Lessons from Nintendo

 I made an interesting connection this morning as I contemplated dusting off my NES Classic Mini and playing some of the more challenging games like Ninja Gaiden or Castlevania: those games use the same learning process as fencing should.

Is This Attainable?

Kensey and I have recently ordered some dussack trainers, so a few nights ago we took to YouTube to watch people using them. In one video, we saw a guy who moved really, really well-- in total control at all times, able to pivot and flow and change directions and stop on a dime, all the stuff you'd want to see out of a higher end fighter. The contrast with the opponent was stark, though the opponent wasn't moving poorly. The difference in juxtaposition was just very obvious. 

As we talked about what we were watching, she asked me: "Is that even possible for me?"

But How Do You Know?

One very common question that comes up with historical fencing research is, "How do you know you're right?" This challenge arises because there are no living traditions and we're all working out of manuals of varying quality and even what's available is limited in scope. Confounding matters are the influences of modern and classical fencing, alongside the emergent adaptations that come with SCA or HEMA practices. How do we know?

89 is not 90

If you're practicing effectively, skill plateaus aren't real. Sometimes it might seem like you're stuck in a rut, but I can't tell you how many times I have seen someone think they're not making progress only to suddenly experience a major surge in performance. It happened to me, and it can happen to you.

Mistakes Are Data

There is a saying that shows up fairly often when people talk about practice: "The master has failed more than the novice has tried." This is good and wise and true. No expert would deny it. But, how do we make this wisdom a part of our journey toward expertise?

On Expectations

Part of an upcoming class on how to have an ethical practice that Master Gawin Kappler and I are teaching will include a point about the necessity to set high expectations. Since I expect this to be a point of contention because of past misapprehensions I have encountered on this topic, I want to be clear about what this entails, and why it matters.