From: scovar@NeoSoft.com (VSI Shell Account)
Subject: Lost thread/LEARNING
Organization: NeoSoft Communications Services -- (713) 684-5900
Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1992 05:52:42 GMT

Organization: NeoSoft Communications Services -- (713) 684-5900

To: stark@dwovax.enet.dec.com
Subject: Re: body memory
Newsgroups: rec.martial-arts
Organization: NeoSoft Communications Services -- (713) 684-5900
Cc: 
Bcc: 

In article <1h4vvtINN65m@usenet.pa.dec.com> you write:
>
>ek@patty.gud.siemens.co.at (Ernst Krudl) writes...
>>With learning a new form/kata I usually experience body memory: I can not
>>recall the form in my mind, but once I start to repeat it, I realize
>>it is still there. 
>>Can anyone explain this on a medical/biological level (or any other), please !
>
>I can't explain it, but it seems interesting to discuss.
>
>There is some evidence of sensory channel-specific memory of a sort.
>
>Several popular models behavioral 'strategies' (after Pribram, Miller,
>Galanter) as having components in specific senses; kinesthetic or body sense
>being one of these.    One of these models, found in Neurolinguistic 
>Programming, would probably either explain your experience in terms of 
>preferences for kinesthetic tests rather than visual ones in your performance 
>strategies, or in terms of the visual tests being below the threshold of
>consciousness at this point.
>
>The practical implication, in NLP terms, *might* be that teachers are
>best advised not to try to teach you by way of visual metaphor, since you
>don't seem to organize your kata performance that way, at least initially.
>That's useful for a teacher to know.  Some people prefer to organize their
>performance visually (even though they certainly have the capability to
>remember kinesthetically as you are doing).  
>
>Eventually, most people use primarily kinesthetic memory and tests, I think, 
>once the kata is learned very well.   An expert performer can do the kata
>blindfolded, without visual reference points or even with confusing visual
>reference points.  A novice performer is frequently confused simply
>by asking them to start facing a different wall.
>
>						kind regards,
>
>						todd
>

I started replying to this post and my port got stomped on and I lost the
thread.  I apologize in advance for not snipping more text, but the
background is important to my point.

IMHO (read: In the universe I inhabit), mastering a skill is first
modeling, and then integrating.  One progression is "awkward, awkward,
awkward...mechanical, mechanical, mechanical...natural, natural,
elegant".  This is also true for the instructor, and instruction is a
different skill from execution.  I generally learn very well by
seeing the skill demonstrated, then doing it.  After a while my RAS
(Reticular Activating System) has a model that includes all visual,
kinesthetic, auditory, etc., cues appropriate to executing the new
technique.  I suggest selecting the best models you can to learn from,
and actually DOING---'cause in the long run repitition is the mother
of skill.  There comes a point where practice, either in the dojo or
in the mind, will help you excell beyond what you coluld learn by
observation alone---(your internal model is more complete!).

For those of you who get a lot from reading, I suggest:
"The Inner game of Tennis" by Galwey
"Quantum Fitness" by Dardik
and "Peak Performance" by Garfield.

I'm trying to keep this short'cause it is a rich subject....

Mike Burke, Aikidoka, Certified NLP (apologies to the "no-ranks"
thread!)

Newsgroups: rec.martial-arts
Subject: Lost thread--LEARNING
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