Learning Made Simple
Written by Gaje McDaniel
When you perform a movement incorrectly and a coach approaches you and wants to help you understand what you may have done wrong, what is the most simple way for you to learn?
Do you learn by hearing cues or words?
Do you learn by seeing what you have done wrong, through example or video?
Do you have to physically perform something correct yourself or have a coach help you through physical cues?
People learn in three different ways – verbal, visual and physical. By understanding how you learn can benefit your fitness. When a coach approaches you and wants to help, you can always reply with: “show me”, “tell me”, or “help me”.
Here is an example: You miss a snatch because you didn’t get your head through fast enough and your turnover was slowed down because of it.
Verbal Coaching
You missed but you are unsure what you’ve done wrong, coach tells you to “punch up on the bar and get your head through faster”. You try again and do as coach has said and were successful, you understood what you head to do by a verbal cue.
Visual Coaching
When you’ve performed something wrong but don’t understand what coach means when he’s telling you something, simply ask for them to perform the mistake and then the correction for you. If seeing someone else do something correct is not enough, take a video of yourself and analyze what you’ve done wrong with a coach’s help.
Physical Coaching
If neither of the verbal or visual are enough, ask for help to get into position or help performing the movement. It can be as simple as one error you are doing wrong, that you need help doing correct to feel what you should be doing right.
Learning from all different aspects gives the best opportunity to be successful. If you can choose one that helps you understand easier, it may speed up the process. Sometimes not all aspects are prevalent, some people learn by telling them that they did wrong. You may have to use only two examples from above.
Make sure you understand why the correction was made, educate yourself and absorb someone else’s knowledge. I personally like to video my own lifts or movements and then will dissect it – with help – if need be. I learn through hands-on and visually, but that is not always the case for everyone. Find how you learn best and let your coach know.
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