Case Study: Dennis Converted Performance Anxiety Into Body Intelligence

Dennis Donkor is a professional 3x3 basketball player who competes at international level. Known for his explosive left-side drives, Dennis faced the classic athlete challenge of maintaining peak performance under high-pressure competition conditions.

What was happening before we worked together?

Dennis Donkor, Professional 3x3 player

The Pressure Problem:"I had never had body awareness before. I knew my body was there, but I never focused internally to feel where things were or what was happening."

High-Stakes Breakdown: Dennis described his pre-coaching experience: "During the Olympic qualification tournament, I felt in my body... something's not right. It usually starts when I can't take my usual naps. Normally I can sleep anywhere, but then I start getting signals that something's not right. And I feel that physically - I feel my body is restless. Those nerves throughout my whole body."

The Athletic Blind Spot:"I was always thinking a lot about basketball and things I do on the court, but never in relation to my body or where tension sits. I never did that." Dennis had developed sophisticated basketball skills but was completely disconnected from his body's intelligence system.

What was the transformation process like?

The Immediate Recognition:"In stressful situations, I usually go into that position we learned... It's really strange, but within ten seconds my body really starts to move by itself... I feel directly - wow, often here above my shoulders and my hips too, I feel there's really a lot of tension built up."

The Natural Release:"I don't know all the scientific terms for how it works exactly. I explain it in my simple words. I really feel like... everything is stuck here. And then it only stops when I stand up shaking."

The Surprise Element:"I remember the first time my body started shaking. That was just a crazy surprise. Sometimes people see me do it and ask what I was doing. Often they don't believe me when I explain that those movements aren't forced - that it's not something that comes naturally, but that I'm not starting it myself."

What specific results did you achieve?

Enhanced Body Awareness:"I think my left side is much weaker for going right. My push leg... my push is much weaker. Sometimes when I lie there... it's strange to say, but I really feel that the right side is much stronger - I can rely on it much more than the left side. Those are little things I never did before."

Performance Integration:"Before I shoot, I always breathe out deeply. My tension out, so I'm not too tense. And before I shoot, I see that my shoulder is completely loose. I can't think about everything now, but many of those things have become unconscious, automatic."

Relationship With Body Changed:"I see my body more as a tool, something that can help me, but not something that defines me. That also gives me a certain control over it through that awareness... More of a spectator perspective, where I can better assess and see what's wrong."

Competition Mindset Shift:"Sometimes right before the match, sometimes I lie down for five minutes before the game. Then people really look like... what the fuck? They ask after the match what I was doing. I explain it and often they don't believe me."

What would you tell someone considering this work?

For Athletes Under Pressure:"I would explain it exactly with how I feel before a very stressful situation. I would start there. When it helps me most is when I really feel I'm getting signals from my body. You might think it's only in your head, but you really feel that something's not right."

The Physical-Mental Connection:"What it does for me is that I feel my body relax, unwind. But it also makes sure that because I feel my body relax, I'm better in my head too. That's a reciprocal effect for me. Because I feel my breathing has settled, I feel the tension... I don't know how to explain it, but the tension leaves my body."

The Brain-Body Signal:"That also ensures that it gives a signal to my brain, like okay, it's good, we can relax, the body is okay. And I know myself, if I start a match very tense... I can say beforehand that it usually won't be a good match. I know that in advance."

The Paradigm Shift:"You might think it's only mental, but I physically feel it very strongly too... It's like a cleaning of your nervous system. Maybe a reset. Two things, actually. I feel my body relax, unwind. But it also ensures that because I feel my body relax, I'm better mentally too."

Ready to unlock your body's natural performance intelligence and convert pressure into competitive fuel?