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One Minute Martial Artist
Your
guide to gaining focus and preparation before, during and after a training session.
part three
In the last issue of Total Warrior we talked about focus and preparation
during class. In this issue we are going to talk about what the One Minute Martial Artist does after a training session.
Mental is More - using your mind to gain more from a training session
Notes - writing a class journal
Review - bring information into your long term memory
Mental is More
Okay, so you've reached the end of a training session, what more can you do to
improve your training? I mean gosh, the class is over... or is it? Actually it has just begun. Let me explain:
Breaks and breathers
Like a mental kick boxing match, we fight one round at a
time. Before continuing to punch and kick our mental opponents we must be prepared to do so. A break is important for us to subconsciously review, learn from the last round and rest up for the next period.
You
need to see the end of each class as it if it is simply a break before the next class. Why, because unless it truly is your last class- it is
just a break. It doesn't matter how long of a break it will be, just the fact that it is a break. Your brain needs this break in order to maximize your training for the next session.
With a break, you are able
to take 100% of the knowledge you just learned and turn it into 110% or more. How is this possible? I mean, you just learned 100% of the training, how is it possible to take that knowledge and turn it into
110%? Wouldn't that be like trying to take an uncut apple pie and adding a slice? In theory yes, in reality no. You have to understand that you come into every training session with at least a little bit of
previous knowledge. In order for us to learn something new, we need to remember something old. This is how we learn and associate. It is part of the problem solving system in our brains. So, after a training
session, if you meditate and visualize on the class, you in turn will be associating and linking it to previous training. This will create new ideas, improved training and a better understanding of your session. Thus,
you will have come out of the class with more than you actually received. Okay, how do we do this?
Minute made visualization
After a class, a few minutes can be spent to mentally review the physical and
mental training you just received. You do this by mentally seeing yourself perform the training and techniques again. The image is vivid, colorful, detailed and most importantly, live. In your imagination, you need to feel
like you are in the experience. See everything going smoothly and from your own eyes. All your senses need to be active so you not only see it, but you also hear, taste, smell and feel it. Once you have learned something,
you can then place it in the mind and improve it or change it. This is a great form of training. You can solve problems, handle situations and perfect strategies in the mind. Martial Artists can go home and review all the
techniques, movements and stances that they've learned. It only takes a minute to do this and you can break your training up for reviews throughout the day.
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It is important to review your training in the positive form - regardless of your mistakes or imperfections during training. Many people concentrate on the things
that they don't want. Because the brain excepts this negative image like a command, the chance is great that it will come true. So, be sure and keep your images set in
the positive and perform the techniques in your mind the way you would like to perform them in reality.
Remember, what your mind can conceive and believe - it can achieve.
Notes
Once you have mentally reviewed your class, it is now time to take a minute to
write in your class journal. Some students prefer to write in their journals first, but since at RTMS we end class with a mental review.... it is written that way here. The choice is yours.
Here are some things to include in your review notes:
Review notes will improve your memory of the techniques as well as give you a study sheet for future reference. You will be able to practice your mental
visualizations anytime by simply reviewing your class training sheet.
Class notes
In this area you will want to draw diagrams or put in any creative notes that you
can think of. This is your area - even ideas about class can be placed here. If possible - try to add symbols, drawings and or unusual text to assist in
remembering the class. If you are familiar with Tew's Total Recall or "Brain Bombs" from our memory program - then this is where you can use them.
Class summary
In this section you can break the class down into parts and list them in the order that they were taught. Be sure and include class focus and not just the techniques.
Try to summarize in your own way so that it makes it easy for you to follow and understand in the future. These sheets will come in handy a year from now - especially if you plan to teach.
Things I did well
Make sure that you stay positive and record the things you did well in class. Write down all of the positive aspects of your involvement. Be sure to include mind, body and spirit.
Things I learned
List all of the new skills and techniques that you were taught. Include mental concepts too.
Things I need work on
This area requires reflection on your class. Ask your instructor and training partners to offer some suggestions on what you need work on.
Review
After about 24 hours of learning any new data our mind forgets about 80%. In
order to keep from losing this information, we need to review. If you review properly, you will bring the new information into your long term memory. Here is the schedule:
- 10 minutes after class write a class training sheet
- 24 hours later do your first mental review
- 1 week later do your second mental review
- 1 month later do your third mental review
Naturally this process can be enhanced with more reviews. The above schedule is the bare minimum of what is required. Now most of your training will be repeated
in class, so it isn't likely that you will forget a lesson. Still, this process helps you remember things that are not repeated as well as enhance your overall abilities as a
martial artist. Try it out and you will soon see the results.
Okay, that wraps it up for the One Minute Martial Artist. I hope you will take the
time to include these strategies into your training. Before we go, let's review all of the concepts we talked about in part 1, 2 and 3.
Beginning of class
* Mind, Body Spirit position
* Open Focus
* MBS Questions
* Visualization
During class
* Outcome Orientation
* Tic T.O.C.
* Stop Drop and Roll
* Spirit Move
After Class
* Creative Mental Training
* Class Training Sheet
* Review
Okay, that wraps it up for your 1 minute in the martial arts. Once again, thank you for joining us, good luck in training and have a great day!
Sensei Tew
RTMS Head Instructor
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