At what? That's for you to choose. I am just here to stare over the map and point at landmarks with you.

Let’s talk about training. Not what to train, that’s for another day, but rather how to train. What skill, technique or system do you want to develop, improve or create?

We must start somewhere and we call that a goal. The better we can define the thing, the easier it will be to design the most effective and efficient training to get it. This may feel like I am dancing around a point. This is not my intention, but we need to dig into a few things first. Let’s unpack some ideas together.

Intention in our training is paramount to a successful outcome. This holds true in any endeavor or undertaking in our life. An intention is another way of stating a goal or mission. This differs from a dream, hope or a wish. The shortest way to any destination is what? Say it with me, a straight line. Think of that straight path as the refinement of a goal. One must see that destination on a map or in the distance, then plot a course to arrive there and set off on the path.

What does it mean to be intentional? Ask yourself a few questions and then answer them as specifically, clearly and defined as you can.

1. Why am I here at this course, event, gym, church, meeting, training, etc?
2. What is the best outcome I can envision for this training event, undertaking or goal?
3. What steps can I define right now that I must take to help me arrive at that outcome?
4. How can I apply action to those steps above right now?

An additional step will be defining some metrics to track and assess progress and the efficacy of what you are doing. Sometimes at the onset you may not be capable of this due to minimal or fragmented knowledge on the topic (remember if you already had it you would not be training, learning or trying to grow). This is why we seek advice, training and instruction from those who have already traveled the road so to speak and organized a course of travel for us.

Lastly, know and understand that you may very well not have all the answers, that is in fact why you are working on a new skill or learning new knowledge. Be open and willing to accept that you don’t know it all. Be open and willing to allow new information in without weighing it against what you think you know. If your go to response is to immediately disregard new information that is a clue to an incorrect habit you have trained into yourself. I’m not saying don’t at some point compare the new idea or data to what you have previously learned or been taught, but you cannot pay attention if you are in your head chopping up info as it comes in.

I bolded “pay attention” to give you something to chew on. We know the phrase “pay attention” indicates one should direct their attention to the task or lesson at hand. To bolster the above point, to pay requires a trade. We pay for items with currency, that is a trade. We trade our time to earn that currency. When you choose to give attention to something, be mindful of that trade of your most finite of resources, time. You are always paying attention to something. Is it an equitable trade? As you become aware of these trades taking place, in many ways, daily in your life, you should begin to develop a respect for the finite resource of time. In a way I am suggesting that you take an inventory of what and how you give your attention. You may be surprised.

Moving forward, as new information and ideas come to you, ask yourself “does this take me closer to my goal, does it support the outcome I desire?” That is a simple yardstick we can measure against.

How we approach our training from a mental perspective is equally as important as the training itself. Everything we do affects the outcome, as such we must be mindful of not only our actions but also our thoughts in regards to the action.

My friend Super Dave Harrington had a saying that I share often,
“Everything is important, everything matters. Do the right thing, at the right time, every time.”

Sounds tough and easy at the same time, doesn’t it? Everything matters as well as timing and sequencing as do our dominating thought patterns. Have you started to see a pattern here yet? This is a cultivation of our attitude and character as well as the physical skills that we train.

The Goal - Well in this case, start setting them for training. Make them as clear and concise as you can. Simply stating “I want to be better” is neither clear nor concise. What does “better” look like to you? Can you define it, feel it, hold it? Can you share better or teach it? Better has to be attached to something that we can measure.

Metrics- The measurement part is where we often get lost. How fast, far and accurate is good enough and who says so? (this is a whole series of articles itself.) Simply put we must have a north star in training that is based on best practices and standards. Every industry from medicine and baking to engineering and scuba diving has standards. In the martial training realm this can get messy really quickly. It’s easy to take a single experience and make it the holy grail, as well it's easy to get wrapped up in certain places and people that may not be applicable to your life, job or reality. For now let us assume raw marksmanship as a talking point.

How fast? How far? How big? How many?

A Bill Drill is a perfect place to start. Designed by Bill Wilson of Wilson Combat.
A simple stand and deliver exercise that tests the draw, presentation, grip, recoil control, sighting systems, gear placement, and more.

A USPSA target at 7 yards with the shooter facing the target, gun holstered. Draw and fire six rounds into the A-Zone of the target, from concealment or open holster. Any misses are a drill failure.

What's the standard for this? Most will agree two seconds or less is the goal for “real” shooters. Who cares for the sake of the discussion at hand. Take this drill, a notebook, a box or two ammo and assess yourself.

“Where am I?” comes before what we train or how.

Actionable Steps - Answer the questions listed above. Be flexible as you proceed as you may find that a previous choice in action was not ideal. Don’t see a change in course as a waste or wrong move. You picked up new information that may be useful for another goal or project and you learned what isn’t working on the present path. You are still moving, living and thriving, going towards your goal. That is progress. Everything matters.

Self-Awareness, an idea that will aid you on this path

Awareness is a word that is used often in the combative arts as well as study of the mind and wellness. We can be aware of that which is around us as well as that which is in us. Make it a goal to not hide from or attempt to veil who you are. Who you are inside is analogous to where you are physically. If you cannot see what is, you cannot craft a plan or devise a path to get somewhere new, in this case, your goal. Said another way. If you are lost on a road trip and cannot find your location on a map, it is impossible to get where you are going. Remember that shortest path between two points? Two points means there is a starting location and an end, in this case the goal.

This is easy for some and not so easy for others. Don’t lose me here. Seek out and invest energy in a true love of self. This concept is misconstrued as selfish or egotistical. On the contrary, loving oneself is a non-negotiable component of a well rounded human. We respect those we love. Those we love and respect are given honesty and truth. It is what they deserve. If you love and respect yourself, you will in turn be honest. You will assess what is. You are exactly the person you trained yourself to be. Own that. Good, bad, right or wrong. Own it. If you wish for something new or different. It is squarely on you to make that happen. This starts with that honest assessment defining where you are and where you want to be. Crafting actionable steps that will get to the goal and then ultimately applying action. These steps can and will begin to happen singularity and simultaneously.

So you have defined an intentional goal and made some actionable steps to attaining it. This easy to remember phrase is a great way to “see” what you need to through the process of attainment. What action or actions do I need to do right this moment? The other side of that coin is, “Is what I am doing right now not important to the attainment of the goal?... or is it not in the correct sequence?”

Remember “do the right thing at the right time.”

Depending upon the goal, what is defined as important could be a myriad of tasks, thoughts, actions or even inaction. Huh? Inaction. (Sometimes just breathing and taking a pause is the best thing….but even that is really an action when you think about it.) It is a choice to observe and be still.

Simply stated, ask yourself “What’s Important Now?”

Check out what old Marcus Aurelius once said. (Apparently he was smart)
“Ask yourself at every moment: Is this necessary?” He used WIN 2000 years ago. By the way, “WIN” is attributed to the famed football coach Lou Holtz.

Quick Reminder

Want to get in one of Mickey’s classes? Full schedule of upcoming classes are here. The team at Carry trainer can also tailor a custom experience to meet your training needs. Contact them today at 815-345-3008 or email [email protected].

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