Inspired by a random thread on a random forum, I've decided to dedicate this year to mastery of one skill. 10,000 reps over the course of the year. Taking time off for weekends, this works out to 38 reps per day. I'll probably be rounding that up to 40, but since I'm starting a couple of weeks late, I'll have to hit 55 per weekday for the rest of January in order to make sure I hit the goal.
In addition to the 10k reps for what I'll be calling the primary skill, I'm thinking of dedicating 10 reps/day to a secondary skill, which I'll rotate monthly. Now, I'm into martial arts and self defense, so the primary skill will probably be something that reflects that, but the secondary skill can be anything that I find interesting. For now, I'm thinking of making my primary skill be simply drawing my pocket knife, and January's secondary skill might be a coin sleight.
I've practiced martial arts for years now, but it occurs to me that should I ever need to use those knife skills in a real situation, I'll need to be able to bring the knife into the fight. So the draw stroke is the bedrock of functional knife skills for self defense. With that in mind, I will make the repetitions progressively more difficult. I'll start with simple standing and drawing, mixing up left and right hands, and then add draw to knife jab, then work in situational training drills. Hopefully before the end of the year I'll find some training partners so I can do some drawing under pressure.
As far as secondary skills, I just need some kind of motivation to go do something. Some potential skills to work on might be jab/cross from a good crazy monkey hunchback stance, or Muay Thai round kicks (left and right), or foot jabs, or doing 3 of 9 with a knife, or a coin trick. It doesn't have to be martial arts related, I just need something to motivate me to get better at things or try to learn new things. I'll update this later tonight once I've settled on a primary/secondary skill to train.
Hey Snell. Read your email, and I'll not only inspire you along the way, but join you. Now by your calculations I will never meet the 10K reps. I've been trying on and off [and your contributor stated more off than on] learning Tagalog i.e. Filipino. I make a pledge. No. A vow to learn this native tongue of my step family that have master English and it's my turn to reciporcate (sic?) So my friend. I'll start to say at least I have the 2 most powerful learning CDs in my hands and the appropriate books. I have a "copious" amount of flash cards, too... So you have one friend learning Arabic, and one learning Filipino. I have a tattoo on my left calf with just 2 words: Keep Digging. Anything I find my strength waning, I peer down at it and realize. Oh yea. Keep digging for more. More strength, more determination, more fire to get to where I want. And my friends (when they wanna encourage me) smile while shouting Keep Digging!
ReplyDeleteThere you go, Snell. KEEP DIGGING!!
Ah, my oldest friend. I knew I could count on you. If you need more Tagalog materials, let me know, I might have some laying around. I sent you an invite, also, so feel free to blog about your progress here with us.
ReplyDeleteI know right? (oldest friend) OF course you can count on me. Right to armaggedon!! Um, I'm tight on my Tagalog material... motivation is another.
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