3 posts tagged with "Teaching"

I wrote this up for a shooting forum, all of it applies beyond work on the range. These techniques are used by top tier performers around the world. In fact, every single professional performer uses all of these. They may call them different names but "the big 4" (Visualization, Self Talk, Goal Setting, Arousal Control) are unavoidable if you want to become the best. For the rest of us mortals, they help us become a whole lot better and they're free. Visualization: Lots of research has been done on this, basically your body doesn't know the difference between what you visualize and what you do. Whether or not you have time for the range you almost always have time to visualize. The more aspects you can include the better. What it looks like, (your point of view, what you look like from another's point of view), what it feels like from grip to stance, what it sounds like with ears on, what it smells like (smell is a direct connection to your lizard brain) and even what it tastes like will all build your training environment and allow you to practice the perfect shot or run. Self Talk: Pros talk to themselves, from Tiger Woods to elite military shooters. What they say focuses on the positive (nice shot, keep going, hands steady, eyes clear) and NOT what they're missing (darn it, missed that one, oh well, need to speed up etc). The more "I can do this" and "I've got this" you use the more it'll become true for you. It's not magic, it just makes the hard work you put in that much more effective. Goal Setting: From very short term (hit this next shot) to very long term (Grand Master in 5 years) you MUST have goals if you're going to make measurable progression. If you're serious you'll write them out enough times that they become burned into your brain. Arousal Control: This is what takes a bi-athletes heart rate from rockin' and rollin' down to shooting between heartbeats. Completely in the head. You can improve this with awareness, which must be constantly practiced. Read Enos. For wazoo out there techniques check out John Alexander and The Warrior's Edge. No longer in print that I'm aware of, usually you have to wait on Amazon for a used one to show up. One technique that is super effective is sometimes called 4-4-4: take 4 seconds to inhale, 4 seconds to exhale, and do that for 4 minutes (or as short/long as you have.) It encourages the brain to calm down and simulate relaxation patterns. Good to do if you have a time where you know you usually "freak out." Like before you shoot a match. These are the basics. Tons of books have been written about this, if any of you would like to work on your mental game post up what you've got and we'll make it helpful to the whole forum. Used to teach this stuff to fired up young dudes, am happy to use that experience to help you. Q&A ****, lots of folks start off super relaxed and then they fire that first shot and events spiral out of control, or at least beyond your conscious awareness, and that's the issue. Awareness of your mental state is critical to controlling what you're doing, whether you're shooting or talking to your spouse or running a hard race. You're heading in the right direction with more practice and experience. When you do practice, practice awareness. One thing you can do is try using "dots". You can buy a sheet of little dot stickers of whatever color catches your attention at OfficeMax or OfficeDepot etc. Paste those around the house (above sink, in bathroom, by the bed, at the front door) and wherever else you spend lots of time (steering wheel, desk at work etc.) Every time you see that dot, just pay attention to what you're thinking, to your awareness. This is practice, and it's not restricted to the range. When you do this you're building a habit of awareness that will have implications well beyond your shooting game. Now, when you're at the range you can run a few drills of awareness, shooting as fast as you can for a mag to amp you up and then doing a SUPER SLOW mag change and bringing your awareness back. You can also color a dot onto your hands where you can see it when you bring your gun up to bear, just something to remind you to stay aware. I'd wish you good luck, but I tend to believe that folks who work hard get the luckiest, so good work! ****, these techniques are commonly used by top tier Formula One racers. It's funny, you'd be hard pressed to find top competitors or performers anywhere in any discipline who don't use the big four or some variant of them. They work so well and are so natural in the evolution of high level activity that once you know what they are and look for them you'll find them *everywhere.* The Four Quarters I used to race (running) and would specifically use goal setting to plan out how to run. I broke the race up into 4 quarters and called them horse, boat, heart, and home. The horse, or first quarter, I viewed as if I was a jockey and riding a super powerful horse, one that I'd have to pull back on the reins a bit in the beginning so I didn't blow it out. It was a reminder to me to pull back on my pace a little, because almost every pace feels good in the first quarter, even the one that will murder you. The more experienced you get as a runner the more you realize that no one wins a race in the first quarter, but lots of people will run that as if it's the most important one. The boat quarter I thought about the way you drive a boat, especially one with a slipping throttle; you know, you can put it at full speed but especially in anything other than glassy conditions it'll slip back down a few notches if you're not constantly and firmly tapping that throttle forward. That idea reminded me to keep checking my speed as I ran, to maintain the solid pace I'd set in the first quarter. The heart, or third, quarter was always my favorite. I saw a military recruiting video once where they showed a bunch of guys running on a beach, obviously a hot day and a hell of a run. As they went along you could see the pain and sweat and struggle in each of them, and the narrator read out a line I'll never forget: "There's nothing quite like running to make a man reach deep down inside himself and see what he's made of." That's what the heart quarter was for me, the time to reach down deep and hold the pace I'd already set. For me, the third quarter is where a race is won. It's where everybody wants to give up, it's usually in a place where the fans don't go so nobody's watching you, and racers are far enough away from the finish line that they figure "a little rest from the pace" is OK. It's not, not if you want to win, and if you want to win you've got to set goals. The fourth quarter is where they make movies, it's the one where you're running home. While physically it's the hardest quarter because you've already expended so much effort, mentally it can be the easiest; you're close to the finish, you usually start to hear the roar of the crowd, and you know that even if you charge and blow yourself out you'll be done soon. Those four quarters are super helpful in physically demanding races, and it's a good concept to think about and use when you're shooting your various stages. Is there anything like it that you use?

