Selecting Effective Developmental Methods

While one could train purely for training's sake, this is not nearly as rewarding as training and getting back something to show for it, in other words, improving and gaining development, rather than simply going through the motions.

In my own personal experience, I've found the best exercises for improvement and development are those that meet these two criteria:

1. The exercise is effective at giving obvious (and preferably measurable) results
2. The exercise can be performed (and one is willing to perform it) with great consistency

There are many exercises one can pick, but the results an exercise provides must be obvious, and not just to the practitioner, but to others as well (even if others are not sure how the practitioner achieved those results). Also, as time is limited, one should always be seeking to maximize the results of one's training, whether by increasing speed, weight, difficulty, number of repetitions, accuracy of technique, realism of execution and so on.

It is worth noting that, particularly with Yin Style Baguazhang, many of us are practicing the same things and yet we see people with many different degrees of results. Those whose results we admire have not simply gotten to where they are through time, dedication, research and instruction (although all of that is important), they are also training the same things Differently. Whether that means they are doing more of something or just doing it with a clearer understanding, or with better coordination, or with a better usage of strength or whatever, it becomes our task to then figure out the differences and to make our own training more effective accordingly.

Consistency is another important point, for even the very best exercise will yield meager results if one cannot, does not or is not willing to do it consistently. The consistency of training is important, but so is the consistency of measurement. The more consistently one can objectively measure one's training & results, the better one can modify one's training to make further gains.

There are advantages to training tried & true methods of gaining development (lots of time, energy and research were put into such methods and they've yielded results consistently for many people); but one's routine and some of the exercises that comprise it can be unique, just so long as one abides consistently by the principles of development. It should also be noted that, ultimately, what matters most is what gives YOU the results you need. That may mean that He Jinbao's or Governor Schwarzenegger's favorite exercise is the one for you; but if you are not seeing obvious results from it, or if you're not performing it with the same consistency, there is nothing wrong with switching things up (be it the exercise itself, how one trains/thinks about the exercise or simply performing additional exercises to help remedy deficiencies). Also, it is worth noting that one does not always know exactly what another is practicing (or has practiced); perhaps someone is doing one exercise that gives a good result, but consistently doing another exercise that complements it to make the results even greater.

Yin Style Baguazhang is a highly sophisticated art with a massive number of training methods & developmental exercises; this makes our individual tasks particularly difficult as we navigate a vast labyrinth of material, but this is also what makes the art so exciting. While a life-long pursuit of Yin Style and excellence herself may well be an odyssey, it is a journey worth taking every step of the way.

Venture boldly, assess the results and strive for consistency in training, measurement & reason.

Happy New Year.
May it be your best yet.

- Eric C.