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Infusion-Based Learning
Getting the most out of your Seminar Experiences
By Anthony Sell

It often amazes me to realize that the majority of our training experiences are based on a few truly significant moments. Over the past ten years I have seen the amount of progress a determined Martial Artist can make when their training influences come infrequently. Often this involves attending seminars, camps or workshops. I refer to this as infusion-based learning, which has often been the norm for those in the JKD/Kali community.

There is something about the seminar experience, something about being among a group of like-minded people from all over the country that have completely different backgrounds, yet maintain a mutual interest in the topic at hand, that is very motivating. These things make the experience unique, and the lessons learned will often have a lasting impact.

I can remember being in a room full of more than 60 people swinging pairs of sticks in Sinawali, the pungent smell amidst a thrashing, clacking forest of rattan. I can remember joining a room full of stunned applause following a particularly graceful demonstration. I can hear the sound of 30 pairs of Thai pads being pounded flat, and the energy in a room with 50 people in a knife sparring free-for-all. I remember laughter and introspection, and so many stories, lessons learned by my seniors before I was born. These are the things that I will always remember, and pass on.

Some of my students have gone to seminars only to come back frustrated at the experience. It is very common for a novice student to feel lost amidst an avalanche of new information, where everyone else seems to get the idea, while they do not. My first seminar with Guro Inosanto was particularly disappointing, not the material, rather my limited comprehension and my feeble retention. Blown away is the phrase most often used. I was overwhelmed by the amount of information that he offered. It took me years to realize that you weren't supposed to "get it" all right away.

In the Greek language, the way the word "to see" is conjugated is "I see," "I saw," "I know." This implies that seeing leads to knowing. The subtler side of this metaphor is that seeing is not knowing, but it leads to it, there is another step. That step is often reflection, having the information and going over it in your mind, review, experimentation - making it yours.

Perception is cheap, knowledge is earned, knowledge is forged, knowledge is built. Many times you have to see the same information several times before it registers, before it begins to reveal itself and its implications. Many times you need to see the same information from different perspectives to gain a greater understanding before it will have any relevance to your training. Sifu Faye has often warned against hastily throwing away that which appears useless.

Some students complain the week following a seminar that they can never quite recall what they did at the event, even though it seemed so clear at the time. Some get so caught up in the need to collect information, that they miss out on the experience itself - "What just happened?" There are useful strategies for recalling information, and preserving the experience for future review without sacrificing the moment. Here are some of the tips I give my students:

Have a list of objectives & important questions before you get there. Many times, the speaker will offer time at seminars for a question and answer session. Many times the participants will be so caught up in the experience that they will hesitate to ask important questions. Students should be fearless and should make the most of their experience. Having a couple of questions prepared can help you stay focused if the opportunity presents itself.

Make sure you have the equipment you'll need. There is nothing more frustrating than having to sit out of part of a seminar because you didn't bring what you needed. Before the event, try to speak with the seminar host to make sure you know what you will need.

Make sure you bring someone you can work with. Though it is rarely required, it is often useful to bring a training partner whose experience level is comparable to your own, someone you are familiar with. Working with strangers, or having to triple off with two strangers can present unique problems that can interfere with your experience.

Make the most of the opportunity. Over the years I've spent thousands of dollars on hotel rooms, gas, food, and event fees as well as thousands of hours of time to attend or host seminars with important teachers, in the hopes of having a lasting experience. Sometimes this involved taking time off of work, which made things twice as expensive. It behooves us to prepare and get the most out of our training time.

Have a system of short-hand notation so you don't have to waste time writing things out long-hand. A notebook is a must, as well as a system for taking quick notes, this is vitally important for retention. For example "two lead knees, lead kick, cross, hook, two rear kicks, six skip knees" might be simplified to "2 LKN - LK - C - H - 2 RK - 6 SKN". (A great system of notation can be found on the JKD-Kali University website) The key is to make sure you can understand it later.

Don't try to collect everything. Better to take three or four major things home, than trying to remember it all while it happens. Stick to the core concepts, the new information or the variables that will have an impact on your training. Look for things to fill in the gaps and record those first. You'll be surprised how much you can recall later if you stick to the major points.

Never trust the video camera. If it's important enough to film, write it down and review it often. Quite often the camera (if there is one) will be obstructed by other attendees, poor lighting or poor sound, perhaps a sudden turn in the action will occlude the important details. Tapes and batteries run out.

Don't get frustrated. Everyone has a different "Saturation Level." Put simply, this is the point where your brain cannot process any more new information without first having time to digest what you've already seen. It's sort of like having eaten too much ice cream too fast on a merry-go-round. I tell my students to enjoy this while it lasts, as that state of mind will become less frequent as you gain more experience. When it happens, take a break, palm your eyes to clear your retinas, and make sure you're not getting dehydrated or hypoglycemic (which can hasten this state of mind).

Take notes to organize your memory. Even if your notes from the seminar are accurate, within a few hours of the seminar, try to take the time to list the important things you observed.

Mind Mapping: Brainstorm possible connections. If you get stuck, and feel as though you have lost information, try using a visual map to literally draw associations with areas of knowledge you already have. Write down a concept and draw a circle around it, and do this with other concepts, then draw lines to the ideas that relate. This is a technique that was used by Leonardo da Vinci to improve his memory and creativity.

Discipline your training time before and after the seminar. In addition to good note taking, the information you get is not going to be truly "yours" unless you begin to train it. It is a good idea to schedule a time with your training partner to meet and review what was learned within a day or so of the seminar. Even things that seemed perfectly clear and simple can become foggy if you wait too long. If you want that skill it's worth spending the time to keep it.

"It's in there." Don't get frustrated if you can't recall everything. The important thing is not to panic, the information is in there. I have often marveled over the years when in the midst of doing something absolutely routine, this odd, priceless bit of knowledge from years past will suddenly come to mind, and a lesson I had forgotten about, or didn't even realize I had learned becomes suddenly relevant. Memory is a very strange thing, it works by association. Many times the right associations are necessary to access an experience.

The most important thing about attending seminars is to remember that the information presented is not the focal point of the seminar, it is the experience itself, the stories, the laughter, the camaraderie. These are the things that will motivate your training and remind you that you are part of a larger community. These are the stories you'll tell your kids when you're old and feeble, and they are beginning to train. Don't forget to take a look and really pay attention to what is going on around you.