On Training and Practice

The information processing that the brain must perform to initiate a voluntary movement can be divided into three steps. The first step is to select an appropriate response to the current situation, out of a repertoire of possible responses. This response, which corresponds to a particular behavioral objective, is determined in a global, symbolic fashion.

The second step is to plan the movement in physical terms. This step consists in defining the characteristics of the selected response as the sequence of muscle contractions required to carry it out.

The third step is to actually execute the movement. It is in this step that the motor neurons are activated that trigger the observable mechanics of the movement.

In light of what we now know about the sequence in which the motor areas of the cortex are activated, we can deconstruct the classic sequence "Ready? Set. Go!" in terms of localized activity in the brain.

In the "Ready?" phase, the parietal and frontal lobes become active first, with a contribution from the subcortical structures involved in vigilance and attentiveness.

The "Set" command then activates the supplementary and premotor cortical areas, where the strategies for movement are developed and maintained until the "Go!" signal is given.

The "Go!" signal may come from an outside source, as it does in an actual race [fight?], or it may come from inside the person doing the running [fighting], who decides for himself or herself that all the conditions are present to start running [fighting-defending-protecting].

The "Go!" command then applies information from subcortical structures such as the basal ganglia that will influence Area 6, and then eventually the primary cortex, which will cause the action to be carried out.

In a nutshell this is the process the brain uses, naturally and according to DNA and mother nature, to achieve "correct" application of the "correct" response to stimuli. Upon reviewing this and other data on how the brain works pulling actions in response to stimuli, what actions are pulled, why they are pulled and how we get those that are appropriate to actually go to accomplish a task. In our case, karate, the right moves to not get hit.

As I study this and associate it, encode it, with other studies to include study/practice of karate I can see why repetitive training along with as realistic practice that can be done is imperative to encoding things that will work over the flight-n-fight response which for most folks is freeze or freeze-n-run responses.

Another notable training maxim is to train as close to natural physical responses as you can. If you are a neophyte you may instinctively raise your hands in front of you when some fear inducing stimuli is encountered, i.e. seeing an object coming swiftly toward your face. If you train to raise your hands instinctively and then encode/add a simplistic technique to it then it will be more likely to actually work.

What is described above is pretty much set in the mind and to either enhance natural movement with more effective movement or change it a bit to fit your system takes hard sweat equity work over time, diligent time, and continuous diligent practice time.

http://thebrain.mcgill.ca/flash/index_i.html

No comments:

Post a Comment