the why talk Purpose: to ignite in the learner a deep and burning desire to become a better man What do I need to know to give this? -history -the Greeks -philosophy -rhetoric -personal accomplishments, physical -speak another language -why do we do what we do? spec ops, cops, border patrol, any physically difficult and challenging job -what is great about America, or, why are we here? The goal?  To perfect the self.  This is the way & the end.  Live for the experience. -greeks -arete -flow state -ethics and morals -peace/love/joy -community -feasting together (feasting over 15,000 years old, pre-dates agriculture) -classical education -farming -problem solving Recommended Reading and source list: -carnage & culture, who killed homer, blood meridian, seneca, devil's highway, epictetus, the odyssey, the warrior's edge, trout bum, performance rock climbing, the right stuff, thoughts of a philosophical fighter pilot, endurance, soldier's load, self reliance, the four agreements "For the soldier's trade, verily and essentially, is not slaying, but being slain.  This without well knowing its own meaning, the world honours it for.  A bravo's trade is slaying; but the world has never respected bravos more than merchants: the reason it honours the soldier is, because he holds his life at the service of the State.  Reckless he may be--fond of pleasure or of adventure--all kinds of bye-motives and mean impulses may have determined the choice of his profession, and may affect (to all appearance exclusively) his daily conduct in it; but our estimate of him is based on this ultimate fact--of which we are well assured--that put him in a fortress breach, with all the pleasures of the world behind him, and only death and his duty in front of him, he will keep his face to the front; and he knows that his choice may be put to him at any moment--and has beforehand taken his part--virtually takes such part continually--does, in reality, die daily." -John Ruskin, The Roots of Honor, Unto This Last Five great intellectual professions, relating to daily necessities of life, have hitherto existed--three exist necessarily, in every civilized nation: The Soldier's profession is to defend it. The Pastor's to teach it. The Physician's to keep it in health. The Lawyer's to enforce justice in it. The Merchant's to provide  for it. -John Ruskin, The Roots of Honor, Unto This Last "The Greek idea of virtue starts with the individual; we are to be stronger, tougher, more outspoken than it is in our nature to be.  We must look to ourselves, not others, for succor in staring down what is fated." "[]Lasting reform is found only through action.  Meaning can only be found in the effort to do what we should not be able to do, in sacrificing life and health in order to paw and scratch at bigger things that do not fade." "[] Men on foot with muscular strength, not horsemen nor even missile men, alone ultimately win wars." "[] Most alien to the Classical spirit is the suppression of argument, the refection of self-criticism, or the idea that incorporating the ideas of others diminishes oneself." "The Greeks have already mapped the paths to individual success and the creation of a stable society: joint decision-making, no astronomical payoffs for an undeserving elite, constant audit and accountability, duties to the community, noblesse oblige towards the less fortunate--what the Greeks called charis" Did not more than one Greek say, "Not finely-roofed houses, nor the well-built walls, nor even canals or dockyards make the polis, but rather men of the type able to meet the job at hand"?  People, then, matter. Learning comes through pain, reason is checked by fate, men are social creatures, the truth only emerges through dissent and open criticism, human life is tragically short and therefore comes with obligations, character is a matter of matching words with deeds, the most dangerous animal is the natural beast within us, religion is separate from and subordinate to political authority, private property should be immune from government coercion, even aristocratic leaders ignore the will of the assembly at their peril--start with Homer, especially his Illiad. -Victor Davis Hanson, Who Killed Homer? "When you get to the top of a wall, there's nothing there."  -Yvon Chouinard, on why he climbs, from the movie 180 South

Topics for discussion during proctorship: This is about me putting my values & ideas out there (as mine, clearly stated) in an attempt to mold students into someone better (define that, bitches) than me by example of what has worked, i.e. I made it with these values, you can make it with yours. *What/who can be respected?  Nazis?  Mother Teresa quote (in every man is goodness if only you look hard enough--paraphrased) *The Trades-metal, wood, energy (elec), water (plumbing), medical, what is necessary, learn one, why?  Self-reliance, contribution, passing on learning, apprenticeship.  What is a lathe?  How does electricity work?  What are the basics of plumbing?  Nails vs screws.  What it means (and indicates) to be a master.  Quit being so fucking helpless! *The environment & war (oil, water, resources, use of tactically), how are they linked?  What impact do your actions have?  Gas guzzler, water waster, your sons planet, 7th generation *Animal care-feeding, care, treatment, behaviour mods (positive reinforcement, limited power of negative & punishment), applications to humans, prisoner handling, turning sources, treating family *PLJ peaceLoveJoy-for what do we fight?  Solzenhitzyen quote (line through every heart and through the human race denoting good and evil), balance in emotions, clear goals, treatment of self, self dialogue, trust and self reliance *Thought clarity and speed, one sentence to turn in every day (show me clarity of thought and ability to create/write) *Travel and reinvention (every new place you go you can re-invent, what qualities will you focus on?) *Creation and art: visit a museum (Tara Donovan, MOCA) open your fucking mind beyond being a stone-cold warrior. *No notes.  Write it later, participate NOW! *Cool / Not Cool, (from the class, with discussion.  Start topics examples: skydiving, killing, money, rape, driving, friends, sharing, etc) derive values from these, place some topics in "depends" or "neither" or "neutral" category.  Build their ethos for them, in front of them, and hold them to it for the rest of phase.