Overthinking in training

         I've been given the opportunity again to teach some of the level 1 students, teaching the first few moves of Lau Gar.  After two classes there has already been a lot of progress in the right direction.  It really made me think about my own training and my approach to things.

        What I noticed about the particular student was that I could see the gears turning to the point it was affecting the whole form.  They were thinking too much about the next move, about what their hands should be doing and neglecting the feet, and just plain thinking too much.  At one point I had them just focus on their feet and stances and forget about the hands; something I had been instructed to do in the past.  I also adjusted a couple of the stances.  Having them run through the form like that instantly improved their stances, and when I got them to throw the hands back in, everything was still looking good.  I knew this student knew how to be in a good stance, but because they were thinking too much about their hands they forgot to solidify what they were doing with their feet.  I could tell they were still thinking about the next move at times, but instead of rushing it, they started to take their time first and go into a solid stance.  So I'm taking that as a win.

        When I look at my own training I know I still get caught-up by similar things.  For me it's not about thinking about the sequence of forms, but whatever I am trying to work on within that form.  If I'm trying to think of too many things, it takes me out of the form and I'll glitch, skipping a move , or sometimes doing something else completely different.  I usually pick one or two things to work on when doing my forms, otherwise too many thoughts cloud everything.  For me that is still relaxing throughout my form, and feeling like a noodle, until I'm ready to strike when things start to tense up and solidify.  The other thing I've been working on, which is still part of the first one, is my mindset.  This one perpetuates the other one, but it is more than that.  I'm working on when I'm told to do a form that I don't have to think too hard about relaxing, that it's something that I just do.  As of now when I'm told to do a form, I still tend to revert to my old mindset of full power, full speed.  That's where meditation has helped me, because I have the tools to do a quick mental reset when I need-- the key being the breath.  I also find myself revisiting the basics with these students which is nice, because I know I have that knowledge , even though I tend not to think about it so much anymore, and I have the skill to back it up, plus the reasonings why.

        So even though it is good to have something to work on in our forms, and there is always going to be something to work on and rework on, it helps to not have too many thoughts.  1-3 things is plenty to work on, any more and you no longer get the same benefit, because you'll no longer be mindful, you'll be mind-full.  Also, I still run through my forms without the upper body from time to time, and just mentally go through the upper body movements.  It's a fun exercise, and has so many benefits.