible mind combined with a relaxed body, as both technical virtuosity and musical expression are required simultaneously. Balancing these aspects is easier said than done, and it’s incredibly easy to get stuck on details that don’t feel or sound right. Breathing is central for both singers and instrumentalists, and the pauses between phrases are just as important as the music itself. If I have calm, low, and relaxed breathing and can focus on maintaining it and quickly restoring it, there is a much greater likelihood that I can sing with balanced technique, genuine emotion, courage, and freedom—whether it’s during a practice session, an audition, or a performance.
I sought a mental coach beyond positive thinking and quick-fix strategies, and Igor has exceeded my expectations in every way.
After a long mental and physical slump in training and competition, I contacted Igor to rediscover the joy of competing and unlock my potential for maximum performance from both mind and body. Through many hours of conversation with Igor and the training programs, I have found an inner environment that better allows for physical recovery from training.
I started mental training with the goal of performing better as an athlete, but I have realized during this journey that it will also help me perform better in life as a whole. Igor is extremely knowledgeable on the subject and has a unique ability to break down and explain the processes that occur in the brain and body when we face different scenarios in life, as well as specifically as an athlete.
I have been working with Igor for a couple of months and I couldnt be more pleased with the development. I have been given tools to help me keep focus on what is most important to maximise my performance and become a better football player. Within this proces I have learnt to be and react calmly in stressful situations where I beforehand had some bad habits when the circumstances had oppurtunities to provoke me.
The reason why this proces has helped me so much is that Igor has the ability to always be able to give you very effective and helpful advice no matter what challenges you may face and also ways for you to work through these obstacles and keep your focus on whats most important. This is definetly something that I would highly recommend for anyone who really wants to take their career to the next level.
Igor is the person who understood my ignorance of the difference between ‘fighting’ and Thai boxing techniques. How important self-confidence / self-esteem is. What is going on in my head when standing in the heat of battle. How to control it, etc. In broad terms, I can say that Igor has helped me to see fighting for what it is! Many different emotions! Today, when I have gained a lot of experience in just fighting, I can look back at things that he has said and learned and can relate to it in another way.