TRADITIONAL MARTIAL ARTS

TRADITIONAL MARTIAL ARTS

Sunday, March 3, 2024

IMPROVEMENT

 by Phillip Starr

Countless times different students would approach me and say, “I practice all the time but I'm just not improving.” And I'm sure that every instructor out there has heard the very same thing; a student doesn't feel that he/she is making any headway in improving a particular technique, form, or whatever. The student is discouraged...maybe this martial arts thing just isn't for him/her. Or maybe YOU feel that way from time to time.

The first thing to consider is the frequency of your practice. Are you daily practicing whatever it is that you want to improve or do you just do it now and then? Regularity is the key to improvement. The more often you practice it, the more improvements you will make.


The second consideration is focus. Do you just kind of “lob” your way through your practice, or do you really concentrate on making the desired improvements? Merely going through the outer motions will lead you nowhere; mental focus is essential!


There is a simple technique that can genuinely help you to improve your technique, form, or whatever. Find a comfy quiet place to sit, relax completely, and close your eyes. You're going to watch a movie and YOU are the star! Visualize yourself doing your technique or form flawlessly over and over. Concentrate! Your subconscious can't tell the difference between what is real and what isn't...it gathers all information through the five senses. For this reason, it's vital that you involve as many of your senses as possible; imagine hearing the noises that you typically hear during practice, do the same for various smells, and so on. Do this for perhaps ten minutes daily (IN ADDITION to your usual practice). Believe me, it'll work! I know from firsthand experience; I do it all the time.


But don't make the mistake of thinking that this exercise can replace actual, physical practice! There is no substitute for regular practice! Bear in mind that significant, readily noticeable improvement doesn't happen all at once; improvement comes in tiny, micro-measurements that you may not notice right away. But they're there. You'll see improvements coming on gradually. Stay the course and never, EVER give up!






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