Memorizing Techniques

In the end, your goal will be to have developed a natural reaction in combat. But in order for us to reach this level of response, we must first train repetively in the skills we learn early on. In the duration of one class an instructor may teach as many as 10 new techniques, some even more. If we are to practice these newly learned skills (outside of class) and return so we can grow - we must remember the techniques taught in the first place. 

The process of learning a technique works as follows:

1. Learn the technique
2. Mentaly review the technique
3. Practice the technique

The first step is usually in class under the instructors guidance, while the other two are usually performed within the period AFTER training until the time your are back in class. In order to properly review up to 10 techniques, we need to remember what it was that we learned. The average student remembers about only 2-5 out of 10 techniques by the next day. After a few more days they may only remember 1-3. Using the simple memory technique that follows you will be able to remember exactly what techniques were taught.

This skill comes in handy if your instructor asks for you to demonstrate what you learned at the end of each class.  With practice you will be able to mimic your instructor and even remember many of his special instructions that would normaly have been forgotten. 

Before I can teach you the small memory system - you must first understand how the memory works. For in depth training and information you can order my manual or tape on advanced memory skills: "Tew´s Total Recall." see Mind Control.

Let´s say that we need to remember 10 techniques. Just as you would take notes in class to make a list of ten items, you will need to do the same in your mind. We call this the mental notepad. On a notepad you may have lines reserved for placing information. You will need the same thing in your head. A place to put each of the 10 techniques. We call these places or areas reserved for information PEGS or HANGERS. There are many metaphors to explain how the mind works - I will skip the how and why´s and get straight to the techniques. If you need to know why this works or more on how, then refer to Mind Control section on Memory.

So what will be our Mental Notepad, what will be the peg, hanger or hooks that we can LINK each technique to? Well basically, any 10 items that are in your long term memory will work as a peg. But to start, we will use the Rhyme List. Remember, the Mental Notepad is a place to store information - each place needs to have a specific hanger, peg, or hook. This peg, hook or hanger can be anything that you can PICTURE and have stored in your long term memory.

Since we are focusing on learning 10 techniques we will also want to know what technique was number 5. To do this we also need to make sure our peg is associated with the number. This may all sound a little confusing at first, but hang in there and follow through - before you know it, you will catch on to what is happening.

Okay - so we need a list of 10 pegs for our mental notepad. Now I could teach you a defense against a straight punch and tell you to remember this as technique number one, but unless you have an image for number one, you won´t really have a good association. You would be left with rote memory and boring repetions that "this is technique number one." So we will use the Rhyme List to create our numbers and give the images to associate with.

Rhyme List:

One is Gun
Two is Shoe
Three is Tree
Four is Door
Five is Hive
Six is Sticks
Seven is Heaven
Eight is Skate
Nine is Wine
Ten is Hen

We use the rhyme list because it is pretty easy to remember what number goes with what image. If I say, "what is one?" You only need to think of what rhymes with one and you will think of gun. Review the list a few times until know the links. 

This is how it works. Your instructor asks you (or your mental coach) "what is the technique for number 5?" Your immediate mental response would be to think "5 is hive." Once you have Hive in your mind all you need to do to remember the technique, is to remember the associations you made with Hive and Technique. Let´s say that the fifth technique was a defense against a side kick. And all that you need to remember the technique is to remember the side kick. So you simply associate a side kick with a Hive. By the way, I am talking about a Bee Hive. To do this we can picture a side kick hitting a bee hive and thousands of bees pouring out. 

1. You think of 5
2. You should think of Hive and then you say to yourself "what happened to the Hive...
3. Oh yes, there was a side kick.

In order to make this work you need to have a good imagination. If you don´t have a good imagination, you will, if you keep up this training. Memorizing your techniques in this fashion will help you to enhance your overall mental abilities. 

This information on memory is just the tip of the iceberg. There are many more advanced skills and if you find this information interesting, then you might be interested in taking the full memory course. If you have any questions about this memory technique or other TRMS trainings discussed on our web site, feel free to ask and Sensei will do his best to answer your questions. We pride ourselves on not just offering you a web site with text, but a live response and active participation in the system.

Good luck in Training.

Sensei Tew
 
RTMS Head Instructor