Martials arts is a serious practice. Han Moo Kwan is meant for self-defense
purposes, so when training and learning you should approach it with
seriousness.
So, what I am about to say may seem contradictory to
that statement.
While it is serious, you should also approach your
training as fun and enjoyable. This does
not mean laughing and joking and not focusing, but coming with the mindset that
you are thoroughly enjoying what you are doing, especially when learning
something new.
You may still be wondering what the heck I am getting
at.
There are many studies are out there about the optimal
learning conditions and environment. Many
of these studies have shown that when we are under stress, we do not learn as
well and memory performance declines. Therefore, if you come to train feeling
stressed or anxious, you are less likely to retain the what you’ve learned. If you are learning a new form and frustrated
or stressed because it seems like a lot to learn, then most likely it will take
longer to learn.
On the flip side, we learn better when we experience
joy and having fun. Scientific research has
shown that dopamine plays a critical role in formation of new memories and
improving cognitive functions. Research
has shown this is partly why children learn so quickly and learn better while
playing. That joy from playing and having fun releases dopamine which helps retain
the memories and the learning.
So, if you approach learning and training with the mindset,
you are having fun and it is enjoyable, then you should be able to learn faster
and retain what you learn longer which is key when learning something new.
Let the fun begin.
Regards,
Kelly
“The joy of learning is as indispensable
in study as breathing is in running. Where it is lacking there are no real
students, but only poor caricatures of apprentices who, at the end of their
apprenticeship, will not even have a trade.” ~ Simone Weil (1909-1943), a
French philosopher, mystic, and political activist
