Why I Started Looking Beneath the Surface of Performance

For most of my life, martial arts has been my main focus. It’s been my foundation the place where I’ve learned discipline, focus, respect, and resilience. I’ve spent decades teaching students how to master their body, sharpen their mind, and develop the kind of inner strength that carries over into every part of life.

But something changed after COVID.

When the world slowed down, a lot of people myself included, started to see things differently. The stress, uncertainty, and isolation brought up emotions people didn’t know how to deal with. I began noticing that many of my students and clients weren’t struggling with physical performance or motivation they were struggling internally. Anxiety. Low confidence. Burnout. Emotional exhaustion.

That’s when I realised: people didn’t just need physical training; they needed deeper help.

I’ve always believed that mindset is everything. You can have all the skill in the world, but if your mind isn’t in the right place, it’s like trying to drive with the handbrake on. So I started studying Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT), hypnotherapy, and performance mindset coaching not to move away from martial arts, but to complement it.

I wanted to understand what was really happening beneath the surface what causes people to freeze, procrastinate, or doubt themselves even when they know what to do.

And what I found changed how I view everything.

Over the last few years of working with clients from business owners to athletes to first responders I’ve noticed that behind almost every issue there’s a form of trauma. Sometimes it’s a single traumatic event, and sometimes it’s what we call developmental or repeated trauma  the kind that builds slowly over time.

It doesn’t always look like what people imagine trauma to be. It can be subtle a parent’s criticism, years of high pressure, the stress of constant responsibility. But the nervous system doesn’t distinguish between “big” or “small.” It just reacts.

This is where RTT and hypnosis make such a difference.

Traditional talking therapies are powerful, but sometimes they don’t reach the part of the mind that’s actually running the show the subconscious. That’s where beliefs, habits, and emotional triggers live.

With RTT and hypnosis, we can access that deeper part of the mind and uncover the root cause of what’s really driving certain feelings or behaviours. Once we understand it, we can begin to reprogram it safely and effectively.

I decided to start this blog for a few reasons.

Firstly, it helps me process what I’m learning. I’m constantly studying, researching, and working with real people who are going through life’s challenges and I find that writing helps me connect the dots.

Secondly, I want to educate and empower people. There’s still a lot of misunderstanding around hypnosis and trauma. Many people only think of stage hypnosis or Hollywood portrayals when in reality, it’s one of the most effective ways to calm the nervous system and create lasting emotional change.

These blogs are my way of sharing what I learn from the science of the mind, to practical tools you can use to feel more grounded, confident, and in control.

My goal is simple: to help people understand themselves better  and to heal, not just cope.

Whether you’re a first responder carrying the weight of what you’ve seen, an entrepreneur battling burnout, or a parent who feels like they’ve lost a part of themselves, the message is the same:

Your mind isn’t broken it’s protecting you. Once you learn how to work with it instead of against it, everything changes.

That’s what RTT, hypnosis, and performance mindset coaching make possible. It’s not about reliving the past; it’s about finally releasing it so you can move forward with clarity and strength.

(To Improve The Quality & Outlook of individuals life)

So while martial arts remains my foundation, my focus has expanded. I’m still teaching people how to build resilience and discipline  but now I’m teaching it from the inside out.

Because true strength isn’t just about how hard you can hit or how much you can endure. It’s about how well you can understand yourself, heal what needs healing, and live with peace of mind.

And if sharing what I’ve learned through these blogs helps even one person take that next step toward healing then it’s worth writing every word.

John McKean
Rapid Transformational Therapist | Hypnotherapist | Performance Mindset Coach
Helping you make your mind work for you, not against you