Instructor’s Corner: Training Frequency

Blog
June 8, 2021

TRAINING FREQUENCY

Our next Instructor’s Corner has become a pop up segment on our Instagram page. Read below as we discuss Training Frequency and Progression.

Training Frequency refers to the amount of lessons trained per week. As a Skill Based Activity, the more lessons a student trains, the better their skill will be. Building a strong foundation of skill requires practice and repetition – there is no other way to improve.

In designing the Martial Arts syllabus for students in the intermediate level and beyond, we begin to focus on Practical Applications, Quick Recall of Skill, and more Complex movements that challenge the Muscles and Cognitive Ability (thinking, executing, remembering etc). The more times a student can practice and perform these Skills, the faster they’ll learn and the faster we will see Progression in skill, fitness and in belt advancement.

For our intermediate students training 1 lesson per week, they can often forget components from their previous lesson. Because of this, we’ll spend time revising and practicing what was done in their previous lesson. Progression then takes a little longer as students are still finding links between their Muscles and Cognitive Ability. Advancement then takes a little longer as students are still working to improve their skill. For some students, it may feel like they’re always doing the SAME thing. Yes they are, but this is so they can improve and prepare for the next component of Complex skill. All programs are designed for progression. We challenge the mind and body, but also allow time for activities to be performed safely and correctly.

Based strictly on numbers, if we compare students training 1 lesson per week vs students training 2 lessons per week, you can clearly see there is an enormous difference in the amount of hours logged. We would expect to see more skill progression from students training multiple times per week compared to the students training once per week. Of course there are exceptions where some students are able to pick up skills faster than others.

To conclude, there is no substitute for practice and repetition when it comes to progression and improvement in any activity.

SHARE