BJJ Mental Models Ep. 347: The ABCs of Mental Coaching, feat. Laurien Zurhake
Jul 21, 2025
Laurien Zurhake, co-founder of Off the Zone, specializes in trauma-informed coaching for athletes and coaches. In this fascinating discussion, she introduces her ABC Playbook for Mental Health, detailing techniques to create a supportive training atmosphere in Jiu-Jitsu. Laurien emphasizes the importance of understanding students' pasts and fostering psychological safety. She shares practical strategies for handling mental distress and highlights the value of feedback from beginners. This episode unveils how trauma-informed approaches can enhance training effectiveness and community in martial arts.
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Essence of Trauma-Informed Coaching
- Trauma-informed coaching creates safe training spaces where students can thrive and train hard.
- Feeling safe optimizes learning and healing, essential even for competitive gyms.
Pre-Class Preparation
- Provide upfront info on class structure and expectations to reduce triggers for students.
- Teach self-regulation early and pair new students wisely to create a safe, supportive environment.
Set Clear Expectations Early
- Highlight choice and normalize emotions like frustration for new students.
- Define tapping and losing as learning to lower class stakes and help students relax.