Learning As Quickly As Possible
When you are a beginner at any martial arts style, you want to learn as fast as possible. It's a normal human desire. You want to practice ... outside of class, but you aren't exactly sure of what or how to practice what you are learning in class or from an on-line course or book.
Knife Block
How much is too much practice? How little is too little?
Before I give you my secret recipe for martial improvement, let me ask you ...Did you know that some beginning martial artists practice so much that their practice actually gets in the way of any significant improvement. Their intensity and desire actually serves as a block ... an impediment to mastery of the basics.
Breaking Through the Learning Block
Here's my pattern for breaking practice block:
Set a 3:1 ratio of practice versus resting. And then within each practice session, set a 3:1 ratio of slow versus building towards speed of technique.
Here's what I mean ...
You attend your martial arts classes and do whatever the teacher requires. Then make note of each technique or sequence that was taught or practiced. When you get home, you are going to practice the techniques and sequences by yourself. Whether you practiced them fast or slow in class, you will start with slow practice. Execute each motion very slowly. Painfully slow movements. Concentrate on precision.
Speed is not allowed.
Do this for three days in a row. Then on the fourth day, start slowly, but build your speed. Eventually, make most of this session a "quick-as-you-can" practice. Really whip out each technique with pure speed. The next day, go back to slow practice.
Continue alternating, three days of slow, and then one of fast.
Martial-Arts Mini-Vacation
Do this for three weeks in a row with whatever moves you are learning and practicing in your formal classes. Then on the fourth week -- maybe the last week of each month -- don't practice at all outside of class. Don't even think about martial arts.
If you practice this way, I think you'll find that you show your most improvement after your week of rest. Sometimes, our minds and bodies need the breather, to absorb and get closer to mastery. It may seem strange, but it's true. Don't be surprised if your martial-arts teacher asks what you have been doing differently outside of class.
And if you are looking for a good little ebooklet on being ready for anyone and anything in martial encounters ...
