The Inner Knight: Train and Compete Like a Champion

by Billy Ketch Allen

“Everything a modern-day high performance manual should be.”

Filled with lessons on practice, competition, and mindset, The Inner Knight is a powerful tale for athletes, coaches, and anyone who wants to achieve greatness.

Meridian Kay dreams of becoming a champion knight. But when her one passion in life is threatened, she flees home to prove herself in England’s Tournament of Champions. Alone in a foreign land, Meridian meets the one teacher who can help her achieve the impossible.

"The Inner Knight is the best thing on learning I've ever read.” –Tom Black, Head Volleyball Coach, University of Georgia

“The Inner Knight is the most entertaining way to learn the mental skills it takes to be the best version of yourself. Athletes, coaches and learners will love this book!” –John Mayer, Head Beach Volleyball Coach, Loyola Marymount University

“The Inner Knight is everything a modern-day high performance manual should be, disguised as a charming medieval story about knightship, mentorship, and pursuing one’s passion at all cost. If you want to learn how to consistently perform at or near your best when your best is needed, this story’s for you!” –Bernie Holliday, Director of Mental Performance and Learning, Pittsburgh Pirates

173 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 22, 2022

About the author

Billy Ketch Allen grew up in Fallbrook, California and studied creative writing at Cal State Northridge. He plays professional beach volleyball during the day and writes books at night.

His books include the fantasy series The Descendants of Terene and the coaching guide's Coach Your Brains Out and the Inner Knight.

Learn more about what Billy is up to on his website 
www.billyketchallen.com

Reviews

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to read parable (fable?) about the quest of a young aspiring athlete in her quest to become a champion jouster. It is in the same vein as Chop Wood, Carry Water (or Pound the Stone, and presumably Winning in the Dark - haven't read that one yet); both have chapters which are mostly centered around certain coaching or training principles/ideas. However, the Inner Knight comes across as a much more cohesive and enjoyable story for me personally than Joshua Medcalf's books.

Anybody familiar with Allen and Mayer's Coach Your Brains Out podcast or book will recognize several key ideas they have focused on in the past (training vs trusting mindset, mindfulness, variable training / environmental constraints, etc.) but they are presented in a fun way which gets inside the head of the athlete and hopefully will therefore be more relatable to current athletes as well! Hoping to go through this with current college athletes and see useful conversations and learning opportunities develop!!

[Paige Morningstar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m somewhat bias since one of my coaches wrote this book, but I LOVED it! Although it’s a very quick read, it has a great storyline/plot, and is packed with life lessons! I appreciate the characters, especially the main one Meridian, and see a lot of myself in her. I can’t wait to read more of Billy Ketch Allen’s work!😁

[Billy Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book, I share what I've learned about effective practice, mental training, and what it feels like to compete. I wove the lessons into an exciting story to make it a fun read. I hope you enjoy Meridian's story and remember the lessons within as you pursue your own adventures.

[John D. Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very encouraging book, through the lens of jousting, on the precepts and principles that are required to be mastered to excel as an exceptional athlete. These principles allow to athletics and to life.

[Charita Stubbs]

Awesome book, I really enjoyed it