Shinsuke Nakamura Quotes

Every athlete acquires routines as a way to help control nerves.

When I get up in the morning, I look forward to the games and I'm just buzzing. At the end of the day, if you are nervous or scared before games, you are not going to perform. I just go out there and think, 'If I get a chance, I'm going to score' and that's it.

I've always been quiet in the dressing room before the game. I try to focus and give everything.

Before important games, I don't change my preparation.

I clear my mind; I don't think about the pressure before a fight. I focus on going in the cage and being successful while doing my job.

You had to decompress the pressure before the race. I taught my heart to relax. I lay down before the race. It gave me more energy just before the race.

I try and have a relaxed attitude and stay quite switched off until about an hour before kick-off.

When I got to match point in the final I was afraid I'd be a little nervous, but I just said, You have to stay focused, just think about what you have to do.

I used to be tense or nervous before heats. But I've learned to get rid of the negative stuff and just stay relaxed and positive - and it seems to be working for me.

I still take it seriously, but once I go out there I think I've got more relaxed and I think it shows.

Prior to stepping on stage, I prefer to continue being myself, whether that is making jokes with others, talking about other non-bodybuilding topics, or just sitting around listening to music.

In the lead-up to competitions, I just watch box sets and DVDs and play 'Candy Crush.'

People might think it's all about getting up for a game but it's often the opposite.

Sticking to a routine helps you get in the zone for the match. I always put my left shinpad on before my right. When I go out onto the pitch, I take three hops on my left leg - but I don't know why I started. I must have seen Messi do it or something.

I believe your best preparation is to just get your rest and just go out there and continue to do what you've been doing, not to try to do anything uncharacteristic that you haven't been doing. That's my main thing.

When I'm about to play in a big match, I take things easy.

I don't feel pressure going into games.

I try to keep myself in what I'm doing and focused on character stuff, as opposed to getting wrapped up in worrying or being nervous. It won't benefit me, in any way, to focus on that.

I'm supposed to relax and concentrate on the image of myself out there skating my race.

I used to psych myself up before the show and now I do the complete opposite: I psych myself down. It's 12:30 at night, you don't want some guy yelling at you. You want some guy just talking to you.

I like visualizing a lot, so the night before a competition and right before, I will visualize myself. I'll close my eyes, turn away from everybody, and just see myself doing exactly what I want to accomplish.

Self-consciousness can destroy a performance. Getting rid of that is always good.

But if I played well and prepared myself properly, then all I had to do was control myself and put myself in a position to win.

I think when you compete every week, when you play under pressure daily, you find your rituals to be 100 percent focused on what you're doing.

My weaknesses are my jumps. The reason is that although I land them in practice, when I actually compete or perform, I should let my body go and stabilize my mind better. Also, I need to work on not letting negative thoughts and emotions get to me on the ice.