In my October 2025 blog, Kaizen
Concept Applied to Martial Arts Training I talk about continuous improvement
and continuous learning of martial arts, which includes continuous
self-discovery. A means to self-discovery is to be curious (i.e., to be curious
of how and when something works [or does not] and why it works, etc.).
Curiosity has shown to have several brain and learning benefits:
1.
Curiosity releases
dopamine and therefore becomes a motivator.
·
“Higher levels of
curiosity lead to higher levels of activity in areas such as the striatum,
which is involved in the release of dopamine, the neurotransmitter most
associated with feelings of reward.” [Ref. 1]
·
“Dopamine plays a
role in how we feel pleasure and rewards. It's a big part of our unique human
ability to think and plan. It helps us focus, work towards goals, and find
things interesting.” [Ref. 2]
2.
Curiosity could
improve your memory.
·
“In addition, the
researchers found that curious minds showed increased activity in the
hippocampus, which is involved in the creation of memories. In fact, the degree
to which the hippocampus and reward pathways interacted could predict an
individual’s ability to remember the incidentally introduced faces. The brain’s
reward system seemed to prepare the hippocampus for learning.” [Ref. 3]
Some ways to cultivate or strengthen your curiosity include:
·
Embrace a Growth
Mindset [Ref. 5]
·
Martial arts is a
lifetime journey and there is always something to learn if you maintain an open
mind, have a beginner‘s attitude, and recognize you can always learn and that
there is something to learn.
·
Stay Open to Feedback
and Learning from Others [Ref. 5]
·
Hand in hand with a
growth mindset is being open to feedback (do not immediately dismiss the
information) and knowing you can learn from others. You can learn not only from instructors, but
also peers and even lower ranks.
·
Ask “what if” more
often [Ref. 4]
·
Jeff Burgess used to
do this a lot especially during self-defense practice – what if you moved more
this way or that way? What if you
changed stances? What if they grabbed you
this way versus that way, how would that work?
·
Ask more questions - ask
probing questions that challenge assumptions or explore different angles [Ref.
5]
·
Follow your “hmm”
moments [Ref. 4]
·
When something seems
interesting, find more information about and/or try it out.
·
Explore unfamiliar
subjects / Develop a reading habit [Ref. 4 and 5.]
·
If you want to learn
more about a subject you are not as familiar with (e.g., history of Tae Kwon
Do, a different or adjacent martial arts, applications within the martial arts,
use of energy, etc.) research it, read about it, watch videos, take a class.
·
Embrace ambiguity:
Curiosity thrives in not knowing. Learn to be comfortable with the feeling of
“I don’t know yet.” [Ref. 4]
·
Martial arts is a
lifetime journey, so if something does not click yet be okay with that and know
that at some point it will as long as you are open to it.
If you tend to be curious, keep it up and try some of the
techniques above if you do not already use them. If you are not a naturally curious person,
take one of or two of the suggestions above and try to adopt them. Curiosity can improve learning and actually
make learning more enjoyable.
Regards,
Kelly
“Without
Knowledge, Skill cannot be focused. Without Skill, Strength cannot be brought
to bear and without Strength, Knowledge may not be applied." ~ Alexander
the Great (356-323 BC), king of Macedon,
an ancient
Greek kingdom
References:
1.
How the Science of Curiosity Boosts
Learning | Scientific American, retrieved 11/14/2025.
2.
Dopamine: What It Is,
Function, Deficiency & how to boost it, retrieved 11/14/2025.
3.
Curiosity Prepares the Brain
for Better Learning | Scientific American, retrieved 11/14/2025.
4.
How to Cultivate Curiosity and
Never Stop Learning - Very Big Brain, retrieved 11/14/2025.
5.
Why Curiosity Is a Learnable Skill
- Very Big Brain, retrieved 11/14/2025.
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