Tell me about your first day of training..
- Thread starter Lisa
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Simfers
Orange Belt
My first day of training almost didn't happen. I was 18, a gigangic nerd and PAINFULLY awkward (two of those things are no longer true. I'm no longer 18 and I'm much less awkward).
So I'm stood there in the door to the gym the Chicoutimi TKD Academy is renting in the local school, it's big, the lighting is all weird and it's filled with strangers, some in doboks with various belts, some, like me, in just sweat pants and a t-shirt, who are chatting and laughing...
Instant panic. Sensory overload. I'm standing there transfixed, a breath away from just turning around and leaving...
When this older gentleman, a beginner himself, just like me, comes up to me, extends his hand and introduces himself. As we're shaking, he says "pretty scary, huh? Come on, I'll introduce you to some people." And somehow I followed him.
Then class started and we went over the rules of the dojang, then we started with the first techniques (if I had to bet, I'd say we started with the bichagi/roundhouse kick) and I was hooked the second I made contact with the focus mitt. The SOUND it made... The rest, as they say, is history.
I owe my entire journey to that one dude. I fon't know where he is now. He was at least 50 at the time and that was in 1997, so for all I know he's gone now, but Michel, wherever you are... Thanks, buddy.
So I'm stood there in the door to the gym the Chicoutimi TKD Academy is renting in the local school, it's big, the lighting is all weird and it's filled with strangers, some in doboks with various belts, some, like me, in just sweat pants and a t-shirt, who are chatting and laughing...
Instant panic. Sensory overload. I'm standing there transfixed, a breath away from just turning around and leaving...
When this older gentleman, a beginner himself, just like me, comes up to me, extends his hand and introduces himself. As we're shaking, he says "pretty scary, huh? Come on, I'll introduce you to some people." And somehow I followed him.
Then class started and we went over the rules of the dojang, then we started with the first techniques (if I had to bet, I'd say we started with the bichagi/roundhouse kick) and I was hooked the second I made contact with the focus mitt. The SOUND it made... The rest, as they say, is history.
I owe my entire journey to that one dude. I fon't know where he is now. He was at least 50 at the time and that was in 1997, so for all I know he's gone now, but Michel, wherever you are... Thanks, buddy.
HighKick
Master Black Belt
This is the way.
It is Much harder to learn something when it is engrained in you the wrong way.
This is often used as an excuse not to practise away from one’s teacher when in fact the research says that’s counterproductive.
HighKick
Master Black Belt
Practice does Not make perfect.
Perfect practice makes perfect.
Yes, it is a process to get there. Hence the purpose of good instruction.
Oddly, that’s not true, either. Practicing at a level where you are perfect is inefficient. The fastest development happens at a level where you are doing well and making mistakes - say 85% of perfect.
HighKick
Master Black Belt
If you are including full power, full strength 100% of the time as 'perfect', if fully agree.
So you tell your students not to practise between classes in case they somehow ingrained ‘imperfection’? They should only practise before a teacher who can correct them? Have you heard of homework set be teachers and lecturers throughout the world?
HighKick
Master Black Belt
Not at all. But I do caution them to make sure they are doing the movements as close to right as possible before doing them on their own. Correction is usually a process for all of us.
It’d be a very strange teacher who didn’t suggest that.
HighKick
Master Black Belt
Of course. But it is not like we, at instructors Never have to correct students who practice on the own, right?
I think of it like complex math. You can practice and practice but get the order of operations wrong or one operation or variable incorrect and it is All wrong.
Generally speaking, I think it's easier to correct a student who is practicing on their own than someone who isn't.
Even with complex math, this holds true. As someone who used to tutor higher level calc/discrete mathematics, when working with a student who was trying and messing one thing up, we had a specific goal of what we were trying to fix, and they were comparitively better at wrapping their heads around it. Versus the person who sat in the lecture, didn't understand it, then came to a tutoring session with no practice/attempt to work on it on their own - I'd say something or ask them how they'd go about starting to solve an issue, to see where the problem was, and get a blank stare.
I'd be lucky to get them to the same spot at the end of the session that someone who practiced on their own was at the beginning of the session.
That doesn't take into account muscle memory, but as far as comparison's go it's actually pretty apt.
isshinryuronin
Senior Master
I have an entirely different view of this "perfect practice" thing. I see it as NOT aiming to get a perfect result from the process of practicing, but to improve the practice itself - The goal being "practicing perfectly" - Practicing how to practice. Studying History will be a waste of time if you don't know how to study to begin with.
I see two sides of practicing - No! Not two sides: Physical and mental together. Just practicing physically is simply exercise. Conscious intent should be maintained: Think about the purpose of the technique being practiced, how it needs to be executed and the effects it will have when actually employed - Visualize the opponent and situation as vividly as possible. IMO, keeping these things in mind will make practicing so much more effective.
I seldom "practice" at full speed - Things are happening too quickly for feedback processing and self-correction. This reduces your practice to exercise. Going full speed/power I see as more of a test of how your practicing has gone. I need to feel each move component as it's being done. Does it feel right? If not, correct and repeat.
This topic can be greatly expanded on, but these are what I see as a couple main points that come to mind.
Stuarto
Blue Belt
Agreed, making mistakes is part of the learning process. I am training for purple belt and was picked apart by four black belts today. I appreciate constructive criticism because I know that it will help me improve. When I go for purple I want to be the best orange belt I can be.
HighKick
Master Black Belt
While I agree it is (usually) not attainable, it is a great goal to strive for. Had I chosen to train at a lower intensity level, I would have never gotten as far as I did.
Think of it this way, do you want to learn from someone who is right only 85% of the time? It gets even harder to look at when I say 'someone who is going to teach you wrong 15% of the time.
isshinryuronin
Senior Master
TMA is technically very complex. There is balance, stance, stepping, hips, shoulders, breathing, tension, relaxation, and the execution of the specific technique. It's quite difficult for a 1st degree black belt to practice all these elements simultaneously with a high degree of proficiency - how much more so for lower belts. I believe it's best to start working on just a few of these at a time, seeking the goal of "perfection," leaving the others at a lesser level of excellence. The total result of the moves will then not be perfect, and that is fine and a more realistic expectation.
Gradually, over the months and years one can exert increasing attention to the other elements, adding them in one at a time. It's a step-by-step process. Constant improvement will naturally occur in the elements one is not concentrating on anyway. By the time one is at 3rd or 4th degree, seeking perfection in all the elements simultaneously is possible and the expected goal.
Stuarto
Blue Belt
My first day of training was very exciting. I had already visited the dojo, spoke a bit with the sensei and enrolled in classes. On day one I received my white belt, did some warm-ups and quickly realized just how out of shape I was. The very first lesson that is taught is blocking form 1. This is what I practiced for the duration of the class along with the horse stance and some punching. I am now about 7 months into regular training and am preparing for purple belt.
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