Muhammad Ali's Jaw
Broken By Hypnosis?
In 1973 the legendary Muhammad Ali lost to Ken Norton. What most boxing fans know is that Ali's jaw was broken in the third round. What most people aren't aware of is that Ken Norton worked with a hypnotist back then, in preparation for his fight.
When Norton Broke Ali's Jaw
& Changed Boxing History
If you're not a boxing fan, or are too young to remember, this was an incredible upset.
Ali, considered by many to be the best boxer to have ever lived, had only been beaten once before at that point. That loss was to "Smokin" Joe Frazier.
Norton was one of Frazier's sparring partners and was considered a stepping stone match for Ali. In fact Norton was a 5-to-1 underdog.
Not only did he beat Ali, breaking his jaw in the process, it was one of the most punishing fights Ali was ever involved in.
Enter Hypnosis
While it's true Norton was one of Frazier's sparring partners, he was also a former Marine and a fan of Napoleon Hill's book "Think And Grow Rich."
He used techniques from the book and worked with a hypnotist Sandford Berman who went by the stage name Dr. Michael Dean.
Hypnosis helped Norton visualize success, sharpen focus, and reinforce self-belief in exactly the same way I've used it with my Krav Maga students.
He reinforced his hypnosis with recordings every night leading up to the fight. Vivid mental rehearsal (what we now call "Visualization" training) and emotional conditioning.
While Ali was doing his famous trash talking, Norton was programming his subconscious to believe he'd already won.
Forget The Swinging Watch BS
I know, I know. A lot of people are still skeptical about hypnosis. That's undoubtedly down to Hollywood's portrayal of zombie like clients being controlled by the evil hypnotist. Add to that most skeptics have never actually experienced it and are going by anecdotal evidence.
Not only has it been recognized by the American Medical Association from back in the fifties, sports hypnosis has a long proven track record. We're talking people like Tiger Woods, multiple Olympic teams, Mike Tyson and Phil Jackson of the Bulls/Lakers.
How Does It Work
I go into how it works in more detail on the FAQ page but, in a nutshell, it's collaborative and the hypnotist facilitates bypassing the critical factor, to enable the client to remove mental blocks, eliminate limiting beliefs and focus under pressure.
I know one hypnotist who was going to work only on golfers but he ran into a problem. He said it was so damned effective with his clients they'd never tell anyone else they played with. They didn't want them having the same edge.
What Hypnosis Can Do for You—Beyond the Boxing Ring
So, if it gave a 5-to-1 underdog a helping hand in a boxing upset and breaking a legend's jaw what could it do for you?
Common uses today are peak performance, help with chronic pain, overcoming fear, building confidence, losing weight, smoking cessation, curing phobias and stopping bad habits.
You don't need to be in the boxing ring to fight your own battles. Whether you're stepping into the boardroom, or just trying to overcome something physical, your creative unconscious is an incredible powerful asset. Hypnosis will help you unlock it.
