Competitive situations are almost always accompanied by a certain level of anxiety that, though often silent, profoundly engages both the mind and body of athletes. This is especially true in disciplines such as Kyokushin, where not only physical strength but also psychological balance is essential for survival and success. Addressing the mental dimensions of athletes, therefore, becomes an undeniable necessity.

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of two influential psychological approaches—Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)—on reducing competitive anxiety and improving recovery among elite Kyokushin athletes. Employing a quasi-experimental design with a pretest–posttest control group, the study was conducted on 41 male athletes aged 18 to 30, divided into two experimental groups and one control group. The interventions, designed based on MBSR and ACT principles, were administered to the respective experimental groups. Data were collected using the Competitive State Anxiety Test (SCAT) and the Recovery–Stress Questionnaire for Athletes (RESTQ-Sport). Non-parametric Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney tests were used for data analysis.

Findings indicated that both MBSR and ACT interventions significantly reduced competitive anxiety and enhanced psychological recovery compared to the control group. However, while MBSR demonstrated greater effectiveness in reducing competitive anxiety, ACT showed a notable advantage in improving physical recovery. These results highlight the distinct yet complementary roles of the two approaches in enhancing the psychological and physical performance of athletes.